SPI Insights

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has released a plan that would spend $85 billion over the next decade to improve its transportation infrastructure. The Unified Transportation Plan proposes freeway expansions in Texas’ major cities, as well as fixing both little and big streets across rural and urban areas.

The plan directs federal and state funding to highway, bridge, transit, airport, ferry, bike, and pedestrian projects. The plan, updated annually, divides the money TxDOT expects to have in coming years among maintenance, aviation, rural connectivity, and major projects in urban areas.

The commission will consider the proposal after it goes through the month-long public comment period, which closes August 8 at 4 p.m. A virtual public hearing is scheduled July 26. Approval is set for August 30.

Of the $12.5 billion destined for the Houston region in the plan, nearly half of it, $6.13 billion, is dedicated to the rebuild of Interstate 45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8 near Greenspoint.

In Starr County, TxDOT is looking at widening the road from Placido Road to north of Loma Blanca Road and is also looking at the Rio Grande City/Roma Relief Route. The cost of the two projects is more than $72 million.

The San Antonio region will receive $2.5 billion. In Bexar County six express lanes will be added to Interstate 35 between Loop 410 South and North at a cost of $940 million. Other projects include Loop 1604 from Texas 16 to U.S. 281, Loop 410 interchange at U.S. 281, and an upgrade to U.S. 90.

Twelve projects are listed for Cameron County at a cost of more than $264 million. Some of those projects include new frontage roads in San Benito from IH-69E and FM 732 intersection to Sherer Road and Business 77 intersection and widening of FM 732. 5 miles west of FM 1577.

Twenty-four projects are listed for Hidalgo County at a cost of more than $1 billion. Some of those projects include an upgrade to the freeway north of SH 186, intersection improvements in Edinburg from Business 281 West to IH-69 C, and widening of the road from 10th Street to McColl Road.