When working well, the infrastructure we use is all but invisible. Its seamless integration into our daily lives means we rarely stop to think "How did this get here?" Sounds Like Infrastructure reveals the secrets and stories behind some of the world’s biggest infrastructure projects. Learn more at Ferrovial.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
22 - TEXpress Lanes: A Decade of Faster Commutes
Let's travel back in time, about 100 years, to the state of Texas. Today, five of the most populated cities in the United States are here, but in the early 20th century, it was a small rural community connected by dirt paths. The arrival of industrialization completely transformed the area, especially two communities, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
Transportation advancements contributed to its rapid expansion, with one critical network: highways. However, there came a point when the development of the road network and population growth became uncoordinated. This presented a challenge: How can we create a future transportation network that supports sustainable population and economic growth?
The mission was clear: designing a project to enhance urban mobility while tackling congestion and traffic jams. But the challenge was anything but simple, as we had to accommodate over 13 million vehicles on the roads. Our team started looking for a real-time solution that wouldn't take years to implement, and that's when the concept of Managed Lanes was born.
This groundbreaking system introduces additional lanes with advanced technology that analyzes traffic patterns and creates a pricing strategy tailored to demand. By offering drivers the choice to use these lanes, we reduce traffic and revolutionize how people move around.
In this episode, join Jose Espinosa, CEO of Texpress Lanes, and María Chávez, sustainability manager at Cintra, the highways subsidiary of Ferrovial, as they dive deep into the workings of this innovative system. Discover how the LBJ Express, NTE, and NTE 35W set the standard for sustainable mobility in Texas.
Sounds of Infrastructure is a collaboration between Ferrovial and Yes We Cast. Our team includes Francisco Izuzquiza, Alberto Espinosa, Ignacio Fernández Vázquez, Luciano Branca, Gabriel Ureta, José García Guaita, Arantxa Gulias, Marina Pastor, Bethany Ashcroft and Fatima Gracia De Vargas.
In addition to the podcast, we have a great blog with so many more stories about infrastructure projects. https://blog.ferrovial.com/en/.
If you enjoyed this episode, check out the other episodes on the official Ferrovial Podcast page. We also have a Spanish Podcast channel.
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