Developing the UTP

Through the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan (SLRTP), TxDOT defines the statewide strategic goals for the state and sets performance measures and targets for the state: promote highway safety, preserve existing infrastructure assets and optimize system performance for drivers in urban and rural areas.

The SLRTP also establishes six performance measures and targets to achieve these goals: fatalities per year, fatality rate, pavement condition, statewide bridge condition score, urban congestion and the rural reliability index.

These goals, performance measures and targets drive all subsequent funding distribution and project selection in the UTP.

See the 'Strategic goals, performance measures and targets' table below for additional details.

TxDOT’s Financial Management Division (FIN) estimates the revenue expected to be available to the UTP.

See Funding the UTP for more detailed information.

The Texas Transportation Commission determines the dollar amounts allocated to each UTP category.

Once TxDOT determines a total dollar amount for each category, planning targets are developed for each TxDOT District, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and program. These localized planning targets identify the dollar amounts by category that each district, MPO and program can attach to planned projects.

The UTP allocates some category funding around the state by formula, based on factors like regional population and vehicle miles traveled. The UTP also distributes funding in other categories on a project-specific basis, rather than geographically.

TxDOT districts and MPOs continually evaluate needs on the state highway system and identify locations with critical safety, preservation or mobility issues.

TxDOT districts and MPOs customize their own metrics for identifying the most important transportation projects in their respective regions.

However, all evaluation criteria must align with TxDOT’s statewide strategic goals, performance measures, and targets for the transportation system.

Once a project is identified for potential funding, TxDOT refines the construction cost estimate and identifies funds that could be assigned to the project. The process of matching selected transportation projects to available funds is known as programming.

Adhering to the UTP planning targets, TxDOT districts collaborate with state MPOs and other TxDOT program managers to assign funding from each applicable UTP category to the priority projects in their regions.

A project may be programmed using funding from multiple UTP categories (if the project type is eligible). The UTP planning targets limit the dollar amount that each district, MPO or program manager can program from certain categories.

Projects funded through certain statewide categories are selected by TxDOT divisions with corresponding specializations. 

For statewide mobility categories in which the Texas Transportation Commission approves or selects projects, TxDOT’s TPP Division ranks candidate projects submitted by TxDOT districts to determine which ones best accomplish the state’s strategic goals, meet performance measures and targets and address various logistic and strategic considerations. 

The Texas Transportation Commission will consider the following performance criteria for project selection in the UTP: safety, optimization of system performance, preservation, and any other goals in the SLRTP. The commission may also consider the potential for project delivery based on other factors such as funding availability and project readiness after consideration of the performance criteria. 

TxDOT’s TPP Division produces the draft UTP document, which lists Category 2, Category 4 and Category 12-funded projects, including those previously authorized in past years and newly submitted for approval.

TxDOT actively engages the public to gather comments before the plan is approved.

See UTP Public Involvement for more detailed information.

TxDOT staff formally present the final proposed UTP for adoption at a scheduled meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission.

Per Texas Administrative Code, the Texas Transportation Commission must adopt the UTP no later than August 31 each year.

Throughout the year, TxDOT collects data on the performance of the state transportation system and evaluates trend lines based on that data.

The data includes information on crash rates, traffic counts, pavement scores and bridge conditions. TxDOT must also monitor changing conditions to inform future decisions.

Based on the findings, the Texas Transportation Commission may adjust the performance measures and targets in the next SLRTP or the funding distribution strategy in the next UTP.

TxDOT conducts joint, multi-district and division project portfolio management (outside of the annual development and adoption process) throughout the year, monitoring the entire portfolio so that the volume and mix of projects progressing through the stages of development align with future cash, performance measures and targets.

Items that may require such management include cost estimates, schedules and project development, risk identification and management.