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.
Read the 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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
NYC bus network redesign speeds up Queens buses
Rush routes have seen a 4.6% speed increase after the redesign.
California High-Speed Rail Authority picks trainset manufacturer
The California High-Speed Rail Authority aims to start servicing passengers by 2033.
LA may place emergency ban on karaoke room permits
If Councilwoman Heather Hutt’s proposal passes, the moratorium would last between 45 days and one year.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority