Inside Scoop: Texas Transportation Commission Jan. 2024
By Laura Butterbrodt
Here’s what the Texas Transportation Commission was up to during its first meeting of 2024.
UTP Discussion
TxDOT is developing a new record-breaking, 10-year plan to help guide funding for construction projects across the state. The 2025 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) is in the early stages of development with final approval expected to come later this year.
In addition to the $102.6 billion allocation for the 2025 UTP, TxDOT anticipates the investment of an additional $34.2 billion in funding for project development and $9 billion in routine maintenance projects. Overall, the total estimated investment in projects is a historic $145.8 billion.
TxDOT also set records with its 2023 and 2024 UTPs, which advanced $85 billion and $100 billion 10-year statewide roadway construction plans, respectively. With another increase in predicted funding for the 2025 10-year plan, TxDOT leadership looks forward to being able to invest even more in highway safety improvements.
During a presentation of the 2025 UTP, which covers fiscal year 2025 to 2034, TxDOT Transportation Planning and Programming Division Director Humberto Gonzalez noted that of the $102.6 billion, more than $17 billion of the UTP distributed funds are estimated to go toward safety improvements.
The UTP is a guide for TxDOT, metropolitan planning organizations and other planning partners. Because funding levels can change, it is not a budget or guarantee that the projects included in the UTP will be delivered in the next 10 years.
Public Transportation
TxDOT made changes to Administrative Code to make sure Texas transit agencies are receiving the funding they need after recent census changes. An additional $3.7 million will be appropriated for rural, small urban and large urban transit districts, for an updated total appropriation of $73.7 million over two years.
Aviation
The Commission approved $3.3 million in federal and Texas Mobility Fund dollars for nine airport improvement and preservation projects.
Contracts
The Texas Transportation Commission approved the following contract awards: