The Texas Transportation Commission has been busy, and the latest scoop from its March 2025 meeting, as reported by TXDOT newsroom, is putting a spotlight on the rapid population growth in the state. The commission heard from Dr. Lloyd Potter, Texas state demographer, who pointed out the Lone Star state continues to add population faster than any other, with California shipping most of these new Texans over, followed at a distance by Florida, New York, and Maryland.
It seems that despite the population boom, commute times are somewhat stable, "which Potter said was a sign that congestion relief projects have been beneficial," this could mean the infrastructure growth is keeping pace, sort of, though it's a tight race with Texas having had 10 of the top 20 fastest-growing counties in the United States in 2024. Kaufman County, sniffing Dallas' backyard, grabbed the title of the fastest growing county in Texas that same year.
On the public transportation forefront, the Commission isn't neglecting rural areas, having awarded $8.2 million in both Federal Transit Administration (FTA) program funds and state money to assist entities like the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS), Central Texas Rural Transit District and Concho Valley Transit District – all designed to keep smaller communities connected and moving.
Infrastructure-wise, there's plenty to talk about too, with the commission green-lighting a hefty $1.2 billion spread over 61 highway improvement projects, and sprinkling another $44 million on 20 routine maintenance gigs, aviation's looking up as well with $9.2 million funneled into nine Texas airports to perhaps make the friendly skies a bit more accessible and recall us to the joys of terminal hangouts and snack bars.
