Presenters warn statewide UTP funding projected to fall in 2027; local advocacy urged

Consultants Drew Campbell and Brandy Bird told the Rockwall County commissioner’s court that draft 2027 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) funding is estimated at about $94,000,000,000 for the 10‑year program, or roughly $9.4 billion per year, a decline from recent totals and a worry for new project starts.

"The estimates, the funding levels are estimated to be $94,000,000,000 in the 2027 UTP," Brandy Bird said, adding that federal reauthorization and falling Proposition 1 revenues tied to lower oil prices are primary drivers of the reduction. She said TxDOT built up a large cash balance that the 2023 legislature directed be spent down, further reducing funds available for new projects.

Drew Campbell framed the presentation around the need for organized advocacy to secure district funding, noting the Dallas District has historically secured accelerated projects when local governments and legislators coordinate. "If you're not organized and you're not working together with other groups, like minded groups, the dollars will flow somewhere else," Campbell said.

Bird and Campbell also described how inflation and supply constraints have reduced purchasing power for construction — Campbell estimated roughly a 25% loss of buying power over recent years — and reviewed how TxDOT's "rack-and-stack" and project-acceleration processes have shifted which projects reach construction. Bird said the highway cost index has recently begun to ease and bids are coming in lower, which could allow more projects to be advanced if revenues permit.

The presentation closed with a request that local commissioners engage their legislative delegations and congressional representatives to protect or expand transportation funding, particularly while the federal reauthorization and state budget decisions are pending. The court had no formal vote on funding policy during the session.