Building a foundation for the future

July 17, 2025

By Cynthia Vaquera

AUSTIN — You've probably thought it when you've been stuck in traffic or seen road issues on your way home from work or school, “Why haven’t they done something about it?”

Most likely there are already plans in place to improve safety and connectivity wherever you live. Those plans are laid out in a sort of blueprint for the future in what’s called the Unified Transportation Program (UTP).

“The more orange cones that are out there, the more progress that we're making towards improving the safety, reliability and efficiency of our transportation network,” said Humberto “Tito” Gonzalez, Jr., TxDOT’s director of the Transportation Planning and Programing Division that works on the UTP.

The UTP is a 10-year plan that helps TxDOT decide which transportation projects receive state and federal funding. The plan is updated every year.

“The development of the UTP involves various touch points in coordination with districts, metropolitan planning organizations, interested stakeholders, local and state elected officials, TxDOT administration, the Texas Transportation Commission, and the general public,” Gonzalez said.

UTP Development Timeline

TxDOT planners work year-round to identify funding and projects for the annual 10-year plan. Once funding is identified, TxDOT works with local groups and municipalities to see what projects they’d like to have prioritized in their communities. TxDOT then picks projects based on local need and alignment with statewide goals including safety, congestion relief and maintenance.

Once a draft UTP is developed, people around the state can also weigh in on what projects they’d like to see in their communities. That public comment period started on June 27 and continues until July 28. To learn more about how to provide a comment, visit the UTP public comment page.

What can I do?

Talk to your city or county and TxDOT District. They are the first ones to propose projects at the local level that could eventually be developed and funded in the UTP. It is also key that you attend the public meetings to ensure your voice is heard early in the planning process. Your participation shows that there is real interest in your area.

“It takes a lot of coordination between the districts, local governmental agencies and local planning partners,” Gonzalez said.

And if the road near my house has been selected, what's next?

Express your opinion during the public comment period. Again, you can do so at txdot.gov. This is an opportunity to talk about the road near your home that you think should be improved. Because the UTP document does not include all of the thousands of projects in development, TxDOT also encourages you to look at TxDOT’s Project Tracker to see all projects being developed and constructed in your area.

“The reason why you may not be seeing work being done on the road yet, is that the project may be in the development cycle and may be working its way to go into construction,” Gonzalez said.

Construction starts with your voice

When you understand the process and get involved at the right time, you can change the outcome of a road, bridge or street in your community.

This 10-year plan is vital to help guide TxDOT projects for years to come. Think of it like building a house. You can't start building it without plans, materials or permits. The UTP is like the blueprint for the state.

However, it is important to note that because funding levels may change in the future, the UTP does not serve as a budget or a guarantee that certain projects will be built. Instead, the plan authorizes TxDOT and local partnering agencies to prepare projects for construction based on potential future cash flow.

But the plans are nothing without the help of the people who will eventually benefit. If you and your neighbors get informed and involved, maybe the next road to be considered for the UTP will be the one near your neighborhood. And then, when you see another construction project, instead of frustration, you'll be proud because you'll know that you played a part in making it happen.

“The public should feel confident that TxDOT is putting our allocated state and federal funds to good work by making sure that every project is focused on improving safety, preserving our transportation assets and reducing congestion and improving mobility,” Gonzalez said.