For two decades, the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Statewide Planning Map has served as a key tool for planners, engineers, and the public. The map, first developed in 2005 by Michael Chamberlain, TxDOT’s director of data management, marks its 20th anniversary with new features and updates.
Chamberlain created the initial version at a time when modern mapping frameworks were not available. “The first version was brutally simple,” he said. “None of the mapping frameworks available today existed back then so I wrote my own—after reading and re-reading a dozen books on the topic.”
Originally launched just after Google Maps entered the market, TxDOT’s map began with basic basemaps showing highways, railroads, traffic data and imagery. These early tools quickly became important for staff and planning partners. “Over the years it evolved into more than a simple map viewer,” Chamberlain said. “We added overlays, dynamic data, more basemaps, and the ability to share everything you create using URLs.”
Today, the Statewide Planning Map is used for planning and maintaining Texas’ highway system but also includes features accessible to anyone—such as locations for stargazing, wildflowers, live traffic updates and information about current or future projects.
To celebrate its anniversary through 2026, TxDOT is introducing new overlays and themed basemaps. Recent additions include a layer highlighting Texas Monthly’s Top 50 barbecue restaurants as well as seasonal themes like Thanksgiving.
Chamberlain expressed gratitude for those who contributed to the project: “I am proud of what it has become, and I want to thank everyone who contributed to its success over the years,” he said. “As part of our celebration for ‘20 Years of Planning Map,’ we are creating unique overlays, basemaps and content through the end of the year and 2026.”
Other recent developments in transportation include nearly $19.6 million in grant awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration to small shipyards across 19 states aiming to modernize facilities and increase employment opportunities (https://www.maritime.dot.gov/newsroom/maritime-administration-awards-nearly-20-million-funding-strengthen-us-shipyard-economic). In addition, new guidance along with $7.3 billion in formula funding has been announced by USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration to help states prepare for extreme weather events under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-administration-announces-new-protect-formula-program-73-billion-bipartisan). USDOT also continues work on supply chain optimization through initiatives like FLOW that bring together logistics partners to share data securely (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-supply-chain-companies-collaborate-speed-movement-goods-cut-costs-consumers).
