Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road
Encyclopedia
The Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road is the Fort Bend County
(i.e.,southern) 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
(FBCTRA). The Harris County Toll Road Authority
(HCTRA) administers the Harris County (i.e., northern) segment of the road — from just south of Beltway 8 at the county line to US 90A — and uses its purple pentagonal shield labeled as Fort Bend Toll Road (the colloquial name for the entirety). It is proposed to reach a northern terminus at the southwestern corner of Interstate 610
in the future.
The toll road has two lanes in each direction with major interchanges at State Highway 6, Lake Olympia Parkway, and FM 2234, and a connection, albeit not seamless, with Beltway 8. A main toll plaza is located north of FM 2234 with ramp tollbooths at FM 2234 and Lake Olympia Parkway, and another toll plaza is located north of Beltway 8 in the HCTRA segment. The speed limit is 65 mph in the southern portion but drops to 60 mph inside Beltway 8.
The cost for the toll road is estimated between $55 million and $60 million.
Originally planned as either the West Loop Extension or the Bay City Freeway, the proposed freeway was cancelled in 1979 although remnants of the freeway exist (an extension of South Post Oak between West Bellfort and North/South Braeswood, along with a section of the Fort Bend Tollway between Beltway 8 and West Fuqua in Fort Bend County). Although the 1979 cancellation has ended TxDOT's highway proposal, Fort Bend County had an interest in the roadway project since 1984. On March 29, 1988, the parkway was officially designated by TxDOT as State Highway 122—stretching from Beltway 8 to the Grand Parkway (SH 99
). Environmental and feasibility studies were conducted during the next 10 years.
In November 2000, citizens of Fort Bend County approved a $140 million bond issue to support revenue bond financing for construction of the Parkway and Westpark projects. After fulfilling prudent feasibility studies and careful planning, Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority (FBCTRA) broke ground and began the construction phase in July 2003. The Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road opened August 30, 2004.
Harris County Commissioners' Court approved an approximate five-mile (8 km) extension of the proposed Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road project. While the primary corridor was constructed by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, the extension was built by the Harris County Toll Road Authority and provides a connection from the Fort Bend County line at Beltway 8 to, currently, US Highway 90A, and in the future to the existing Post Oak Road at West Bellfort—near the southwest corner of the 610 Loop.
In 2006, the State Highway 122 designation was removed from the section north of State Highway 6
.
In July 2008, cash collection was discontinued on the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road (maintained by FBCTRA). The only valid payments on this portion of the toll road are either HCTRA's EZ TAG
, NTTA
's TollTag
, or TxTAG
. Cash collection (in the form of exact change) continues on the HCTRA maintained segment, the Fort Bend Toll Road.
Although the Fort Bend Toll Road (Harris County) and the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road (Fort Bend County) connect as one contiguous route, each is signed as a separate route. State Highway 122 does not actually exist except on paper right now, remaining as the placeholder for TxDOT in case it were to decide to use state funding to build the final southern portion.
The proposed SH 122 would extend from SH 6 to the planned segment of SH 99 that will be built to the south.
The future Fort Bend Parkway Tollway will expand past SH 6. The expanded route will be in a trench at the overpass at SH 6. Also in the future, South Post Oak Road/Chimney Rock Road will be a part of the Fort Bend Parkway Tollway.
Fort Bend County, Texas
Fort Bend County is a county located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. In 2000 its population was 354,452, while the 2010 U.S...
(i.e.,southern) portion of a continuous toll road connecting State Highway 6 in Missouri City
Missouri City, Texas
Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion within Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S...
in eastern Fort Bend County to US 90A in southwestern Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
. It is administered by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority
Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority
The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority , located in Sugar Land, Texas, is currently managing the successful development and completion of two key county mobility projects, the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road and the Fort Bend Westpark Tollway...
(FBCTRA). 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...
(HCTRA) administers the Harris County (i.e., northern) segment of the road — from just south of Beltway 8 at the county line to US 90A — and uses its purple pentagonal shield labeled as Fort Bend Toll Road (the colloquial name for the entirety). It is proposed to reach a northern terminus at the southwestern corner of Interstate 610
Interstate 610 (Texas)
Interstate 610 is a freeway that forms a forty-two-mile loop around the downtown sector of city of Houston, Texas. Interstate 610, colloquially known as "The Loop", "Loop 610", "The 610 Loop", or just "610", traditionally marks the border between the inner city of Houston and its surrounding areas...
in the future.
The toll road has two lanes in each direction with major interchanges at State Highway 6, Lake Olympia Parkway, and FM 2234, and a connection, albeit not seamless, with Beltway 8. A main toll plaza is located north of FM 2234 with ramp tollbooths at FM 2234 and Lake Olympia Parkway, and another toll plaza is located north of Beltway 8 in the HCTRA segment. The speed limit is 65 mph in the southern portion but drops to 60 mph inside Beltway 8.
The cost for the toll road is estimated between $55 million and $60 million.
History of SH 122
SH 122 was a highway proposed by 1928 to go from Cleburne to Weatherford. That route was replaced by SH 171 in 1939.Formation
The tollway's origins date back to a TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) original proposal of building a highway from the southwest corner of Loop 610 in Houston (where North Braeswood and 610 meet). A section of frontage roads (later part of Hillcroft Avenue in Houston) was constructed in the late 1960s/early 1970s (date unknown) south of the proposed Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway), south of Harris County adjacent to the Chasewood and Willow Park II subdivisions in northeast Fort Bend County.Originally planned as either the West Loop Extension or the Bay City Freeway, the proposed freeway was cancelled in 1979 although remnants of the freeway exist (an extension of South Post Oak between West Bellfort and North/South Braeswood, along with a section of the Fort Bend Tollway between Beltway 8 and West Fuqua in Fort Bend County). Although the 1979 cancellation has ended TxDOT's highway proposal, Fort Bend County had an interest in the roadway project since 1984. On March 29, 1988, the parkway was officially designated by TxDOT as State Highway 122—stretching from Beltway 8 to the Grand Parkway (SH 99
State Highway 99 (Texas)
State Highway 99, also known as the Grand Parkway, is a Texas highway, which opened its first section in 1994. When State Highway 99 is complete, it will be the longest beltway in the world, and the third loop within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, with Interstate 610 being...
). Environmental and feasibility studies were conducted during the next 10 years.
In November 2000, citizens of Fort Bend County approved a $140 million bond issue to support revenue bond financing for construction of the Parkway and Westpark projects. After fulfilling prudent feasibility studies and careful planning, Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority (FBCTRA) broke ground and began the construction phase in July 2003. The Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road opened August 30, 2004.
Harris County Commissioners' Court approved an approximate five-mile (8 km) extension of the proposed Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road project. While the primary corridor was constructed by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, the extension was built by the Harris County Toll Road Authority and provides a connection from the Fort Bend County line at Beltway 8 to, currently, US Highway 90A, and in the future to the existing Post Oak Road at West Bellfort—near the southwest corner of the 610 Loop.
In 2006, the State Highway 122 designation was removed from the section north of State Highway 6
State Highway 6 (Texas)
State Highway 6 runs from the Red River, the Texas–Oklahoma boundary, to northwest of Galveston. In the Houston area, it runs north to FM 1960, then northwest along US Highway 290 to Hempstead, and south to Westheimer Road and Addicks, and is known as Addicks Satsuma Road. In the...
.
In July 2008, cash collection was discontinued on the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road (maintained by FBCTRA). The only valid payments on this portion of the toll road are either HCTRA's 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...
, NTTA
North Texas Tollway Authority
The North Texas Tollway Authority maintains and operates toll roads, bridges and tunnels in the North Texas area. Functioning as a political subdivision of the State of Texas under Chapter 366 of the Transportation Code, the NTTA is empowered to acquire, construct, maintain, repair and operate...
's TollTag
TollTag
TollTag is the electronic toll collection system used by the North Texas Tollway Authority in the Dallas / Fort Worth metro area. It was North America’s first electronic toll collection system when it was installed on the Dallas North Tollway in 1989. There are currently over 2,000,000 TollTags in...
, or TxTAG
TxTAG
TxTag , operated by the Texas Department of Transportation , is one of three interoperable electronic toll collection systems in Texas.-Current system status:The TxTag brand name is used on the following highways:* Operated by TxDOT:...
. Cash collection (in the form of exact change) continues on the HCTRA maintained segment, the Fort Bend Toll Road.
Signage and Designation
The name of the road and its signage change along its route:-
Fort Bend Toll Road - from US 90 Alt to Beltway 8 / Sam Houston Parkway -
Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road - from Beltway 8 / Sam Houston Parkway to SH 6 - or SH 122 Toll (proposed) - from SH 6 to SH 99 (Grand Parkway) proposed south extension east of US 59
Although the Fort Bend Toll Road (Harris County) and the Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road (Fort Bend County) connect as one contiguous route, each is signed as a separate route. State Highway 122 does not actually exist except on paper right now, remaining as the placeholder for TxDOT in case it were to decide to use state funding to build the final southern portion.
Exit list
| Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|
| Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |
| Lake Olympia Parkway | |
| Fondren Road | Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
| Northbound exit and southbound entrance | |
| Northbound exit and southbound entrance |
The proposed SH 122 would extend from SH 6 to the planned segment of SH 99 that will be built to the south.
The future Fort Bend Parkway Tollway will expand past SH 6. The expanded route will be in a trench at the overpass at SH 6. Also in the future, South Post Oak Road/Chimney Rock Road will be a part of the Fort Bend Parkway Tollway.