At TxDOT, a strategy to restructure IT, retire mainframe systems and go cloud-first

Texas is a huge, expansive, geographically diverse state, with its Department of Transportation serving the biggest urban centers to the smallest rural communities.

For that kind of coverage, TxDOT needed enough bandwidth and a modernized, stable, and secure network—and that’s been the focus of its digital transformation, the department’s chief information officer told Smart Industry.

For this transformation effort, TxDOT is a 2026 recipient of an inaugural Industrial Transformation Award in the Transportation category. And Anh Selissen, CIO and director of its IT division, told us TxDOT’s technology transformation story in a recent interview.

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“Our path to operational excellence has been shaped by a clear vision: to leverage technology as a strategic enabler of safety, mobility, and innovation,” Selissen said.

“One of the most significant milestones was our legacy modernization initiative, which focused on retiring our mainframe systems and adopting a cloud-first strategy. By moving critical applications to the cloud, we can reduce technical debt, improve system reliability, and position ourselves to deliver services faster and more securely.”

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Cybersecurity also has been top mind, too, she said. “We’ve made strategic investments in next-generation firewalls and perimeter security to enhance our cybersecurity posture and optimize network performance and reliability.”

Also integral to TxDOT’s digital transformation has been a wholesale restructure of its IT organization, which has gained the state agency responsiveness to its constituents and more collaboration with business stakeholders “to ensure our solutions are not only technically sound but also meet the real-world needs of our internal and external customers,” Selissen said.

And TxDOT has built on these foundational improvements by buying into AI and automation for driving operational efficiencies, she said. “We’ve established a dedicated AI program focused on leveraging data-driven insights and automating routine processes so our employees can make better decisions and save time.”

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"For example, we have implemented AI-powered incident detection systems with roadway and traffic management, enabling us to promptly identify and respond to disruptions on roadways," she added. "This proactive approach not only enhances safety and reliability for Texans but also streamlines field operations, ensuring that our teams have the information they need to prevent and clear roadway incidents."