Abbott announces transportation investment

Image
  • Abbott announces
    Abbott announces
Body

Castro County will see more highway construction in the future as Governor Greg Abbott announced a record $142 billion in total investment for Texas’ transportation infrastructure, much of which will improve HWY 385 which is traveled heavily by truck transportation.

The record investment includes the unanimous adoption of the $100 billion 10-year statewide roadway construction plan with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for transportation projects to enhance safety, improve congestion and connectivity, and preserve Texas roadways.

The 2024 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) includes $1.5 billion in funding in the Lubbock District, which includes money for $54.2 million on three projects adding passing lanes to US 385 in Castro and Lamb counties, from US 70 in Lamb County to the Deaf Smith County Line; $10 million in investments to US 87 and SH 349 in Lamesa and Dawson County to widen the roadway and improve intersection safety; $35 million to build a new bridge on US 60 in Friona (Parmer County); and $331 million to continue construction on Loop 88 in Lubbock County.

“Thanks to our booming economy, Texas has achieved a major milestone in our transportation infrastructure with this record $142 billion investment that will strengthen our roadways and build a nextgeneration transportation network,” said Abbott.

“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,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “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 February, Abbott announced TxDOT’s proposed 2024 UTP, estimated to be $15 billion more than the 2023 UTP. With the State of Texas providing a majority of the funding, the 2024 UTP includes a total investment of over $142 billion for all development and delivery projects, right-of-way acquisition, engineering, routine maintenance contracts, and UTP construction funding.

The over $10 billion of average annual investment programmed in the UTP over the next 10 years is expected to bring an estimated $18.8 billion per year in economic benefits, per the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s analysis. These benefits are a result of increased labor income and business output, as well as the addition of 70,500 direct and indirect jobs.

Many of the projects in this plan are roadway segments identified on Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways list. Texas Clear Lanes congestion-relief projects will see an increase in funding, supporting $66.7 billion total investment for completed, under-construction, and planned non-tolled projects since 2015. Funding for rural projects also increased to $19.2 billion, a major jump from $2.2 billion in the 2016 UTP.

The UTP is a planning document that guides the development of transportation projects across the state. Additionally, the UTP identifies public transportation, maritime, aviation, and rail investments.

Projects are selected by TxDOT and local transportation leaders based on effectiveness in addressing criteria such as safety, pavement condition, capacity, and rural connectivity, with opportunities for public input at the both the state and local levels.