A traffic signal may seem like a small thing, but this simple form of infrastructure is crucial to a functional transportation system—and can even help with growing Victoria.

Transportation plays a big role in attracting economic development, especially big industries with freight to move. Large companies might prefer to set up their headquarters in larger cities, but when it comes to their factories and distribution centers—in short, facilities that create jobs and add value to the tax rolls—they look for cities with efficient transportation and no gridlock, ideally with a port or airport nearby. Victoria is in a good position to meet these needs, provided that we invest in our transportation network. 

Improving our transportation network can be a complex process because many different agencies have jurisdiction over different parts of that network; the City is responsible for local roads, the Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for state roads, and so forth. These agencies work together through the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which includes elected and appointed representatives of each agency, all working together to plan transportation projects in our region.

The MPO’s guiding document is the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), a 25-year transportation plan that gets updated every five years. The MPO is in the final stages of adopting our newest MTP, “Move Victoria 2050,” which sets transportation goals through the year 2050. 

Most of the projects in the new MTP are focused on our traffic control systems, addressing seemingly small features—such as the humble traffic light—that contribute to the functionality of our overall transportation system. Here are a few examples of upgrades included in the MTP to help avoid delays at traffic lights and keep traffic moving:

• New left turn signals at intersections that need them
• Hardware upgrades to avoid outages and four-way flashes
• Mast arms for improved safety and reliability
• Newer equipment that will eventually allow us to upgrade our software

Other planned improvements to our transportation system include new and better pedestrian signals and a more complete sidewalk network, which will help us meet the goals of our Active Transportation Master Plan by addressing the needs of residents who rely on this type of infrastructure.

These systems-based improvements are balanced out with big-ticket roadway projects that will make our roads safer and easier to navigate. Residents can look forward to the following road projects in our MTP:

• Continued I-69 corridor improvements that will bring us up to interstate standards
• Continued safety improvements on FM 236 and other county roads
• Installation of turnarounds at key points, such as the Guadalupe River Bridge
• Securing the railroad crossing at Tropical Drive near Victoria West High School

The MPO is planning to adopt the “Move Victoria 2050” MTP at the April 8 meeting. The formal comment period has closed, but if you’d like to view the plan and share your thoughts with us, go to www.victoriatx.gov/2050mtp. 

Maggie Bergeron is the Metropolitan Planning Organization Administrator for the City of Victoria.