TxDOT's $1.3 Billion Plan to Ease Congestion
The Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) presented the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) with a plan to reduce traffic congestion in some on the state’s busiest roadways, the agency announced January 27.
Should the plan be approved by the TTC, a series of 14 projects in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, adding up to about 42 miles, will begin. TxDOT aims to complete these jobs at an accelerated pace.
“These areas see some of the worst congestion in the nation. We’ve just completed a listening tour in these major areas and have gathered valuable local input from transportation leaders regarding their priorities and where we can quickly address some needs. This is the initial phase of a new statewide plan to address congestion,” said said Texas Transportation Commissioner J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., who was appointed by the commission to lead this statewide effort in a statement.
These 14 projects will be funded using $1.3 billion made available through ending the use of diversions of highway money by other agencies, according to TxDOT.
Bugg noted, “TxDOT is focusing on using this funding to provide Texas drivers relief in an expedited manner. By making these improvements on an accelerated schedule, TxDOT will save $457 million versus building those roads in future years.”
According to TxDOT, the TTC will also consider another $800 million in additional funding for connectivity and safety, maintenance, repairs to the energy sector and border infrastructure funding. The commission is expected to vote on all these projects when it considers the quarterly Unified Transportation Plan at February’s commission meeting, the agency reported.
