UTP project selection
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UTP project selection

Developing the UTP

To objectively evaluate and recommend projects for incorporating in the UTP, TxDOT quantifies each candidate project’s benefits to the Texas highway system using data-driven criteria.

Project selection and development

Project Selection Methodology is multi-faceted process considering Statewide Priorities and System Needs, and Projected Project Performance methods. Both have measures and sub-fields. On the Statewide Priorities and System Needs method, the measures are safety, preservation, congestion, connectivity and economy. In safety, the sub-fields are fatal and incapacitating crash rate, fatal and incapacitating crash count, and overall crash rate. In preservation, the sub-fields are pavement condition rating, bridge sufficiency rating. In congestion, the sub-fields are delay per mile-100 Most Congested Roadways, volume to capacity ration (existing and future), and Congestion Task Force Project. In Connectivity, the subfields are National Highway System or Texas Trunk System, energy sector county, hurricane relief route, TxDOT Freight Network, Texas Freight Mobility Plan project, key rural corridor. In economy, the sub-fields are population density, employment density, daily truck volumes, and commodity flow (freight tonnage). The second method is Projected Project Performance and contains the measures for safety, preservation, congestion, connectivity, economic development, and environment. In safety, the sub-fields are impact on fatalities and fatality rate, and impact on crashes and crash rates. In preservation, the sub-fields are reduction in poor pavement, and reduction in deficient bridges. In congestion, the sub-field is impact on congestion (car and truck). In connectivity, the sub-field is lane miles of raw connectivity. In economic development, the sub-field is system usage. In environment, the subfield is impact on environment. All of the subfields contribute into the measures, all of the measures contribute to the methods, and both methods produce a project score. Local priorities from MPOs and districts are then taken into consideration. This results in project recommendations.

Scoring and prioritizing projects

Project selection starts locally with districts and MPOs working collaboratively with stakeholders to identify projects based on their regional needs. The districts and MPOs are responsible for project prioritization based on those same regional and statewide needs.

TxDOT provides its districts and partnering MPOs with a software application to rank candidate projects against each other based on measures of safety, pavement and bridge preservation, congestion mitigation, connectivity, economic development and environmental impact.

The scores assigned by the software depend on the group of projects with which it is compared. This method allows TxDOT and partnering MPOs to rank candidates against each other within a dynamic portfolio of projects but does not assign a single, standard score on a project.

TxDOT and its partners also consider other factors when making final decisions, including project costs, scheduling concerns and public input.

To be considered for funding in Category 4 Rural and Category 12, TxDOT districts must submit high-priority candidate projects identified through the local scoring and prioritization process.

TxDOT’s TPP Division scores and prioritizes the projects to assist the Texas Transportation Commission with the evaluation of these candidate projects.

  1. Each candidate project is evaluated based on its alignment with current statewide priorities and transportation system needs. Scoring criteria include safety (crash data), preservation (pavement and bridge conditions), congestion (traffic metrics), connectivity (priority statewide corridors) and the economy (local population, employment and freight volumes).
  2. In addition to the needs analysis, a software application is then used to assess projected performance impacts of each project’s proposed roadway improvements.
  3. Each project receives a composite project score based on transportation system needs and projected performance scores.
  4. The Texas Transportation Commission then evaluates these numbers alongside the prioritized ranking of projects provided by each district and MPO. This allows the Texas Transportation Commission to consider local priorities and regional equity along with data-driven scores.
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Advancing projects through UTP