State transportation officials report that investments in congestion relief are helping Texas commuters spend less time in traffic and saving millions of dollars annually. The 2025 Texas Top 100 Congested Road Segments Report indicates that, despite a 12% increase in statewide travel since 2017, delays have decreased by the same percentage.
According to the report, these improvements resulted in an estimated $1.8 billion savings for Texas commuters in 2024 compared to eight years ago. This equates to about $240 saved per commuter each year due to reduced delay and fuel costs.
“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, launched by Governor Greg Abbott in 2015, continues targeting congestion issues primarily in large metropolitan areas while district-led efforts improve conditions elsewhere. About half of the top 100 congested road segments were under construction during 2024.
David Schrank of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute 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 recent national report supports these findings by showing that Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston have about 39% less delay per mile than similarly sized cities nationwide. San Antonio and Austin also experienced approximately 16% less delay.
Specific roadway improvements include a 15% reduction in delays on Dallas’ Stemmons Freeway; a 34% decrease along I-30/US 67 after completion of nearby construction; an 18% drop along FM-2818 near Bryan–College Station; a significant decline on Mines Road near Laredo’s World Trade Bridge; and over a 50% improvement along Fort Worth’s I-820 corridor.
Houston’s West Loop (I-610) remains the most congested road segment statewide. Ninety-six out of one hundred top segments are located within Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio, or Austin metro areas.
Other transportation initiatives across the country continue as well. For example, nearly $19.6 million was recently awarded through federal grants for shipyard modernization efforts aimed at increasing productivity and supporting local employment opportunities (https://www.maritime.dot.gov/newsroom/maritime-administration-awards-nearly-20-million-funding-strengthen-us-shipyard-economic). In addition, new guidance has allocated $7.3 billion nationally for states to better prepare for extreme weather events as part of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-administration-announces-new-protect-formula-program-73-billion-bipartisan).
Further information regarding year-to-year comparisons for all major road segments can be found online.
