Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday the adoption of the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) 10-year, $85 billion statewide roadway construction plan.
The 2023 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) maps out the state’s projected transportation funding dedicated to improving transportation safety, addressing congestion and rural connectivity, and preserving the state’s roadways for Texas drivers.
“The State of Texas is working to ensure the transportation needs of our fast-growing state are met and that the safety of Texans on the roadways is protected,” Abbott said. “TxDOT’s 2023 Unified Transportation Program is a critical step toward addressing the diverse needs of Texans in rural, urban, and metropolitan communities. This 10-year plan to address transportation needs statewide and dedicate $85 billion to improve roadways will be a huge boon to our state’s infrastructure and booming economy. As more people move to Texas and businesses grow across the state, we are working together to make sure Texans’ transportation safety and mobility are secured, and businesses can flourish for generations to come.”
The UTP funds coincide with an additional $32 billion over the life of the program for routine maintenance contracts and project development. In total, the transportation initiatives announced Tuesday cover more than 7,000 transportation projects with a total investment of $117 billion statewide.
The governor’s office said many of the projects in the UTP are segments identified on Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways list, as well as critical connectivity corridors. The projects will be funded with legislative and voter-approved initiatives that allocate portions of oil and gas taxes, sales taxes, and other funds in the state highway fund. The approved plan includes a$14 billion for projects in rural areas.
“The UTP reflects a continued focus on improving transportation safety as the top priority, maintaining our current system, addressing traffic congestion, and improving statewide connectivity over the next decade,” said TxDOT Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr. “Additionally, we are making significant progress in addressing congestion in our busiest parts of the state through our Texas Clear Lanes initiative, which improves top chokepoints in our largest metro areas.”
The average annual investment of $8.5 billion over the next 10 years is expected to yield an estimated $15.5 billion per year in economic benefits, including increased labor income, business output, and an additional 58,500 direct and indirect jobs, a study by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found.