TRANSPORTATiON ImPROvEmENT PROGRAm - Houston ...

ATTACHMENT #3
CTC comments to Draft 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) March 2012
CTC urges TxDOT to spend scarce dollars where the people are.
TxDOT has an obligation to maximize the transportation and mobility benefits of public
investment.
At a total estimated cost in excess of $4.6 billion, the combined US-290 expansion and
Hempstead Managed Lanes project could be one of the largest public investments Houston will
make in this decade. The five major project partners – TxDOT, HCTRA, METRO, UPRR, and
City of Houston – have just one opportunity to make this investment well.
Further, the presence of a US highway, congested local arterials, a busy freight rail line, and the
proposed addition of a new limited access road, make this one of the most- complicated
transportation corridors in our region. All of the project partners – TxDOT, HCTRA, METRO,
UPRR, and City of Houston – have a public obligation to coordinate effectively for maximum
public benefit.
Currently funding for the TxDOT portion of this very congested corridor project is at risk. Yet
TxDOT “found” money to build the undeveloped and speculative pieces of the Grand
Parkway. CTC finds that not publicly supportable and urges TxDOT not to continue such
inappropriate allocation of public funds.
Project capital dollars should be allocated first to improving bottlenecks instead of increasing
main lane counts:
The IH-610/US-290, IH-610/IH-10, and the 290/Beltway 8 interchanges are currently existing
bottlenecks. Strategically restructuring these interchanges to provide more direct connectors and
reduce weaving will improve traffic flows and safety.
TxDOT should not expand US-290 all the way to Waller
Specifically, the inner half of this corridor is developed and congested from IH-61 0 most of the
way to Cypress. In 2005, more than 380,000 people lived within 3 miles of
US 290 between IH-610 and SH-6.
In sharp contrast, the outer half of the study area remains rural and undeveloped. In 2005,
fewer than 50,000 people lived within 3 miles of US-290 between SH-6 and the Waller
County line.
Noise abatement commitments must be included in project development costs.
Such is not the case for this project. TxDOT has not committed to build any noise mitigation,
specifically not for residents near the 290/610/IH-10 interchange and the mitigation for Oak
Forest is grossly deficient. A portion of the monies for 290/Beltway 8 interchange construction
should be reallocated to this purpose if TxDOT refuses not to use federal funds available for that
purpose. CTC finds it unacceptable that TxDOT refuses to use available federal noise mitigation
funds for that purpose. This is inexplicable and inexcusable.
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