The plan, called the Unified Transportation Program, is updated annually. Projects selected for the UTP focus on safety improvements, congestion, connectivity and road preservation, according to a news release. TxDOT will also invest in public transportation, maritime, aviation, rail, freight, international trade, and bicycle and pedestrian connectivity.
According to the release, the 2024 UTP will provide a record amount of funding for construction and improvements across Texas. The 2023 plan totaled $85 million.
The proposed plan would result in more funding for “vital areas,” such as safety, energy, border infrastructure, and connectivity between rural and urban areas, Community Impact previously reported.
The draft 2024 UTP was released in February and will be approved by the Texas Transportation Commission in August.
Texans can submit comments about this year’s plan through 4 p.m. Aug. 7. Input can be given through an online form, by emailing [email protected], by calling 800-325-4463 or by mail. A form can be downloaded here and sent to the following address: Texas Department of Transportation, Attn: TPP - UTP, 125 E. 11th Street, Austin, TX 78701.
“The UTP is TxDOT’s road map to developing projects across the state,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in the release. “It’s important to work with our transportation partners and hear from the public to guide transportation improvements that address congestion and enhance safety.”
Texans can also testify during a virtual public hearing, which will be held in English, at 2 p.m. July 25. The hearing will be livestreamed, and those testifying can dial in at 888-575-5163, then enter the call-in PIN 13126 when prompted.
A recording from TxDOT’s July 6 public meeting on the UTP is available here.
The agency also launched its long-term transportation plan, Connecting Texas 2050, in 2022.
