The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority (FBCTRA), located in Sugar Land, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, is currently managing the successful development and completion of two key county mobility projects, the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road

Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road

The Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road is the Fort Bend County portion of a continuous toll road connecting State Highway 6 in Missouri City in eastern Fort Bend County to US 90A in southwestern Harris County. It is administered by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority...

 and the Fort Bend Westpark Tollway. Both toll roads offer new transportation options, relieving traffic congestion for commuters.

History

In November 2000, Fort Bend County citizens overwhelmingly approved (a 65%-35% victory) a $140 million bond issue to support revenue bond financing to pay for the construction of the two new toll road projects. The four-lane, 6.2 miles (10 km), Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road connects the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8) with State Highway 6, easing traffic problems and stimulating economic development in the eastern part of the county. The second project, the Fort Bend Westpark Tollway, begins at the Grand Parkway and runs 5.5 miles (8.9 km) to the county line. The Fort Bend Westpark Tollway meets up with the Harris County Toll Road Authority

Harris County Toll Road Authority

The Harris County Toll Road Authority maintains and operates a toll road system in the Houston/Harris County area...

's (HCTRA) Westpark Tollway. Both toll roads provide seamless access to commuters with a standard EZ TAG

EZ TAG

EZ TAG is an electronic toll collection system in Houston, Texas, United States that allows motorists to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths. Motorists with the Tags are allowed to use lanes reserved exclusively for them on all Harris County Toll Road Authority roads...

used by both the FBCTRA and the HCTRA.

The Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road opened August 30, 2004 and the Fort Bend Westpark Tollway project was completed on August 10, 2005.

Roadways

In July 2008 the Authority converted the Fort Bend Parkway to EZ-Tag Only, completely eliminating cash transactions for the agency and resulting in reduced toll collection and maintenance costs.