Texas has been selected for a major federal investment in transportation infrastructure, with the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) allotting $105 million for six Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) projects.
The money – delivered as part of the latest $1.7 billion installment of the federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) – will directly support surface transportation infrastructure initiatives across the state. These projects are designed to have a significant local or regional impact, enabling state, municipal, tribal, transit and port authorities to pursue efforts that would be difficult to fund through other programs.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will receive one of the largest allocations, totaling $25 million for a $73 million light rail station accessibility project. The Enabling Universal Accessibility at South Dallas Light Rail Stations initiative will level platforms at eight stations. Located along DART’s Red and Blue lines, plans include removing center crosswalks, adding signage, upgrading surveillance technology and incorporating environmental design elements to discourage criminal activity.
The city of Laredo will also receive $25 million, securing most of the funding needed for the $34.6 million World Trade Bridge Expansion Project. Plans include adding two additional lanes to the bridge. In addition, the city will build a separate bridge with eight northbound lanes to accommodate local traffic.
TxDOT was also selected to receive a share of the funding, totaling $24 million for the $63.1 million Interstate 20 Energy Sector Interchange Project. The department will reconstruct the interchange, taking the opportunity to modify connecting access ramps and traffic signalization.
The port of Corpus Christ Authority will receive $24.3 million for the Rail Infrastructure Phase 2 project at the inland port. Estimated to cost nearly $34 million, the project will improve rail infrastructure by installing around 65,990 feet of rail tracks. Additional details will include building six No. 15 turnouts, seven No. 9 turnouts and 12 derails.
Arlington will receive the full $6.4 million need to advance planning and preliminary engineering work for grade-separated crossing solutions at Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) intersections. This stage will help the city develop implementation-ready alternatives to remove at-grade conflicts between freight rail and roadway users. With federal support in tow, Arlington will not be able to complete a feasibility analysis, environmental review and 30% preliminary engineering.
The Port Isabel San Benito Navigation District will receive the final $330,000 to support planning efforts for a mobile boat lift. The project will center around completing an engineering and feasibility planning study to build a 300-ton capacity travel boat lift and accompanying shipyard for large-scale commercial, governmental and recreational vessels.
Photo by Jim Baker from Pexels
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