By J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., Chairman, Texas Transportation Commission The star on the Texas flag somehow seems to shine a little brighter every year as more and more people move to Texas to find a thriving economy and a better quality of life. While that growth is wonderful to see, it does bring challenges to our transportation system.
Thanks to the leadership of Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature, the Texas Transportation Commission is up to the task with the adoption on August 16, 2023 of a historic $142.3 billion investment in building Texas roads and bridges, including a $100.6 billion 10-year Unified Transportation Program (UTP), $34.2 billion in development costs and $7.5 billion in routine maintenance contracts. This plan supports a world-class transportation system focused on safety and congestion relief. With projects across the state, this plan is dedicated to improving safety, addressing congestion and connectivity, and preserving roadways for Texas drivers.
Texans have shown overwhelming support for “turning dirt” on new and better roadways and bridges, and thanks in large part to voter-approved legislation (Proposition 1 in 2014, Proposition 7 in 2015), this total transportation plan is $26 billion more than last year. It provides a significant investment in congestion relief bringing over $67 billion of funding for projects completed, under construction, or planned for construction as part of the Texas Clear Lanes initiative, dedicating funding for projects on Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways list.
