AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation is asking for your input on the 2025 United Transportation Program, a ten-year plan of proposed roadway improvements across the state of Texas over the next decade.

That includes projects like widening I-35 in parts of Central Texas and the Capital Express Project.

The price tag is $104 billion statewide. Here in the Austin area, some projects would begin next year, like the intersection of 183 and Presidential Boulevard and others would begin in 2029, like the intersection of Loop 360 and Spicewood Springs Road.

“I work in the service industry and one of the biggest complaints I get from a lot of tourists and a lot of even my own employees who are Austinites is traffic. And I lived in Houston. So, I know traffic, but this infrastructure is just really bad, “said Mituel Farias. He is very familiar with sitting in traffic. “When I was commuting from San Antonio here, we're talking 10 pm at night, full traffic,” he said. He doesn't mind the prospect of construction, as long as there is some relief in sight. “There's always going to be frustration, why you know, just because construction is taking forever, but you know everything good has to be you have to wait for something good.”

The Texas Department of Transportation released the 2025 United Transportation Program proposed improvements for the Austin district – including I-35, the Capital Express Project, and parts of State Highway 130. “So, this UTP is the largest we've had in Texas at $104 billion in funds over the next 10 years. And its purpose is to fund projects that will improve Texas transportation systems for years to come,” said Kellen Mohrmann, a spokeswoman for TXDOT.

It is the price of growth in Texas – where the Texas demographic center shows there could be nearly 35 million people in the Lone Star state by 2035 when the UTP ends. “Texas economy is growing, the population here is growing, the UTP is also growing to accommodate those changes especially in critical areas like safety, like congestion and connectivity, to make sure that we are meeting the transportation needs of the people,” Mohrmann said.

The public comment period begins today and runs through August 5. There will be a virtual public meeting on July 31st, and after the public comment period closes, the transportation commissioners will vote on it.