SPI Insights

The Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) granted preliminary approval on July 15 to fund $600 million in transportation projects in the Permian Basin.

Of that amount, about $243 million will be directed to Interstate 20 from Odessa to Midland to reconstruct frontage roads, ramps, U-turns, and interchanges and convert frontage roads to one-way functions.

Additional I-20 improvements from the John Ben Sheppard interchange to West Loop 250, including a new interchange, will receive $104.9 million, and the Texas Department of Transportation Odessa District will collect TTC funds to complete a 31-mile section of I-20.

In May, the Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Board adopted a resolution to dedicate $25 million to I-20 upgrades, which the TTC will match at a $9.72 to $1 ratio.

Other area projects that will receive MPO funds are ramp reconfigurations at Loop 250 and SH 191 for $26.26 million and construction of new interchanges at County Road 1150-Elkins Road for $21.5 million, at CR 1140 at Loop 250 for $20.02 million, at CR 1250 for $19.84 million, at Loop 338 and Yukon Road for $19.2 million, and at U.S. 385 and N. Loop 338 in Odessa for $18.06 million.

MPO Executive Director Cameron Walker said he anticipates the TTC will approve the draft transportation project list for the entire state when it meets in August.