For product to move efficiently, it’ll move through Texas.
The state is home to 32 ports of entry, 23 seaports, 35 Foreign Trade Zones, 380 airports, over 314,600 miles of roadway and 10,500 miles of freight rail. Its central location and robust transportation network provides seamless reach to domestic and international markets. The industry contributes over $303 billion to Texas’ GDP annually.
State leadership has identified two target clusters — distribution and e-commerce, and transportation and aviation services — that its assets are well-positioned to serve.
The sector as a whole is responsible for supporting over 2.7 million jobs across the state, a majority of which are within the distribution and e-commerce cluster. By 2032, this cluster is expected to experience 41% GDP growth.
The transportation and aviation cluster will see an anticipated 29% increase for a total contribution of $450 billion to GDP.
“Not only are we easing commutes in larger cities, but we’re also helping rural areas, and improving Texans’ quality of life no matter where you live.”
— J. Bruce Bugg Jr., Texas Transportation Commission Chairman
These projections hold great promise. So the state is focused on the groundwork necessary to ensure, whether it be business or pleasure, movement from, to or within Texas take place with ease.
Smooth Travel Awaits
In August 2024, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced a 10-year $148 billion investment focused on enhancing the state’s transportation infrastructure. This record-breaking investment is the state’s largest to date, reflecting a $5.6 billion increase from the year prior.
U-Haul’s annual Growth Index has consistently seen Texas top its list as a leading growth state. For nearly a decade the state has ranked No. 1 or No. 2 among the 50 states in U-Haul moves into the state. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the state is now home to over 31 million residents, adding more than 562,000 new residents between July 2023 and July 2024. Increased growth is reliant on a dependable transportation system that benefits the day-to-day activity of its residents and businesses.
“Strengthening our roadways and transportation infrastructure is critical for Texas to remain the Best State for Business in the nation,” said Gov. Abbott. “With the adoption of this record-breaking $148 billion transportation investment, Texas will continue to meet the needs of Texans in rural, urban and suburban communities while also improving roadway congestion and safety. People come to Texas because we provide the freedom and opportunity they can’t find anywhere else, and that’s why we’re investing in the future of Texas roads. Projects like this will ensure our products and people can move quickly to keep the Texas economy booming. Together, we are building a bigger, better Texas for years to come.”
An investment breakdown shows that over $104 billion will be distributed over the next decade toward transportation projects outlined in TxDOT’s 2025 Unified Transportation Program (UTP). The UTP was created to serve as a roadmap of critical transportation projects and allow TxDOT to distribute allocated funding across 12 categories including Metropolitan and Urban Area Corridor Projects, Statewide Connectivity Corridor Projects and Strategic Priority Projects. The priority placed on many projects listed under the 2025 UTP was contingent on public feedback gathered and presented to the Texas Transportation Commission.
Texas leadership continue to invest in critical infrastructure projects that provide connectivity and resilience by air, road and rail.
Photos courtesy of Travel Texas
The investment announcement noted that many projects identified on the 2025 UTP are roadway segments that top Texas’ 100 Most Congested Roadways list. Projects moving forward this year take strategic focus to highly congested roads throughout districts in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and more.
New data released by Texas Transportation Institute show that hours of delay faced by a Texas commuter are down 15% in the last decade. This promising statistic comes as a result of transportation initiatives like Texas Clear Lanes. Since 2015, Texas Clear Lanes has supported $80 billion in projects, including roadways found on the Top 100 Most Congested Segments list, aiming to relieve congestion. To build upon the initiative’s success, Texas Clear Lanes will receive $1.9 billion in funding.
“We took the charge from Gov. Greg Abbott 10 years ago and turned it into a major program that provides congestion relief where it’s needed most,” said Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. “Not only are we easing commutes in larger cities, but we’re also helping rural areas, and improving Texans’ quality of life no matter where you live.”
Port Houston Bayport Terminal
Photos courtesy of Port Houston
Remaining funding will put $43 billion toward development and routine maintenance, a $17.3 billion investment into safety projects, and $1.7 billion dedicated to rural corridors and key roadways in economic hubs.
Industry Investment Rides In
Already home to top companies such as Amazon, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Walmart, R+L Carriers, UPS and more, Texas remains a key location for long-term logistics and distribution success.
Strategic transportation infrastructure investments have ushered in a wave of new project investment from domestic and international companies looking to streamline speed to market
RK Logistics Group will invest in a second fulfillment warehouse in Austin, Texas. This investment comes two years after the company arrived in Texas, locating its first 200,000-sq.-ft. distribution facility in the Austin suburb of Kyle.
The new 84,000-sq.-ft., 15-dock-door facility is strategically located near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which the company states will enhance operational efficiency and ensure support for mission-critical next-flight-out shipments. RK Logistics will use the new temperature-controlled warehouse to provide supply chain management services designed for semiconductor, automotive and EV battery operations.
Americold Realty Trust announced in March 2025 that the company would be investing $127 million to acquire a facility at the Cedar Port Industrial Park in Baytown, Texas. The investment comes as a result of Americold securing a grocery retail contract with a leading global retailer, selecting the Houston area due to the ability to serve a mix of customers in the market.
“This is a compelling example of Americold’s strategy to expand its market-leading presence in the high-turn, retail segment of the cold storage supply chain.” said Americold CEO George Chappelle. “This acquisition also furthers our strategy to purchase assets in key markets to support customer growth and deliver the world-class service that customers have come to expect from Americold.”
International players include Demark-based DSV, which is currently planning to expand its presence near the U.S.-Mexico border. The company announced a new $90 million investment to construct a 905,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Laredo, creating 178 new jobs. The new facility at the Porte Grande logistics park is located about 15 minutes away from the company’s current freight hub in the region.
