April 14, 2026 - TRA Newswire - 

As our state’s population and economy continue to grow, The Texas Department of Transportation has been developing the Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan (Texas SMTP 2050) to help Texans get to where they want to go more effectively, efficiently and safely while meeting the needs of our fast-growing state and contributing to a next-generation transportation network.

At the 22nd Annual Southwestern Rail Conference, May 18-19 at the Hurst Texas Conference Center, Eric Gleason, Director of TxDOT's Public Transportation Division, will show how transit in Texas is at a crossroads. 

Registration for the two-day passenger and freight rail conference is $349.00 and will go up to $449.00 for late registration later this month.

The first-ever SMTP covers all transit modes including intercity, regional and urban rail as well as buses and other modes. 

The Texas Demographic Center (TDC) forecasts a 40% increase in population and a 33% increase in employment between 2020 and 2050 across the state. Most of this anticipated growth is projected to occur within the Texas Triangle megaregion, which includes Houston, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Austin, and San Antonio.

Developing a network by rail and road to connect Texans with transit options won't be inexpensive and it will take time to build out but it is urgently needed.

According to the 2023 statewide TxDOT Transportation Visioning Survey, in addition to roadways, 86% of respondents say it is important to improve public transit in Texas. Texas SMTP 2050 provides a framework for developing the improvements Texans want and many others need. The plan recommends a set of near-term initial priority steps along with high-level cost estimates for implementing the transit vision.

Each year, Texas transit systems provide nearly 230 million trips for riders throughout the state, connecting Texans to jobs, healthcare, recreational activities, educational opportunities, and other essential services.[1] Transit helps fuel the Texas economy by spurring economic activity, connecting businesses to qualified workers, and giving Texans a safe, low-cost travel option in response to their mobility needs.