Texas recently announced a historic commitment to automobile infrastructure.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is planning $85 billion in roadway construction projects, as laid out in the 2023 Unified Transportation Program (UTP).
“TxDOT's 2023 Unified Transportation Program is a critical step toward addressing the diverse needs of Texans in rural, urban, and metropolitan communities,” according to a statement by Texas Governor Greg Abbot announcing the $85 billion UTP.
TxDOT Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr. is also quoted in the statement, making big promises about how the spending will relieve congestion in the state. “Additionally, we are making significant progress in addressing congestion in our busiest parts of the state through our Texas Clear Lanes initiative, which improves top chokepoints in our largest metro areas.”
The press release also claims that the $8.5 billion I average annual expenditures will yield $15.5 billion in annual benefits, as estimated by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. “These benefits are a result of increased labor income and business output, as well as the addition of 58,500 direct and indirect jobs,” according to the statement.
The TxDOT has a project tracker to monitor progress on 11,000 TxDOT projects.
Dug Begley broke the news about the forthcoming UTP spending plan for the Houston Chronicle in July. Since the governor’s announcement at the end oof August, multiple news outlets have picked up the story, including the Texan and the Center Square. No mention of greenhouse gas emissions nor air pollution are mentioned in any of the links shared here.
FULL STORY: Governor Abbott, TxDOT, announce record $85 billion 10-year transportation plan
A Freeway Rebellion Rises in the Unlikeliest of States: Texas
“There’s no train, there’s no bus, there’s no anything that supports mass transportation. It doesn’t exist.” -Houston resident Fabian Ramirez.
Controversial Highway Widening Breaks Ground in Austin
Texas’ transportation priorities were on display in March—a few days after the gutting of a transit plan, a highway expansion broke ground depite years of local opposition.
Rising Costs Threaten TxDOT’s $85 Billion Highway-Building Plans
Texas Transportation Commissioners must have a hangover—backing off its highway building ambitions just a few months after approving the $85 billion Unified Transportation Plan in August 2022.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service