LBJ EXPRESS MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF IMPROVING MOBILITY, FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH

Initially the Largest P3 in the Country, Project Opened September 10, 2015

DALLAS, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- September 10^th marks the 10^th anniversary of the opening of the LBJ Express, a 13-mile project spanning from Interstate 35E/Stemmons Freeway east to U.S. 75/Central Expressway along Interstate 635. At the time the $2.6-billion project was under construction, it was the largest public-private partnership (P3) infrastructure project in the country and one of three approved by the State of Texas and developed under a Comprehensive Development Agreement (CDA).

North Texas was experiencing exponential growth and a robust economy, and the LBJ Infrastructure Group – a consortium led by Cintra, a Ferrovial company, including partners Meridiam and APG Asset Management – delivered a complex infrastructure project ahead of schedule, substantially advancing the region's ability to move people and goods more efficiently. The LBJ Express corridor now has daily average traffic of 250,000 vehicles.

When the LBJ Freeway first officially opened in 1968, it marked a seismic moment in Dallas' transportation history. Named in honor of Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36^th President of the United States, the corridor was designed to carry 180,000 vehicles per day, significantly improving traffic, opening up access within the region, and serving as the cornerstone for suburban development.

As the region grew, demand began to exceed capacity, precipitating the LBJ Corridor Study, which began in 1987 and continued throughout the 1990s. However, the public funds available to increase the capacity of the corridor fell far below the estimated costs. The advent of the P3 model allowed the project to move forward, buoyed by the leadership and vision of the Texas Legislature, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the Regional Transportation Council (RTC). In a P3, the developer, rather than the state, assumes the financial burden and risk with the funding secured upfront through private equity, infrastructure loans, and bonds. Only 18 percent of the LBJ Express project was funded using taxpayer dollars.

While the P3 model was still relatively new when construction on the LBJ Express began in 2009, the approach allowed the project to advance more quickly – reaching completion within six years instead of 10 to 20 years with traditional construction – and reduced the overall investment required by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). "Public-private partnerships have expedited the expansion of key corridors throughout the fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth area, providing better reliability by giving drivers a choice of how to travel through the region," said Michael Morris, P.E., director of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG).

"As groundbreaking as the original opening of the LBJ Freeway was in the late 1960s, the impact of the reconstructed highway corridor was equally, if not more, transformational for the city of Dallas and the North Texas region," said Andrés Sacristán, CEO of project developer Cintra, a Ferrovial company. "The LBJ Express reflected innovation at every turn, from its financing to the construction methods, including the current managed lanes operation that offers safe, reliable transportation to support the North Texas region."

With a private company, the LBJ Infrastructure Group, behind its development, it also allowed for the sourcing of hundreds of local contractors, vendors and suppliers with the expertise and capacity to efficiently complete the work – whether relocating utilities, securing right-of-way, moving dirt, placing beams, building signage and toll gantries, or laying asphalt – at all points along the corridor simultaneously. The economic impact of construction alone was significant to the region, generating over 35,000 jobs and $6.8 billion in economic output.

"You cannot overstate the economic impact of a project like this in terms of creating jobs, providing business to locally owned companies, and driving economic development interest," said Ken Malcolmson, CEO of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce. "In addition to enhancing commutes for local employees along the corridor, the project also significantly enhanced access to major retail centers, which has had a direct, bottom-line impact on area businesses, as well as on our cities and schools through increased tax revenues," he added. 

The LBJ Express project brought new innovations to the forefront as well, including the implementation of a cantilevered design on the LBJ/635 managed lanes, some of which were constructed underground. This innovative approach, which allowed for much-needed expansion within a tight geographic footprint, saved $1 billion in total construction costs. The introduction of new technologies during construction did not end with the opening: Technology still plays a crucial role in the project's ongoing operations and maintenance efforts, which are directed and monitored 24/7 through a real-time traffic management center on the corridor. 

Another advantage of a P3, over the past decade the projects have shared funds with the state (TxDOT) – $250 million so far across the three North Texas concessions, North Tarrant Express, North Tarrant Express 35W and LBJ Express. These funds can be reinvested in other critical transportation projects as directed by the TxDOT.

Unique to the managed lane network, drivers have a choice as to whether to drive in the TEXpress Lanes. Choice, trip reliability, and safety are all important considerations and underscore the role P3s play in enhancing mobility in the region, and the P3 model has proven successful. "This first decade milestone for our highway is truly a testament to the talented and dedicated public and private sector teams behind this project,"said Nicolas Rubio, Meridiam partner and CEO Americas. "Our true success here can be measured by the traffic congestion relief at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers, allowing Texans greater options for efficient, reliable and most importantly, safe transportation."

Within the 120 miles of managed lanes in North Texas' TEXpress network (LBJ Express, North Tarrant Express and North Tarrant Express 35W), drivers have made 175 million trips, with 25 million of those in 2023 alone. In the last 10 years, traffic has grown by 55 percent, but the managed lanes have mitigated congestion during peak hours by 30 percent, yielding a time savings of three million hours.

"We have proven that the goals of enhancing mobility and fostering economic growth are well within our reach if we continue to promote and pursue collaboration and partnerships among the public and private sectors," said Pablo Ferrando, CEO of the LBJ Express. "The LBJ Express is one in a line of trailblazing projects that have reimagined how to effectively address challenges inherent to a fast-growing region and improve the quality of life for North Texans."

Photo:
Aerial overview of LBJ corridor
Photo provided by LBJ Express

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SOURCE LBJ Express