TxDOT opens public comment on statewide multimodal transit plan, launches implementation steps

TxDOT public transportation staff told MPO directors the agency is finalizing the Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan (SMTP) and will open a public comment period from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20 with virtual and in‑person meetings across the state.

The plan sets a long‑range vision for transit in Texas and identifies strategies drawn from stakeholder working groups and public input. TxDOT said it distilled roughly 250 candidate strategies into a set of initial implementation steps that will begin the transition from plan to action. Those steps include establishing a community of practice for small urban and rural transit providers; developing a statewide transit network hub plan; preparing flexible statewide transit planning and design guidance; broadening transit success metrics beyond traditional ridership measures; exploring new or more flexible funding sources; and conducting regular outreach to communicate transit benefits.

TxDOT public transportation staff said the formal public comment period will include seven in‑person meetings (McAllen, El Paso, Amarillo, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin) and complementary virtual exhibits and a survey. The agency expects internal review and final edits before the outreach push and said the steering committee and the public transportation advisory committee (PTAC) will be briefed during the fall engagement.

TxDOT framed the implementation steps as near‑term actions to help rural and small urban providers and to prepare for hub‑level, cross‑jurisdictional planning.