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Funding Sources

The Texas transportation system faces challenges like never before. Demand on the system is outpacing available revenue, and factors like inflation, a growing population, an aging infrastructure and more fuel-efficient vehicles are pushing current funding sources to their limits.

A healthy and reliable transportation system is critical for Texas, now and in the future. However, solving the state's current funding problems will require a multi-level approach, with all Texans involved in the planning process. Therefore, TxDOT has developed a Statewide Funding Brochure that outlines the needs of highway and road funding in the state in order to kick-start the discussion.

Note: The tables below list the source material for data found within the Statewide Funding Brochure.

Transportation Needs and Costs

Data	Author	Source
2030 needs	2030 Committee	Texas Transportation Needs Report. Feb. 2009.
Revenue projections	Association of Texas Metropolitan Planning Organizations	Presentation to the Texas Transportation Commission. May 28, 2009.
2035 transportation needs	Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University	Texas Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035 - Executive Summary. Nov. 2010.
Estimated Construction and Maintenance Needs map	Texas Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University	Texas Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035 - Executive Summary. Nov. 2010.
Texas Population Growth chart, 1970-2030	Center for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research and Education	The Texas Challenge in the Twenty-First Century: Implications of Population Change for the Future of Texas. Dec. 2002.

What Are the Challenges?

Data	Author	Source
Texas population growth in the 1990s	Texas State Data Center	Texas Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035 - Chapter 2. November 2010.
VMT increase	TxDOT Transportation Planning and Programming Division	Texas Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan 2035 - Chapter 2. November 2010.
Fuel efficiency	Association of Texas Metropolitan Planning Organizations	Funding the Future. July 28, 2009.
Inflation	TxDOT Government and Public Affairs Division	Transportation Finance Challenges. State legislative testimony before the House Committee on Transportation and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security. Feb. 1, 2010.
Federal funding issues	TxDOT Government and Public Affairs Division	Transportation Funding and the Federal Funding Process: Rate of Return, Rescissions and More. State legislative testimony before the House Select Committee on Transportation Funding, Subcommittee on Funding. May 3, 2010.
Other uses	TxDOT Government and Public Affairs Division	Transportation Finance Challenges. State legislative testimony before the House Committee on Transportation and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security. Feb. 1, 2010.
Construction and Maintenance Purchasing Power graphic	TxDOT Construction Division	Highway Cost Index (1997 Base), page 4.
2011 TxDOT Budget graphic	TxDOT Finance Division	TxDOT Finance Division
Highway Contracts graphic	TxDOT Government and Public Affairs Division	Transportation Funding Priorities. NEW LINK State legislative testimony before the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security. May 26, 2010.

So What's the Discussion?

Data	Author	Source
Vehicle Registration Fees	Cambridge Systematics, Inc., and Dye Management Group, Inc.	Moving Texas to the 21st Century: A Report on Transportation Demand, Estimated Investment Needs and Funding Options for Texas. Updated April 2009.
Index or increase the motor fuel tax	Dye Management Group, Inc.	Findings and Analysis: Texas Transportation Funding Challenge. Updated April 2009.
Increase the federal rate of return	Federal Highway Administration/ TxDOT Government and Public Affairs Division	This number was calculated by using the Federal Highway Administration Highway Statistic Chart FE-221-B. Texas' percentage of payments into the Highway Trust Fund was calculated for 2006 and that percentage was multiplied by the national total of apportionments for 2008. Texas' actual apportionment total for 2008 was then subtracted from the calculated percentage total. The difference was approximately $500 million.
Other possibilities	Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts	Fiscal Notes. April/May 2010.