Gov. Abbott announces $100B road spending plan

Unified Transportation Program ups state's commitment to roads.


Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a meeting of the Texas Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business held at the Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel located in downtown Austin, Texas on Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023.
MIKE CHRISTEN / AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has shared a 10-year, $100 billion statewide road construction plan in an effort to mitigate congestion issues, maintain roads and increase safety across the state.

The plan announced Feb. 23, referred to as the 2024 Unified Transportation Program, represents a $15 billion increase over the governor’s previous roadmap — and shows where Abbott's transportation infrastructure priorities stand in partnership the Texas Department of Transportation, or TxDOT.

As a planning document for how the state finances and improves its road system, the projects would still need to be funded through legislative and voter-approved initiatives that allocate portions of oil and gas taxes, sales taxes and other money to the state highway fund, according to TxDOT.

"We will dedicate critical funds to bolster our major roadway infrastructure to address the unique needs of Texans in rural, urban, and metropolitan communities," Abbott stated. "This 10-year plan will further boost our economy and keep Texas the economic juggernaut of the nation. Together, we are working to ensure that Texas remains the premier destination for people and businesses."

The spending roadmap includes 32 projects in the Austin area including Travis, Williamson, Caldwell, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, Gillespie and Blanco counties — representing $5.5 billion in potential investment.

The largest project for the Central Texas region dedicates about $4 billion to an improvement plan for I-35 from U.S. Route 290 East to U.S. 290 West/State Highway 71 that will lower and widen the double-decker highway.

The project is expected to cost a total of $7.5 billion.

The eight miles of improvements to I-35 would mark the first step in Austin's idea to ultimately cover portions of the roadway through downtown with a "cap and stitch" program, in an effort to reconnect the community divided by the highway’s construction in the 1960s.

"We need to bridge the divide between old and new Austin," Austin City Council Member José Velásquez said during a Feb. 22 panel hosted by the Austin chapter of the Urban Land Institute. "I think a lot of the problems that we see in the city are because there has been a constant battle and very few bridges built between old and new Austin."

Other roads that could see funding under the governor's plan include SH 71, State Highway 130 and U.S. Route 183.

"As the state of Texas continues to see exponential population and economic growth, this funding will help meet the needs of all Texans," Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. stated. "As cities grow every year, it’s important we continue to address congestion in our busiest parts of the state through our Texas Clear Lanes initiative, which is also set to get a significant boost."