Pete HahnloserTexas officials have announced a $148 billion investment in the state’s transportation infrastructure. This includes the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) approval of a $104 billion, 10-year plan designed to improve safety, reduce congestion, improve connectivity and maintain roadways across the state. On top of that, more than $43 billion is allocated for development and routine maintenance, marking a $5.6 billion increase from the previous year’s total investment.
“With the adoption of this record-breaking $148 billion transportation investment, Texas will continue to meet the needs of Texans in rural, urban and suburban communities while also improving roadway congestion and safety,” Gov. Greg Abbott said. “Projects like this will ensure our products and people can move quickly to keep the Texas economy booming.”
Many of the projects in the 2025 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) target roadway segments listed among Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways. Funding for Texas Clear Lanes congestion-relief projects in the state’s largest metro areas will increase by $1.9 billion, contributing to the $75.8 billion total investment in completed, ongoing and planned non-tolled projects since 2015.
The program also includes approximately $17.3 billion for safety initiatives and an additional $1.7 billion for rural corridors and key roadways in economic hubs.
“This investment impacts communities across the state, with projects that can help save lives and improve connectivity,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “TxDOT has a record amount of active construction projects this year, and this will help continue that work of moving people and goods safely and efficiently in our rural, urban and metropolitan areas.”
Districts to receive more than $5 billion under the plan are:
- Houston: $14.5 billion.
- Dallas: $12.2 billion.
- Austin: $8.6 billion.
- Fort Worth: $5.7 billion.
- San Antonio: $5.7 billion.
The adoption of the 2025 UTP followed an extensive public involvement process, allowing Texans to share their opinions on the projects in their communities. Public comments were considered before the Texas Transportation Commission approved the UTP.
The UTP authorizes the development and construction of highways, public transportation, maritime, aviation and rail. Projects are chosen based on their effectiveness for factors including pavement conditions, safety, capacity and rural connectivity.
2025 UTP allocations by funding category are:
- Estimated Development Costs: $34.7 billion.
- Preventive Maintenance & Rehabilitation: $18.7 billion.
- Strategic Priority: $14 billion.
- Metro and Urban Corridor: $11.5 billion.
- Statewide Connectivity (Rural): $11.3 billion.
- Estimated Routine Maintenance Contracts: $9 billion.
- Statewide Connectivity (Urban): $8.7 billion.
- Non-traditional: $6.7 billion (subject to change).
- Federal Metropolitan Mobility: $6 billion.
- Strategic Priority (Texas Clear Lanes): $6 billion.
- Bridges: $4.7 billion.
- Safety: $3.7 billion.
- Energy Sector: $2.7 billion.
- Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality: $2.3 billion.
- District Discretionary: $2.2 billion.
- Transportation Alternatives: $1.8 billion.
- Supplemental Transportation Projects: $1.5 billion.
- District Safety: $1.2 billion.
- Carbon Reduction Program: $1 billion.
A detailed breakdown of more than 11,000 projects is available on TxDOT’s Project Tracker.
Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
