TRANSPORTATiON ImPROvEmENT PROGRAm - Houston ...

ATTACHMENT #3
CTC comments to Draft 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) March 2012
North Corridor
This project would serve a transit dependent community who travel downtown and to the
Medical Center and would alleviate congestion on I-45. It should be integrated with and
examined for costs, benefits, and co-benefits with the tentative plans for the NHHIP.
Uptown Corridor
CTC comments on this project and the need for details regarding the alignment below in the
local projects section.
SH 288
CTC assumes the 288 project cost does not include the extension of toll lanes to the Grand
Parkway. Demand for the toll lanes must be shown with an investment grade study. If TxDOT
contemplates entering into a PPP for the construction of toll lanes , then the terms and conditions
should be fully disclosed before signing. These are not confidential agreements; sample
agreements may be readily come by. TxDOT has not to date exhibited the financial knowledge
of derivatives to be able to sign a 52-year contract. Even sophisticated persons in energy and
finance do not sign such long-dated agreements without extreme caution.
SH 99/Grand Parkway
CTC urges TxDOT (1) to spend scarce dollars where the people are and (2) to fix it first
There are not currently enough people to justify the unbuilt segments of this project. CTC
believes that inducing suburban development is not the highest and best use of transportation
dollars.
Given scarce transportation dollars and HGAC’s goal of project prioritization, this project cannot
be justified beyond what was previously built. CTC is appalled and believes that “found money”
is insufficient justification to build Segment E. The TTC successfully opposed the Texas
Legislature creating an OIG for the agency even though it is enormous in size and power. After
the flap with the State Auditor over the Katy Freeway and its claim that it did not need an OIG,
there should be no “found money” and if there is, it should have been put to use for US290 or the
reconstruction of an interchange.
While jobs and commerce are important, land development and speculation should be removed
as a prime focus or objective for transportation dollars. Direct and indirect land holdings by
transportation policy officials should be continually revealed from project inception to
construction
While CTC generally promotes the reconstruction of major interchanges to enhance mobility and
improve air quality, the SH99 segments do not warrant major interchanges. Therefore, the
interchange projects, whether segmented as part of SH99 or as part of another project, e.g.
US290, should not be a high priority at this time. Interchange monies should be spent on
interchanges that have an actual current need.
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