Benefits of Texas Traffic Management (TM) Grant Program: Volume I Executive Summary and Appendices A-B (8820-1)

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) was the administering agency for the Traffic Management (TM) Program, which was funded with Oil Overcharge funds made available by the Governor's Energy Office. The TM Program was approved by the United States Department of Energy as part of a package of transportation-related programs with the objective of reducing energy consumption. This grant program provided the sum of $7.5 million to local city governments across the state for minor geometric improvements at intersections, optimization of traffic signal timing plans, and implementing other traffic management techniques. As stated previously, the program's objective was to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate the flow of traffic, with the goal of achieving more efficient use of energy resources. With 51 completed projects, the TM Program has resulted in benefits that will pay for the cost of the program many times over. These benefits were estimated from the required "Before" and "After" studies that were submitted by the cities. These studies document the major goals of the TM Program -- reductions in 862 intersections in 26 cities being improved; the expenditure of $9.6 million of program funds and local matches; and reductions in fuel consumption, delay, and stops of 18.2 percent (14.9 million gallons), 32.7 percent (13.1 million hours), and 13.1 percent (457 million stops), respectively. The total savings to the public in the form of reduced fuel, delay and stops will be approximately $152.4 million ($118.6 million in the next year alone). In regard to fuel savings, Texas motorists are realizing $1.55 in savings for every dollar spent. These savings will continue to accrue in future years without any additional expenditures; therefore, the benefits to the public will be even greater. This report is the first of two volumes. The other volume is: Benefits of Texas Traffic Management (TM) Grant Program: Volume II. Appendices C - D