Shifting transportation priorities in Texas volition phase out expansive route evolution in the near future, Gov. Greg Abbott predicted Wed in a speech communication to the Rotary Club of San Antonio.

"The lesser line is this: The way people go effectually, the way people live is going to modify," Abbott said. "Equally a result, this generation of roads that [Texas Transportation Committee Chairman] Bruce Bugg is in accuse of building is probably the concluding major buildout of roads we'll have in the state of Texas, even considering the fact that Texas is the fastest-growing country in America."

Though the governor limited his speculation on potential changes to the transportation landscape to more than people walking and the introduction of flight cars, his forecast diverged from the way the Texas Department of Transportation has always operated: with the principal purpose of building roads and highways. Asked subsequently his speech about the state'south office in improving public transit, Abbott said that is the purview of local governments.

In his address to the Rotary Club at a dejeuner event, Abbott spoke well-nigh state initiatives on educational activity and affordable housing and the continued strength of the state's economy. He also pointed to traffic congestion as a sign people are still flocking to Texas because of a booming economy and a improve quality of life.

"Terminal year, California lost 700,000 of their residents moving to other states," Abbott said. "A customs almost the size of San Antonio left the state of California. Illinois is now facing a net population decrease considering of people fleeing their state.

"There are regions of the state losing population, then be proud of the fact that one of the reasons why your roads are so congested is because so many people are finding San Antonio and Bexar County and the state of Texas to exist then bonny to live in."

The future of transportation lies in alternatives to traditional motor vehicle travel, Abbott said. He cited his 22-twelvemonth-old daughter equally part of a generation that prefers to apply ride-hailing platforms such as Uber rather than drive a personal vehicle. A move toward downtown, higher-density living in cities like Austin and Houston also lessens the need for everyone to use their cars, he added.

But Texas needs to keep an centre on keeping its housing costs within attain, Abbott said.

"Housing is far more affordable in Texas than it is California or Illinois or New York or some of these other states that people are fleeing from," he said. "Only that affordability effect is at present get-go to bite Texas. One thing that is driving upwards the cost of housing and the cost of living is skyrocketing property taxes – skyrocketing property taxes that are beginning to strength people out of homes they've lived for virtually in their unabridged lives."

Abbott touted the Texas Legislature's property revenue enhancement reform efforts in the final session. Abbott signed Senate Bill 2 into law in June, requiring cities and counties to go voter approval earlier raising more than than 3.5 percent in property tax revenues compared to the previous twelvemonth.

The land would be responsible for shortfalls that school districts incur from property tax limits, Abbott said. The Texas Legislature also gave additional funding terminal session toward instructor pay raises and early educational activity.

He likewise boasted of the state'south recent acquisitions of manufacturing facilities which brought new jobs to the area, including the $391 million investment in upgrading the San Antonio Toyota establish and the $250 meg investment in a new Navistar truck manufacturing plant.

This economic investment in San Antonio has helped Texas earn its reputation as "the state of the decade" from Business concern Facilities Magazine, Abbott said.

"There are millions of people from San Antonio who are proud to say they call San Antonio home," Abbott said. "And in that location are millions more who volition come up to San Antonio proud to call San Antonio home. And they're coming because of the opportunity that San Antonio provides."