Inside Scoop: Texas Transportation Commission March 2026
March 26, 2026
By Laura Butterbrodt
AUSTIN – Here’s what the Texas Transportation Commission discussed and approved at its March meeting.
Digital delivery
Jason Pike, TxDOT director of design, presented updates about the agency’s digital delivery process for sharing construction models and data. TxDOT is taking initiative to provide data-driven, digital 3D models for project planning, construction, operations, and long-term maintenance.
Digital delivery is a transformation of design tools that increase accuracy, clarify project scope, and improve collaboration with contractors. By providing 3D digital models instead of paper plan sets and disconnected 2D files, there is improved visualization through all processes of the project. This can reduce change orders, improve public engagement, and streamline construction.
Digital delivery is currently in its pilot program. TxDOT has engaged in extensive stakeholder coordination and created a statewide toolbox for guidance, with the goal of establishing digital delivery as the new project type norm. By the end of 2027, TxDOT anticipates all 25 districts will have let a digital delivery project as part of this pilot.
Federal aviation pilot
TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams discussed how Texas is helping lead the way in innovation for the future of aircraft.
TxDOT was selected as one of the agencies to take part in the Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program, led by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. The program will support regional test flights for air taxi services, cargo and logistics, and emergency response operations. It will also provide critical data to develop new FAA regulations to implement the futuristic technology.
Commissioner comments
Commissioner Robert Vaughn highlighted the groundbreaking of the I-30 Canyon project in Dallas earlier this month. The nearly $1 billion project will enhance mobility for the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex by expanding lanes, improving rail crossings and bridges, reducing congestion and supporting economic development – all while providing a safe route for Texans.
Acting Commission Chair Alvin New presented the 2025 Texas crash data, which reflects a 9.3% decrease in crash fatalities from 2024. For the first time since 2020, the number of traffic deaths was less than 4,000. However, the only acceptable number of traffic deaths is zero.
New said while Texas continues to see promising downward trends in these tragic crashes, he calls on every person to take personal responsibility to make safe driving decisions and educate those around them to do the same.
Commissioner Steven Alvis commended TxDOT for improving its performance in permit processing times. From 2024 to now, the statewide average to process a driveway access permit has been reduced from 45 days to 20 days, with an average of 461 permits completed each month so far in 2026.
Contracts
The commissioners awarded low-bid value amounts of $286 million for 56 highway improvement projects, $63 million for 10 routine maintenance contracts and $7.9 million for one building construction and rehabilitation project in Travis County.
Public transportation
The commission awarded $39.2 million in state and Federal Transit Administration project funds for rural public transportation support in 27 rural transit districts, including replacement and expansion of fleet vehicles and the construction of an operations and maintenance facility in El Paso County.
Aviation
The commission awarded $28.5 million in state and federal grant funding for capital improvement projects at nine airports.
Rule change
Amendments to the Texas Administrative Code section 4.21 and section 4.25 were proposed to update and improve TxDOT’s conditional grant program. The changes will provide clarity, allow for more application flexibility, expand outreach and applicants, and update financial terms to account for increased cost of tuition and fluctuations in poverty levels.