Texas is making moves to stay ahead of the curve in transportation, recently hosting the Texas Transportation Forum to share the initiatives and successes in infrastructure as the state's population booms. At the event, Marc Williams, TxDOT’s Executive Director, underscored the growth the agency has seen in resources, as well as the leadership provided by Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. and Governor Greg Abbott, reported TxDOT.

With the aim of easing the notorious gridlock in urban areas, Texas is investing heavily, channeling funds into non-tolled projects valued at $80 billion under the Texas Clear Lanes program, and a forward-looking $104 billion Unified Transportation Program, highlighting a comprehensive 10-year plan comprised of construction projects to upgrade the state's infrastructure to meet current and future needs, while according to the agency’s Progress Report, they're also focused on safety, connecting communities, and supporting economic growth.

TxDOT's efforts are not just about the big cities – attention is also being paid to rural areas and border communities, with an 800% increase in funding for rural transportation since 2015 and a substantial $8.1 billion invested in border infrastructure. Bugg emphasized the agency’s motto, "Connecting you with Texas," signaling a wide-scope approach to infrastructural development, he told TxDOT attendees.

While Texas takes impressive strides in enhancing its transportation networks, it’s not doing so in isolation, the forum also saw the participation of transportation leaders from other rapidly growing states like Nevada and Utah, where the pressing matters of roadway safety through technology use and public engagement to alter driving behaviors that seem resistant to techno-fixes were hot topics, sparking discourse over how best to tackle these issues in a future, where cars likely drive themselves yet humans may still stick to their potentially hazardous habits.