The number of road miles traveled in Texas increased by 7 percent in the last five years while traffic delays declined 7 percent during the same time period, according to a recent Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) report.
The institute studied the state’s 100 most congested roadways, approximately half of which were under construction in 2023, and discovered commuters saved an estimated $915 million in time and fuel costs as a consequence of infrastructure improvements.
“Major transportation investments across Texas, like those in the Texas Clear Lanes initiative and the hundreds of other projects across the state, are easing that burden and helping commuters save time and fuel as traffic levels rebound,” TTI Senior Research Scientist David Schrank said.
Texas Clear Lanes is an initiative funding projects that reduce congestion in the state’s most populated areas.
Active projects statewide are designed to provide congestion relief, increase efficiency and help improve safety. They include San Antonio’s U.S. 281 project and the Southern Gateway on I-35E in Dallas.
For the third consecutive year, Houston’s West Loop was the most congested road on the list followed by Dallas’ Woodall Rogers Freeway, Austin’s I-35 through downtown, Dallas’ East R.L. Thornton Freeway and Houston’s Eastex Freeway.