TxDOT Considering Proposed Full Freight Mobility Plan, Including Upgrade To Border Crossings

Texas Department of Transportation Commissioners are considering a proposed full freight mobility plan that identified more than 2,400 projects expected to cost about $65 billion.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Commissioners are considering a proposed full freight mobility plan that identified more than 2,400 projects expected to cost about $65 billion.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the Fix America’s Surface Transportation Act also requires the state to seek more stakeholder input into deciding the priority list. Texas and Florida have the most freight congestion and freight handled in Texas is expected to double by 2045.

Texas Transportation Commissioners are expected to consider and approve a five-year model and have earmarked $12 billion to improve freight handling. TxDOT has identified 800 projects on the freight side of the 2,400 in the freight mobility plan.

The stakeholder committee has made more than 20 recommendations that urge better investment in multi-modal projects, improve and upgrade border crossings, make better use of a statewide traffic management system and integrate air and port cargo into spending decisions on transportation.

The FHWA allows Texas to spend 10 percent of freight-formula funding on non-road projects, and federal funding will be allocated after the new plan is submitted.

If the state does not meet the Dec. 4 deadline, the state will still get its portion of federal freight funding but that funding would not be allocated.

This story originally published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc.