State transportation officials in Texas report that recent investments in congestion-relief projects are helping drivers spend less time in traffic and saving commuters millions of dollars each year, even as the state experiences continued growth.
The 2025 Texas Top 100 Congested Road Segments Report shows that, compared to 2017, statewide delays in 2024 decreased by 12%, despite a 12% increase in travel. These improvements have resulted in an estimated $1.8 billion saved for Texas commuters in delay and fuel costs for 2024, which averages to about $240 per commuter annually.
“With more people driving on Texas roads, you might expect traffic-related problems to increase, but thanks to our projects throughout the state, delays are actually going down,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “It’s a testament to the incredible work our crews and engineers do every day and shows that the investments in transportation are working.”
Texas Transportation Commissioner Robert C. Vaughn added: “Could you imagine how tough our traffic challenges would be if TxDOT had not focused on targeted congestion relief projects over the last several years? Texas is leading the nation in active construction projects, which are helping people get to work faster and spend more time with their families.”
The Texas Clear Lanes program, started by Governor Greg Abbott in 2015, continues its focus on reducing congestion in major metropolitan areas. District-led projects by TxDOT are also making progress in smaller cities. About half of the top 100 most congested road segments were under construction during 2024.
David Schrank, senior research scientist at Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), commented: “Even with more people and more cars on the road, Texans are still doing better than they were five or ten years ago. That’s a direct reflection of the congestion-fighting strategies that have been put in place, especially Texas Clear Lanes and other mobility-enhancing projects across the state.”
A national report supports these findings. The newly released 2025 Urban Mobility Report found that Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston experienced about 39% less delay per mile of travel compared to similarly sized U.S. cities; San Antonio and Austin saw about 16% less delay.
Specific roadway improvements include a 15% reduction in delay on Dallas’ Stemmons Freeway; a 34% decrease along I-30/US 67 after completion of adjacent construction; an 18% drop along FM-2818 near Bryan–College Station; a 45% reduction near Laredo’s World Trade Bridge due to operational changes; and over a 50% improvement along Fort Worth’s I-820 corridor.
Despite these gains, Houston’s West Loop (I-610) remains the most congested road segment statewide. Ninety-six out of the top one hundred most congested segments are located within Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, or Austin.
In related national developments impacting transportation infrastructure:
– The U.S. Department of Transportation announced nearly $19.6 million awarded through its Small Shipyard Grant Program to help modernize shipyards across nineteen states.
– To mark the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DOT revealed winners of its Inclusive Design Challenge, aimed at improving mobility for people with disabilities.
– New federal guidance will distribute $7.3 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities prepare for extreme weather events.
– The Department has also convened partners for FLOW—Freight Logistics Optimization Works—to enhance supply chain efficiency through data sharing (details here).
These efforts reflect ongoing attempts at both state and federal levels to improve transportation systems while accommodating growth and changing demands.
