AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Transportation Commission discussed and approved the following items at a recent meeting:
The commission approved $85.4 million in state funds through Senate Bill 1555 for rail grade separation projects. This funding is a part of a major award for federal funding used to leverage more than $756 million from the Federal Railroad Administration. This is the highest collective award of any state in the nation and will fully fund 12 rail grade separation projects across the state.
These Texas Off-System Rail Grade Separation State Fund Program projects will minimize the chance of crashes at railroad crossings by reducing interactions between vehicles and railroad operations.
The commission also rescinded previously approved $5 million in SB 1555 award for the City of San Antonio’s Zarzamora Street/Frio City Road project. The city and district jointly elected not to move forward under this program. Those funds will return to the SB 1555 program balance for future redistribution.
Combined with funding approved in March 2026, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will deliver a total of 17 rail grade separation projects totaling $1.3 billion.
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The following employees were named to senior leadership roles:
- Katelyn Dwyer, Chief of Staff: Dwyer previously worked as Policy Analyst for the late Commission Chairman Bruce Bugg and was head of the commission support office.
- Cathy Kratz, San Angelo District Engineer: Kratz previously worked as Deputy Director of the Traffic Safety Division.
- Stephen Kasberg, Brownwood District Engineer: Kasberg previously was the Director of Maintenance for the Waco District.
- Ryan Jackson, Bryan District Engineer: Jackson was previously Deputy District Engineer at the Bryan District.
The commissioners praised recent project milestones throughout Texas, including the groundbreaking of the Sergio Ivan Rodriguez Memorial Pedestrian Bridge in Houston, the completion of the I-635 East corridor in Dallas, and the launch of Project Nexus, the air taxi pilot program, in Fort Worth.
The commissioners awarded low-bid value amounts of $218 million for 48 highway improvement projects, $25 million for 13 routine maintenance contracts, and $4.7 million for the construction and rehabilitation of three buildings.
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The commission awarded $32.4 million in state and federal grant funding for capital improvement projects at 13 airports.
Up to $26.7 million in state and Federal Transit Administration program funds were awarded to El Paso Area Transportation Services (EPATS). The funds were previously awarded to El Paso County, which has since formally transferred its responsibilities as a rural transit district to EPATS.
Commissioners granted a State Infrastructure Bank loan of up to $1.2 million to the City of Magnolia for utility relocation as part of the FM 1488 widening in Montgomery County. The SIB program assists communities with low-interest financing to meet their infrastructure needs.
