2.7 Project Authorization
For a project to become reality it must pass through many developmental steps including establishing a need or problem, exploring alternatives, studying potential environmental impacts and costs, gathering input from the public and local officials, acquiring ROW, designing structures and roadways, and awarding construction contracts.
At any point along this path, TxDOT and its planning partners (MPOs and regional transportation authorities) may alter their decisions to implement projects as a result of changing conditions, expectations, community needs, environmental findings or cost considerations.
Before a project reaches construction, it proceeds through TxDOT’s three major stages of project authorization:
PLAN Authority
, Develop Authority
and Construct Authority
as shown in
. In addition to PLAN
, Develop
, and Construct Authorities
, there are Candidate PLAN Authority (CANDPA) and Feasibility Studies (FEAS) funding categories.
Figure 2-6: TxDOT’s Project Authorization Process
In each stage, a project is authorized for specific progressive steps in the development and funding process as shown in
.
Table 2-1: Allowable Development Activities by Project Authority
Source: Adapted from the 2025 UTP Programming Guidance
2.7.1 Candidate PLAN Authority (CANDPA)
CANDPA is for projects not in active development and for which no resources can be assigned, and no expenditures can be made. CANDPA projects must be programmed outside of the 10-year UTP development window and are not eligible for development activities (non-chargeable).
The District approves projects for CANDPA Authority. CANDPA Authority ends when the project is prioritized to move to Develop Authority and initiate development activities.
2.7.2 Feasibility Studies (FEAS)
FEAS is a planning study to determine the viability of proposed improvements through evaluating possible alternatives, and the potential economic, social, and environmental impacts. Authorized activities for these projects include design concepts, general ROW requirements, alternative project solutions, traffic analysis, environmental fatal flaws, and planning-level cost estimates.
FEAS is outside the scope of PLAN Authority and doesn't require any of the three level authorities. The associated “construction costs” of feasibility studies represent the cost of the study.
TPP Corridor Planning Coordinator approves projects in FEAS Authority. FEAS Authority ends at the completion of the feasibility study.
2.7.3 PLAN Authority
PLAN Authority is a fiscally constrained project authority which corresponds to project development outside the 10-year UTP. PLAN Authority supports TxDOT’s long-range transportation planning efforts and is prioritized for interstates, U.S. routes, state highways (SHs), and long-term corridor development. PLAN Authority provides a link between TxDOT’s SLRTP and the UTP.
PLAN Authority is reserved for statewide transportation initiatives and large, regionally impactful planning projects on SLRTP Corridors of Statewide Significance that contribute to the transportation goals of the SLRTP. The Corridor Planning Branch of TPP approves projects for PLAN Authority.
To be eligible for PLAN Authority, there are several scenarios that are considered, including the following :
- Project contributes to meeting the goals of the SLRTP;
- Project is part of a fiscally constrained metropolitan, rural, and other regionally adopted transportation plan;
- If a project is outside an MPO boundary, it is on a:
- SLRTP Corridors of Statewide Significance; or
- Phase I Trunk System; or
- Connectivity Corridor Network; or
- Statewide and Rural Connectivity Task Force Corridor
- Project is part of a larger corridor initiative, such as interstate development;
- Project fills a gap in a corridor currently being developed in the UTP; or
- Project is a candidate for UTP funding Categories 2 (Metropolitan and Urban Area Corridors), Category 4 (Statewide Connectivity Corridors), and Category 12 (Strategic Priority Corridors) (see ).
To request PLAN Authority for a project, the Director of Transportation Planning & Development (TP&D) should submit a request through TxC.
Other factors for PLAN Authority eligibility include roadway classification, project classification, TxDOT roadway network, and activity type as outlined in TPP’s
PLAN Authority Guidebook
.TPP Corridor Planning Coordinator approves projects for statewide initiatives or large, regionally impactful planning projects for PLAN Authority. PLAN Authority ends when the project is prioritized by the Districts or MPO for the UTP 10-year window to continue development activities.
2.7.4 Develop Authority
Develop Authority is for projects within years 5 to 10 of the UTP.
Develop Authority funds represent the balance of the UTP Categories 1 to 12 that have not yet been programmed on specific projects. Districts may collectively program Develop Authority up to the amount of the current UTP balance, which is subject to TPP - UTP Section review for constraint.
Develop Authority projects may be eligible for eventual funding from any UTP category but
should not be maintenance projects
. Develop Authority projects should be fully programmed to warrant development activities. Fully programmed means the combination of programming (UTP Categories 1 to 12 and Develop Authority funds) equals the current/latest construction estimate. Any Develop Authority projects no longer in active development should be moved to CANDPA.Different work programs within Develop Authority are approved by Divisions shown in
:
Work Program | Terminology | Approval |
DDA | District Develop Authority | TPP – UTP |
6DA | Bridge Develop Authority | BRG |
8DA | Safety Develop Authority | Traffic Division (TRF) |
SWDA | Statewide Develop Authorit | TPP (for large strategic projects and future statewide initiatives) |
Develop Authority ends when a project is fully funded and ready to move to Construct Authority based on its stage of development. Once fully funded, projects can remain in Develop Authority if the stage of development does not warrant a move into Construct Authority.
2.7.5 Construct Authority
Construct Authority is granted for projects within years one to four of the current UTP – the projects in this timeframe are listed in the STIP. All phases of work are permitted for projects in Construct Authority such as: final design development, ROW acquisition, utility relocation, railroad adjustments and local agreement execution.
Projects with Construct Authority are typically the highest ranked projects that have proposed letting dates within the next four years and are eligible to be selected for the 2- year letting schedule based on readiness.
Construct Authority includes all 12 UTP Categories. Projects must be fully funded with no DDA/SWDA/etc. or partially funded projects. Projects in the 2-year Letting Schedule must be ready to let (RTL) (see
) or projected to be RTL by the scheduled letting date. Federally funded and regionally significant projects with Construct Authority must be approved in the current FHWA approved 4-year STIP.
Commission authorization is required for projects in funding categories 2, 4, and 12 to be moved to Construct Authority. Districts and Divisions decide on other category programming as outlined in the UTP Programming Guidance specific to each funding category. Construct Authority ends when all development activities are complete, and the project goes to letting.
LET Authority is considered a subset of Construct Authority that allows a project to advance to letting.
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