DOTD details $1.9 billion capital program, urges better prioritization and bundling to meet delivery targets

DOTD undersecretary Barbara Aguilar and Secretary Glenn Laday briefed the House Ways and Means Committee on the department’s capital requests and delivery performance. Laday described the department’s funding mix — federal obligation limits, local matches, the Transportation Trust Fund and capital outlay — and explained how the department aligns federal buckets, match and state capital outlay line items to form a roughly $1.9 billion capital program in the current fiscal cycle.

Laday said the Highway Priority Program (HPP) and associated federal funds drive the bulk of DOTD’s program and that the agency is pursuing multiple transformation initiatives — construction scheduling software, improved contractor coordination and data‑driven prioritization — to increase delivery. "When you just talk about the highway priority program, this book is 79% this fiscal year," Laday said, adding that DOTD expects to approach the low‑90s percent in delivery next year as transformation measures take hold.

Agency presenters described using P5 commitments for multiyear projects where other colors of money are available to support near‑term construction and argued that a broader, transparent use of commitments and bundling can free up P1 capacity for other projects. DOTD officials also flagged the challenge of matching federal grants and earmarks and noted that some capacity projects (large corridor expansions) remain dependent on supplemental funding sources.

Members asked about match requirements, local project administration and how the mega‑project vehicle sales tax fund is treated. DOTD said those appropriations historically appear in HB2 when reallocated and that some dedicated revenues have been suspended in year‑to‑year practice; the agency offered to follow up with project‑level detail for affected districts.