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UDOT details 2026 programming workshop as funds tighten, prioritizes pavement, bridges and safety
Summary
At a March programming workshop, UDOT staff outlined the FY27 funding outlook, the calendar for region workshops and STIP approvals, and recommended steady funding for pavement and bridge preservation while modestly boosting ITS and behavioral‑safety outreach.
UDOT staff presented a framework for the 2026 programming cycle, telling the Transportation Commission that constrained revenues and federal funding uncertainty will shape project lists sent for approval this spring. The department recommended holding program‑level funding steady in most categories while protecting prevention‑first pavement work and making modest increases to traffic‑management and safety outreach budgets.
The workshop laid out the statutory calendar and process that leads to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program: region workshops feed March program reviews; staff will ask the Commission for program‑level approval in May and for project‑level approvals in June; the draft STIP is then advertised for federal review and federal partners (FHWA/FTA) typically act by September or October. "This is what we are proposing to bring to you tomorrow for final resolution," Tiffany Polkoff, program development staff, said as she previewed the high‑priority corridor list the department will publish alongside policy drafts on the UDOT programming web page.
On the technical programs, pavement staff recommended preserving the department's current preservation emphasis. UDOT's model ties performance targets to funding: keep fewer than 5% of high‑volume lane‑miles in 'poor' condition and maintain more than 65% in 'good.' Carmen Swanwick said steady preservation funding yields the best return by catching pavement high on the deterioration curve and avoiding much more expensive reconstruction later.
Bridge staff said bridge deck area condition remains better than national averages on some metrics but warned of aging inventory: "We are seeing bridges age into the higher‑risk cohorts," presenters said, explaining that a targeted reconstruction fund covers larger replacement projects while formula and preservation dollars address routine bridge needs.
Operations staff asked for a modest increase in ITS deployment and signal maintenance to keep pace with a growing inventory of devices and roadside units. The department also proposed about a $0.5 million increase in the behavioral safety/Zero Fatalities program to expand outreach — teen and parent nights, Safe Routes to School, and a statewide media campaign — after staff showed that about 97% of recent fatal crashes include one of five risky behaviors (speed/aggression, impairment, distraction, drowsy driving, seat‑belt non‑use).
UDOT emphasized the funding constraints driving choices. Staff showed FY27 projections with TIFF and the transportation fund as the largest program buckets, federal highway funds flat in the near term, and a recent six‑month temporary gas‑tax reduction that will reduce UDOT revenues in FY27. The department said it will monitor federal reauthorization outcomes closely because several projects and new federal programs authorized by IIJA remain uncertain for future years.
Next steps: staff will publish the clean and redline policy drafts and the corridor and project lists on the UDOT programming page, and return to the Commission for program approval in May and project‑level actions in June.
