Equity and Efficiency in TxDOT Infrastructure Funding: A Per Capita and Spatial Investment Analysis

Abstract

The funding allocation in public works plays a pivotal role in ensuring effective and equitable delivery of transportation infrastructure services. Especially in evolving and socioeconomically diverse regions such as the state of Texas, it acts as a key driver. This study investigates the geographic and per capita allocation of construction investment in the construction projects by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) during one annual funding cycle. It focuses on district-level differences in highway project funding. The project letting schedule, along with the project cost, was derived from the TxDOT project information dashboard. The budget allocated was compared to the district level with populations and geographic land area, and the analysis was derived based on equity per capita and square mile metrics. Notable disparities in the allocation of the funding were found where urban districts like Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Bryan received higher investment on a per-area basis compared to the other districts. Also, variation in the allocation of funding was found in developing districts like Bryan and Childress, which received substantial funding compared to other districts. By combining geographic mapping with measures of investment efficiency, the research offers a diagnostic overview of where infrastructure investment is directed relative to demographic and geographic characteristics. The results offer important considerations for state-level transportation planning, specifically in terms of the balance between economic efficiency and geographic equity. The analysis offers an analytic framework for examining alternative policies that govern infrastructure investment for promoting more balanced development of various regions.