The Time to Invest in Transportation is Now

by Brandye L. Hendrickson, Deputy Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation

The I-35 Waco project is officially complete: four new mainlanes in each direction, reconstructed frontage roads and ramps, enhanced safety design, and improved pedestrian and bicycle access. All the credit in the world belongs to the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Waco District, the contractors, local stakeholders, and the Waco and Bellmead communities for their patience during construction.

The almost 13,000 women and men that work at TxDOT have the same mission: Connecting You with Texas. There are seven strategic goals that guide the agency to achieve that mission, so it’s not just a meaningless bumper sticker motto. One of the strategic goals is to deliver the right projects, which means adhering to planned budgets and schedules and using scenario-based forecasting to plan projects. Ultimately, the I-35 project was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, but more importantly, the project was delivered for the right reasons. Waco is a major freight route and carries more than 100,000 vehicles per day— a number that is expected to increase substantially in the future. The I-35 project is in place now to withstand the enormous growth forecasted not just for Texas, but for Waco.

Fortunately, Texas and the federal government have recognized that the time to invest in transportation is now. Texas voters spoke loudly in 2014 and 2015 when they voted by massive majorities in favor of Propositions 1 and 7 to dedicate more funding to transportation needs. 2014’s Proposition 1 is a constitutional amendment that directs more funds to transportation by directing a portion of oil and gas severance tax revenue to the State Highway Fund. And 2015’s Proposition 7 dedicates a portion of the state’s general sales and use taxes to build highway projects. Together, the funding is now expected to provide about 40% of Texas’ total project funding over the next ten years. The total amount of new transportation funding Texas has received from these sources is now $26.5 billion total.

Then in November 2021, federal leaders passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA. The IIJA is Congress’ standard highway authorization bill — similar to previous authorization bills MAP-21 or the FAST Act — and authorizes federal transportation funding over five years. Combined with previous propositions passed by Texas voters, the IIJA will help us keep people connected, in Waco and throughout Texas, during this unprecedented boom. The IIJA authorizes $1.2 trillion for transportation, broadband, electricity grid and water infrastructure, including $351 billion for highway programs, of which $307 billion goes to states — that’s $26.9 billion for Texas.

In combination, Propositions 1 and 7 with the IIJA provided money for highway bridge replacement, and the rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of public roads, as well as funding bridge construction and maintenance, rural transit, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

TxDOT, through our districts, Local Government Projects Program, and multi-modal divisions, is assisting local governments and Metropolitan Planning Organizations with the administration and coordination of grant awards to ensure the successful implementation of IIJA grants, and this increased funding due to the IIJA has had a major impact on TxDOT’s 10-year project development plan. The Unified Transportation Program, or UTP, approved by the Texas Transportation Commission last August, serves as a 10-year plan to guide the development of nearly 7,000 transportation projects in Texas and supports projects in every region of the state — rural, urban, and metro areas. The 2023 UTP is approximately $85 billion — a historic dollar amount, providing significant funding for safety investment, statewide connectivity, metro mobility and other strategic priorities, including $5 billion for our Texas Clear Lanes projects, which address Texas’ biggest congestion chokepoints in TxDOT’s most populous districts.

In using these funds, TxDOT awarded more contracts than ever in 2022 -- about $10.6 billion. That is double the amount of contract awards just nine years ago. Our divisions and districts are working hard to accelerate projects already in the pipeline to ensure we maximize the opportunity to put those dollars to work and “turn dirt” to deliver the safety, mobility and connectivity improvements that Texans expect and deserve.

Waco occupies a strategic location in the economic powerhouse that is the Lone Star State. Two interstates, I-14 and I-35, run through or near the city and serve as a transportation hub for commercial travelers and through motorists alike. With the current population at just over 260,000, estimates forecast that McLennan County will eclipse a population of 300,000 by 2045. Additionally, population and employment along the Texas I-35 corridor are projected to increase by more than 80% and 77%, respectively, by 2040. Approximately $750 billion dollars in goods is transported on I-35 each year, and much of it travels through Waco.

And, it’s not just residents moving in and taking advantage of I-35. With its easy accessibility off the interstate, Waco has welcomed millions of tourists over the past few years, providing businesses with an additional stream of customers and revenue. TxDOT and Waco have an opportunity to get ahead of the projected population growth and increased visitors areawide. Even with the completion of the I-35 project through Waco, TxDOT’s work in the area is not done. There are exciting transportation solutions that will serve Waco and its growing business community for decades to come.

Most people associate TxDOT with motor vehicles. The agency is primarily funded through state motor fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, and TxDOT’s work is driven by trucks and construction vehicles. However, residents in the communities we serve, including Waco, travel in numerous ways, which has pushed TxDOT to become a multimodal transportation agency. TxDOT and the Waco District have a clear call to action during the project design process to construct pedestrian and bicyclist facilities, as well as roads.

With five local colleges and universities, Waco is a natural city for the backpack-carrying pedestrian and bicyclist. Walkability and accommodating bicyclists in today’s multimodal world are a necessity for fostering a healthy business environment for the city. TxDOT has a proven record of demonstrating support for these modes of transportation. The I-35 project added more than 12 miles of ADA-compliant sidewalks, upgraded eight crossings with pedestrian and bike access, and improved lighting. During construction and after the final concrete pour, TxDOT is here to serve pedestrians and motorists, alike.

The Waco business community understands that to grow, no matter the industry, innovation is crucial. TxDOT is no different in that regard. TxDOT is in the business of creating innovative construction techniques and design elements in Waco and throughout Texas. An innovative design that TxDOT plans to implement is a roundabout at the Potts Interchange (Waco Drive and BUS 77 intersection.) Roundabouts improve safety using two design features. The circular central island reduces vehicle speeds and prevents the high-speed, T-bone collisions seen at traditional intersections. The splitter islands serve as a refuge for pedestrians and smoothly deflect traffic into the roundabout, forcing vehicles to slow down further. The Potts interchange is emblematic of the growth Waco has experienced in recent decades. Prior to the interstate highway system, heavy traffic into Waco traveled through various Texas and US highways. To maximize efficiency, the Potts Interchange was constructed 70 years ago to allow motorists to travel on a gradeseparated system at a more free-flowing pace. Today, TxDOT plans to construct a roundabout in the area to improve operational and safety measures at the intersection for not only vehicle traffic but for pedestrians and bicyclists. Future improvements along the US-77 corridor will include up to three or four additional roundabouts. The previous freeway section will transition into a multi-modal boulevard section to meet future changing uses of the local community, Baylor University and both pedestrians and bicyclists.

Social media, smart phones, and communication technology have introduced an entirely new dynamic for businesses. Advertising and customer service are just a few of the business practices that have been completely changed by the emerging technology we see in the business world. In planning the I-35 project, TxDOT Waco identified communication as one of the key objectives in conducting our business.

Ongoing construction is not convenient for business owners — and that is a fact TxDOT does not take lightly. More so, with its advantageous placement surrounding the interstate, TxDOT anticipated how critical it would be to communicate project updates for community businesses. Clear and concise communication was needed during the project to keep business owners apprised of updates that could impact their business and their customers. TxDOT’s Waco District and its contractors, CD&P and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, engaged in more than 400 in-person visits with businesses and residents during the project to provide updates; that’s more than 100 visits a year to businesses in a concentrated six-mile area. Social media and email updates, dynamic websites and old-fashioned mailers were used to communicate with local businesses. With the success of agency-to-business communication demonstrated during the project, the Waco District has a blueprint going forward to guide future construction projects that will impact Waco businesses.

TxDOT’s priority as a transportation agency is safety for workers and the traveling public. November 7, 2022, marked 22 years of daily deaths on Texas roads — more than 79,000 lives lost in fatal crashes. That’s why TxDOT created the End the Streak safety campaign to raise awareness about the long streak of traffic fatalities in Texas. 2021 was the second deadliest year since TxDOT began tracking this data in 1940, with nearly 4,500 people killed. TxDOT’s Waco District has committed more than $30 million of safety projects. In McLennan County alone, TxDOT has committed funding to an illumination project on State Highway 6 near Lake Waco, cable median barrier installation on US 84 heading to McGregor, and traffic and pedestrian signal improvements at North 19th Street and Park Lake Drive, by the popular H-E-B grocery store. All safety funding allocated ensures the Waco community has its transportation needs addressed and that roadways are as safe as possible for motorists.

Last year, City of Waco City Manager Bradley Ford reported that Waco hit impressive economic benchmarks, including increased sales activity and the second highest monthly sales tax amount in Waco’s history, despite the inflation woes and a potentially grim outlook nationally. More and more people are moving to Waco and more and more travelers are visiting Waco to explore what the city has to offer. I cannot think of a better time for a business to be a part of Waco, and I am excited that TxDOT is a committed partner during the city’s growth.