The Texas Transportation Commission approved last week the state Department of Transportation’s 10-year transportation plan, which includes more than $77 billion specifically marked for safety improvements, congestion and connectivity issues, and roadway preservation for Texas drivers.
The 10-year plan, called the 2020 United Transportation Program (UTP), designates more than $600 million that will go toward aiding work in the Permian Basin and the energy sector based there through transportation improvements. Additionally, more than $4 billion will go to safety improvements, with an eye specifically on reducing crashes and fatalities by 2050. Roads will be widened, pavement strengthened, median barriers and bridges improved, guardrails upgraded, intersections updated and safety improvements made for bicyclists and pedestrians.
“TxDOT is committed to reducing congestion and improving mobility and safety in Texas as evidenced by the agency’s largest 10-year plan to date,” J. Bruce Bugg, Jr. Commission Chairman, said. “Additionally, we keep making progress in addressing congestion in our busiest parts of the state through our Texas Clear Lanes initiative, which addresses congestion in top chokepoints in our largest metro areas.”
The UTP will focus many of its congestion efforts on roads previously identified in a report published by the Texas Department of Transportation last year, which identified the 100 Most Congested Roadways in the state. Funding for such efforts will stem from legislative and voter-approved initiatives that place portions of oil and gas taxes, sales taxes and other money to the state highway fund. All projects were chosen based on how effective they are at addressing areas like pavement condition, safety, capacity, and rural connectivity.