TxDOT Q4 2026 Projected Spending
How is TxDOT projected spending distributed by job size and district?
McKenna Wolfe
Co-founder, Bidlo
The distribution of projected spending is heavily driven by the TEX-Size tier, which alone is expected to account for approximately $10.89 billion, creating a pronounced emphasis on larger scale projects.
Projected spending is notably concentrated in a few districts, with Houston leading at a rolling total of about $712.9 million for FY 2029 Q3, while the contrasting positions of Austin and Dallas highlight varying trajectories across the state.
Volatility is evident, particularly in districts like Dallas and San Antonio, which face declines, while Houston exhibits a stable, upward trend, showcasing a mix of steady and fluctuating patterns in projected spending.
Projected spending for Texas continues to rise compared to historical averages, with the FY 2029 Q2 forecast reaching approximately $3.04 billion, signifying a robust upward trend. This marks a substantial increase from past figures, reflecting a shift in investment priorities and funding distribution across the state.
Expenditures are noticeably inclined towards the TEX-Size tier, projected to account for nearly $10.89 billion of total spending, which suggests a clear focus on larger project undertakings. Meanwhile, Small and Medium tiers are also significant, expected to contribute around $9.26 billion and $5.77 billion respectively over the forecast horizon.
Houston consistently showcases significant leadership in projected spending, exemplified by a rolling total of about $712.9 million for FY 2029 Q3.
Austin is on an upward trajectory, with a noted surge indicative of increased activity in Large and TEX-Size projects.
Dallas is experiencing a marked decline in forecasted spending, contrasting sharply with positive trends in nearby districts.
San Antonio reflects a downward pattern, signaling potential challenges in project acquisition and execution.
Abilene's rolling average indicates a steady but limited spending pattern, peaking at $58.5 million in FY 2027 Q1 yet dipping to $28.0 million by FY 2029 Q4. The tier mix shows a focus on Small projects, with $336.2 million over the forecast period from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4, supported by 255 Small jobs, reflecting a concentrated yet narrow project base. Actual counts reveal peaks of $44.1 million in FY 2029 Q3, slipping to $16.4 million in FY 2029 Q4. This underscores a reliance on Small projects, leading to volatility in spending levels as noted in the job count, which does not diversify across tier sizes.
Amarillo demonstrates a consistent pattern in rolling averages with a peak of $91.0 million in FY 2027 Q1, tapering to $44.9 million in FY 2029 Q4. A mixed tier engagement manifests with $269.5 million in Small projects and $124 million in Medium, reflecting a diverse balance in project types initiated during the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4. As for actual figures, Amarillo experienced a spike of $224.6 million in FY 2027 Q3, which contrasts starkly against a low of just $4.1 million in FY 2028 Q4. The district's engagement pattern across 155 Small jobs exhibits a dependence on fewer project types, contributing to a somewhat episodic project flow overall.
Atlanta showcases a vigorous trajectory in spending with a rolling average peak at $61.1 million in FY 2029 Q2, indicating elevated levels of engagement. The tier mix highlights a dynamic distribution across Small and TEX-Size projects, with total spending amounting to $235.6 million in Small and $237.3 million in TEX-Size across the forecast from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4, underscoring a focus on varied tiers. In terms of actual performance, Atlanta's spending surged to $382.6 million in FY 2029 Q1 before dipping to a mere $3.5 million in FY 2028 Q4. This suggests volatility, especially given the numerous jobs spread across various tiers, yet highlights the district's ability to secure significant project commitments.
Austin maintains an upward momentum with a rolling average peaking at $346.4 million in FY 2029 Q4, driven predominantly by TEX-Size initiatives. This steady cadence is complemented by an impressive tier mix revealing dominance in TEX-Size, which contributes around $2.53 billion over the forecast period from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4 and reflects a robust market engagement. Actual figures reveal an exceptional spike of $1.64 billion in FY 2029 Q2, emphasizing Austin's strong position in capturing substantial contracts, while experiencing a drop-off to $24.4 million in FY 2029 Q3. The job count over this period indicates an active engagement, with 252 projects in the Small tier reinforcing the diverse project pipeline.
Beaumont illustrates a relatively stable spending roster with rolling averages reaching up to $102.8 million in FY 2029 Q2, reflecting a moderate engagement across various tiers. The total tier mix across the forecast span from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4 encompasses $267.8 million in Small, $245.8 million in Medium, and $396.0 million in Large projects, indicating a balanced portfolio. In actual spending terms, Beaumont peaked at $542.4 million in FY 2028 Q1, showcasing a strong engagement level, while dwindling down to just $4.9 million by FY 2029 Q4. The district's reliance on diverse projects—evidenced by a total of 168 Small jobs—reinforces its stable yet varied engagement with project types.
Brownwood's spending reflects fluctuations with a rolling average high of $30.1 million in FY 2028 Q4, suggestive of episodic spikes within a generally steady trend. The engagement profile shows a notable diversification with $137.5 million in Small, $40.0 million in Medium, and $111.6 million in Large projects across the timeframe from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4. When examining actual counts, Brownwood experienced a peak in FY 2028 Q4 at $133.0 million, but faced a significant dip to $3.7 million in FY 2027 Q3. This suggests a reliance on a few larger jobs, while the overall count across 201 Small jobs indicates a predominant focus on smaller initiatives within the market.
Bryan shows signs of healthy activity with a rolling average high-point at $145.9 million in FY 2028 Q2, reflecting a promising trend in engagement. This district enhances its tier distribution with a robust mix, totaling $354.3 million in Small, $57.7 million in Medium, $393.4 million in Large, and $501.6 million in TEX-Size throughout the forecast spanning from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4. In the realm of actual spending, Bryan reached an impressive $347.1 million in FY 2028 Q2 before dropping to just $5.8 million by FY 2029 Q4, suggesting notable volatility. The job count spans various tiers, contributing to a mixed market approach characterized by significant workloads across diverse project types.
Childress’s rolling averages exhibit modest highs, with a peak at $23.5 million in FY 2027 Q1 alongside a dip to $12.1 million in FY 2029 Q4, illustrating a steady yet restrained engagement strategy. The profile predominantly consists of Small projects, accumulating $126.2 million over the forecast span from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4, showcasing a narrow but focused base of work. In actual terms, Childress peaked at $25.2 million in FY 2028 Q1, dropping to a low of $3.2 million in FY 2027 Q3. Although the count details show 86 Small projects, the limited range indicates that heightened investment is necessary to stimulate more diverse market engagement in the coming periods.
Corpus Christi exhibits a mixed pattern, with a rolling average peaking at $85.4 million in FY 2027 Q2 before declining to $53.0 million in FY 2029 Q3. The forecast indicates a focus on Large projects, with tier contributions totalling $280.3 million from Small, $52.0 million from Medium, and $384.4 million from Large over the twelve quarters spanning from FY 2027 Q1 to FY 2029 Q4. In terms of actual spending, Corpus Christi peaked at $162.5 million in FY 2027 Q2 yet dipped to just $15.9 million by FY 2029 Q3. This suggests a sporadic engagement where job counts remain concentrated, reflecting a total of 209 projects in the Small category but only 5 in Large, indicating fluctuating opportunities reliant on the timing of larger contracts.
Dallas showcases a turbulent trajectory, indicated by a notable peak of $399.4 million in FY 2027 Q1, which sharply contrasts with a low of $177.3 million in FY 2028 Q4. Its rolling averages illustrate volatility, as the forecast tier mix shows significant financial diversity, with Small projects contributing $841.1 million, Medium at $331.4 million, and a large TEX-Size presence of $1.08 billion throughout the forecast horizon. Looking at the raw dollar figures, Dallas attained a record high of $1.22 billion in FY 2029 Q1 before sinking to just $22.6 million in FY 2029 Q3. The substantial contrasts in quarterly figures signify a spend-heavy concentration on a limited number of projects, alongside a relatively modest job count of 340 for Small projects, suggesting a dynamic but less consistent market approach.
El Paso maintains a solid yet episodic flow, highlighted by a peak rolling total of $99.7 million in FY 2028 Q2, which mixed with lower figures like $48.7 million in FY 2027 Q4, reflects moderate spending volatility. The primary tier mix reveals a significant focus on TEX-Size projects, amounting to $486.1 million, which complements the overall distribution of $203.4 million from Small and $173.9 million from Medium over the forecast span from FY 2027 Q1 to FY 2029 Q4. In terms of actual counts, El Paso’s peak actual spending reached $570.4 million in FY 2028 Q2, with a stark dip to just $495K by FY 2029 Q4. The engagement indicates a reliance on fewer, larger contracts while accumulating 149 jobs in Small, suggesting a balanced approach anchored by select high-value projects.
Fort Worth shows a fluctuating yet promising outlook, achieving a notable peak of $166.3 million in FY 2029 Q4, set against a low of $105.6 million in FY 2027 Q3. The rolling averages signal a diverse engagement across tiers, with a total of $465.4 million from Small, $432.1 million from Medium, and an impressive $561.0 million from TEX-Size as part of the cumulative analysis covering from FY 2027 Q1 to FY 2029 Q4. The actual spending figures reveal a local high-water mark of $614.2 million in FY 2029 Q4 but a sharp drop to $14.3 million in FY 2029 Q3. This suggests that while Fort Worth enjoys significant peaks, its job count, particularly in Small and Medium tiers reporting 270 and 18 jobs respectively, indicates reliance on a handful of robust projects.
Houston stands out with a robust rolling average, marked by a peak of $712.9 million in FY 2029 Q3, indicative of a consistently elevated cadence over preceding quarters. The tier contributions are noteworthy, showcasing an impressive $936.2 million from Small, $1.16 billion from Medium, $1.76 billion from Large, and a commanding $2.59 billion from TEX-Size, collectively reflecting a rich project mix spanning from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4. In actual terms, Houston experienced substantial spending with a record high of $1.65 billion in FY 2028 Q1, contrasted with just $84.7 million in FY 2027 Q1. The substantial job count reaching 424 for Small suggests a solid foundation of smaller projects reinforcing the district while also underscoring the capacity for heavy engagement with larger contracts.
Laredo reveals a more erratic pattern, with a peak of $88.5 million in FY 2027 Q2 juxtaposed with a nadir of $31.6 million in FY 2029 Q4. The rolling averages point to a diverse project engagement, although total forecast contributions from tiers reveal lower aggregate values: $182.4 million from Small, $126.1 million from Medium, and $71.1 million from Large across the forecast timeline of FY 2027 Q1 to FY 2029 Q4. Actual spending figures depict variability, with highs of $149.0 million in FY 2029 Q1 and a grim low of $3.6 million in FY 2028 Q3. This blend indicates a scarcity of jobs, especially with only 114 in Small, which may suggest a concentrated dependency on specific periods for project engagements and funding.
Lubbock’s financial patterns display steady engagement, with rolling averages reaching a peak of $66.0 million in FY 2027 Q1 and a low of $30.4 million in FY 2029 Q4. The overall tier mix illustrates a lean toward smaller and Medium projects, with totals of $126.9 million from Small, $97.0 million from Medium, and $141.3 million from Large in the forecast horizon from FY 2027 Q1 to FY 2029 Q4. In terms of actual figures, Lubbock's peak reached $204.9 million in FY 2029 Q1, which reflects a solid outcome, while the dive to $949K in FY 2027 Q3 illustrates occasional volatility. The job count mirrors this activity at 181 for Small projects, suggesting potential strength in ongoing engagement despite fluctuations in immediate financial incentives.
Lufkin exhibits a relatively muted trend, as seen in its rolling average peaking at $34.8 million in FY 2028 Q1, reflecting steady rather than dramatic spending patterns. The forecasts encompass primarily Small projects, indicating a concentrated focus with $216.6 million from Small while contributions from Medium and Large are minimal, showcased over the forecast period from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4. In actual budget terms, Lufkin reached a peak of $58.1 million in FY 2028 Q1, with a significant drop to just $494K by FY 2027 Q2. The job count totals 152 in Small tier projects, hinting at a predominantly smaller-focused market that indicates a steady yet cautious approach.
Odessa's rolling averages reflect a turbulent pattern with a peak of $108.9 million in FY 2029 Q2, while experiencing a notable dip to $78.3 million in FY 2029 Q1. The engagement across tiers showcases a reliance on Medium and TEX-Size projects, indicating focused market dynamics. In terms of actual spending, Odessa reached a peak of $472.6 million in FY 2029 Q2, contrasting sharply with a low of just $1.0 million in FY 2027 Q4. This fluctuation underlines a mixed performance, particularly with a count of 196 Small jobs contributing significantly to the overall project landscape over the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
Paris showcases a steady approach with rolling averages maintaining around $108.0 million, hinting at a controlled but effective project pipeline. The distribution is heavily reliant on Large projects, suggesting a predilection towards significant undertakings in the area. Looking at actual counts, Paris experienced a peak of $361.2 million in FY 2028 Q3, contrasted by a dip to only $874K in FY 2029 Q4. The actual tier mix shows robust engagement with 195 Small jobs alongside large-scale initiatives, indicating a healthy balance of volume and value through the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
Pharr's forecast reveals a mixed trajectory with rolling averages peaking at $147.8 million in FY 2027 Q1, but experiencing a significant fall to $114.7 million in FY 2029 Q3. This volatility reflects a diverse approach across tier levels, particularly with a notable presence of TEX-Size projects. In terms of actual spending, Pharr achieved a substantial high of $337.2 million in FY 2029 Q1 while falling to a low of $12.1 million in FY 2028 Q4. The tier mix here indicates engagement across Small, Medium, and Large categories, with 272 Small projects revealing an inclination towards maintaining a consistent volume of work over the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
San Angelo has shown mixed patterns in rolling averages, with a peak of $41.5 million in FY 2029 Q3 and a dip down to $32.4 million in FY 2027 Q1. This signals diversity in project engagement across tiers, with notable contributions primarily from Medium-sized projects. In terms of actual spending, San Angelo saw a peak of $117.6 million in FY 2028 Q2, while dipping to just $8.1 million in FY 2027 Q4. The tier mix reveals a focus on Small and Medium projects, with a count of 168 Small jobs suggesting a concentrated effort towards building capacity in these sections throughout the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
San Antonio exhibits a robust and upward trajectory with rolling averages peaking at $243.3 million in FY 2029 Q1, followed by consistent performance across subsequent quarters. This suggests strong project engagement, particularly within Large and TEX-Size sectors. Looking at actual figures, San Antonio boasting a peak of $697.2 million in FY 2029 Q1 signifies a dynamic period for the district, especially when paired with a noticeable drop to $685K in FY 2027 Q4. The tier mix highlights 326 Small projects, indicating a broad base of activity supporting the higher value undertakings across the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
Tyler's forecast trends appear balanced but episodic, with rolling averages reaching a local high of $83.8 million in FY 2028 Q3 before settling to $53.1 million in FY 2029 Q4. This fluctuation hints at a measured approach in project pacing, with engagement across Small and Medium tiers predominantly. In terms of actual counts, Tyler's peak of $174.4 million in FY 2029 Q4 aligns well with a dip to $9.9 million in FY 2029 Q3. The breakdown shows solid engagement with 202 Small projects, suggesting a steady undercurrent of community-focused developments throughout the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
Waco presents a dynamic picture with rolling averages peaking at $115.3 million in FY 2029 Q2, demonstrating a good mix of activity across various projects. The heavy engagement in TEX-Size projects indicates a focus on larger infrastructure efforts in the region. In terms of actual figures, Waco's peak of $842.9 million in FY 2029 Q1 contrasts with a low of $10.1 million in FY 2028 Q3. The tier mix reflects a strong push with 249 Small projects, showcasing diverse avenues for community development throughout the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
Wichita Falls shows a nuanced trend with rolling averages reaching a high of $84.4 million in FY 2027 Q2 before dipping to $37.1 million in FY 2029 Q4. This variability illustrates a fluctuating but sustained effort in project expenditure, underscoring its focus on TEX-Size engagements. Looking at actual counts, the district recorded a notable peak of $320.0 million in FY 2027 Q2, with a lower limit of $2.4 million in FY 2027 Q3. This suggests a reliance on just a few significant projects, as indicated by the tier breakdown supporting a total of 165 Small jobs, indicative of a strategic approach to project management over the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
Yoakum's rolling averages depict a steady commitment to project readiness with a peak of $141.4 million in FY 2027 Q1, followed by a downturn to $52.7 million in FY 2028 Q4. This illustrates a growing but cautious profile with substantial contributions from TEX-Size projects. In terms of actual spending, Yoakum reached a peak of $267.0 million in FY 2027 Q1, contrasting sharply with a dip to $3.3 million in FY 2028 Q4. The mix suggests a predominant focus on Small projects, with 251 such jobs indicating an effort to maintain local engagement across the forecast window from FY 2027 Q1 through FY 2029 Q4.
