March Awards Total $10.1 Billion

What happened: The value of transportation projects expected to break ground in the next 30 to 60 days was $10.1 billion in March 2026, down from $11.7 billion a year ago.

The value of awards was $146.4 billion for the 12 months ending March 2026, compared to $136.6 billion for the 12 months ending March 2025.

Year to date, award activity in Q1 of this year has slowed compared to the robust pace in Q1 2025. The monthly value of awards can be volatile in the first quarter as state and local governments, in general, put out less work. Totals can also vary depending on the mix of projects.

Total Value of Contract Awards for the Month of March Over the Last Six Years

The overall picture:

Twenty-five states increased the value of transportation project awards this past March compared to March 2025.
States with the highest value of awards last month included: California, Illinois, South Carolina, Texas, and New York.
States with major monthly percentage gains included: District of Columbia, Delaware, Tennessee, Vermont, and Maine.
Top markets in 2025 were: California ($15.7B), Texas ($15.5B), New York ($10.4B), Florida ($9B), and Maryland ($8B).

State and modal breakdowns are available on ARTBA’s Transportation Construction Market Intelligence website. Contact Dr. Alison Black or Dr. Josh Hurwit z to subscribe.