The funds are part of more than $11 billion slotted for road projects in the Dallas area over the next 10 years, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation.
The Texas Transportation Commission approved the 2024 Unified Transportation Program on Aug. 16, authorizing about $100 billion in spending on roads across the state.
How we got here
The transportation council approved the program after accepting public input on the $100 billion plan. This year’s program includes about $25 billion more in funding compared to last year’s statewide 10-year plan.
Dallas-Fort Worth’s Regional Transportation Council approved a 10-year project list for the metroplex during an Aug. 10 meeting. Council members noted an apparent reduction in proposed funds for US 380 and Spur 399 road projects before approving the list.
Funds for both projects were reallocated to the I-30 Canyon project in Dallas to rebalance the state’s funding categories, according to a presentation at the transportation council meeting. More funds were expected to be added to the projects as part of a deal between TxDOT and council, but they were not present on the latest draft.
The latest draft did include about $100 million in additional funding for US 380 and about $150 million in additional funding for Spur 399.
Diving in deeper
The program, which is updated and amended annually by the commission, identifies funding and road projects across the state. This year’s program includes new funding for several other key projects in the region.
- $524 million for reconstruction of I-30 Canyon in Dallas County
- $220 million for reconstruction of US 80 in Dallas County
- $163 million for improvements along I-35, I-35E and I-35W in Denton County
Gov. Greg Abbott announced $142 billion in total investment for Texas’ infrastructure, including the transportation program, according to the TxDOT news release. The funding will be used for development projects, right of way acquisition, engineering, maintenance contracts and construction.
The investment is expected to bring an estimated $18.8 billion per year in economic benefits, including increased labor income, business output, and the addition of about 70,000 direct and indirect jobs.
What they’re saying
“This plan will help the lives of all Texans for years to come as we work to move people and goods safely and efficiently in our rural, urban, and metropolitan areas,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in a statement. “TxDOT is already putting these resources to work with a record number of projects aimed at improving safety and saving lives on our roadways.”
In a statement, Abbott said Texas reached a milestone with a record investment that aims to improve Texas roads and infrastructure.
“Through this record transportation investment project, the State of Texas will further improve roadway congestion and safety to meet the growing needs of Texans in our large metros, rural communities, and everywhere in between,” he said. “This plan will not only connect Texans from every corner of our state, it will also bolster our economic growth and ensure Texans and businesses continue to thrive for generations to come.”
