Harris County Toll Road Authority
Encyclopedia
The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA, pronounced "Hectra") maintains and operates a 103 miles (165.8 km) toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
system in the Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
/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...
area. Its headquarters are in Houston.
History
HCTRA came into existence in September 1983 when Harris CountyHarris 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...
voters approved a referendum by a 7-3 margin to release up to $900 million in bonds to create two toll roads - the Hardy Toll Road
Hardy Toll Road
The Hardy Toll Road runs from Interstate 610, near central Houston, to Interstate 45, north of Houston just below the Harris County line. The road generally parallels Interstate 45. The portion from I-610 to Crosstimbers Road is known as Spur 548, although this is unsigned.Construction on the...
and the Sam Houston Tollway, to improve the regional mobility and reduce traffic congestion in the Greater Houston
Greater Houston
Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown is a 10-county metropolitan area defined by the Office of Management and Budget. It is located along the Gulf Coast region in the U.S. state of Texas...
area, an area known for rapid population growth.
The need for a county-run toll road system came from TxDOT's
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
budget shortfall and its inability to authorize funding to upgrade the second loop around the city, Beltway 8, which had been on planning maps since the 1950s. The Texas Turnpike Authority turned down the opportunity to improve the road as well, leaving the county to upgrade the road to freeway standards. However, Harris County could not afford to build and maintain a freeway from its general fund.
Shortly after the referendum, the Commissioners Court created the Toll Road Authority to administer the construction and operation of the new road system. Then-County Judge Jon Lindsay is generally credited with shepherding the referendum from its infancy to its passage, along with the implementation of the plan for the roadway. HCTRA is a part of Harris County's Public Infrastructure Department and is subdivided into a Services and an Operations Division.
While for many years, the Hardy Toll Road never had the traffic that the HCTRA envisioned it would need to turn a profit, the Sam Houston Tollway has more than made up for the lost revenue. The high profit margins on the Sam Houston Tollway allowed the authority to construct its third and fourth toll roads, the Westpark Tollway
Westpark Tollway
The Westpark Tollway, also Fort Bend Westpark Tollway, is a limited-access toll road serving western Houston and Harris County, and northeastern Fort Bend County. Construction on the facility began in 2001 and portions of the road were opened to traffic in May 2004. Construction of the roadway...
and Fort Bend Toll Road, both of which opened in 2004. Both of these toll roads have termini in Fort Bend County
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...
and are run in conjunction with 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...
. The most recent project of HCTRA is the construction of managed lanes that run along the median of I-10/Katy Freeway
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
between SH 6 and I-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...
that opened in April 2009.
Current system
The following toll roads (in order of first segment completion) form the current HCTRA system:Sam Houston Tollway (1982)
The Sam Houston Tollway is the name given to the tolled sections of Beltway 8, the second highway loop around Houston. The first opened section was the Sam Houston Ship Channel BridgeSam Houston Ship Channel Bridge
Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge is a bridge in Harris County, Texas. It was acquired from the-then Texas Turnpike Authority on May 5, 1994 and is now a part of the Harris County Toll Road Authority system. The bridge opened to traffic in May 1982...
in the east quadrant of the road system. From 1982 to 1994, the bridge, which was originally named in honor of local politician and entrepreneur Jesse H. Jones, was maintained by the Texas Turnpike Authority (now North Texas Tollway Authority
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...
). As of February 26, 2011, the Sam Houston Tollway is a complete tolled beltway loop around Houston (minus a few minor sections that are freeways managed by TXDOT).
Hardy Toll Road (1988)
The Hardy Toll Road was constructed to help alleviate traffic off of I-45 North. The route begins at I-610 NorthInterstate 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...
between I-45 North and US 59 North and travels northward parallel to I-45 for 21.6 miles (34.8 km) after which it merges onto I-45. The toll road also features a 4 miles (6.4 km) spur to George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a Class B international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Located north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 59...
.
Westpark Tollway (2004)
The Westpark Tollway is a 20 miles (32.2 km) toll road starting in Uptown HoustonUptown Houston
The Uptown District of Houston is located 6.2 miles west of downtown and is centered along Post Oak Boulevard, Westheimer Road , and the Galleria...
and travelling westward parallel to sections of Westpark Drive and FM 1093
Farm to Market Road 1093
Farm to Market Road 1093 is a farm to market road in the U.S. state of Texas. It begins in Eagle Lake at FM 3013 and heads east to Interstate 610 in Houston. In Houston, a portion of FM 1093 is also a portion of "Westheimer Road", which continues east of I-610 without the FM 1093...
and terminating just past the Grand Parkway (SH 99). It is the first all-electronic toll road in the United States. The Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority (FBCTRA) operates the western-most 6 miles (9.7 km) of the tollway.
Fort Bend Toll Road (2004)
The Fort Bend Toll Road is a 7.5 miles (12.1 km) tollway that follows the route of the formerly-cancelled State Highway 122. The toll road currently begins with direct connectors at US 90A, just north of the Sam Houston Tollway, and travels southward to its terminus at SH 6. As with the Westpark Tollway, the Fort Bend Toll Road is jointly operated with the FBCTRA.Katy Freeway Managed Lanes (2009)
In 2002, HCTRA entered into an agreement with TxDOT and Harris County for the reconstruction of I-10/Katy Freeway. The toll road authority's portion of the project is a 12 miles (19.3 km) managed lane facility in the center of the reconstructed freeway that is used by METRO and HOVHOV
HOV may refer to:* High-occupancy vehicle lane* Ørsta-Volda Airport, Hovden in Hovden, Norway* Hovig* A small street gang located in Naperville* see Hov...
vehicles at no charge and single passenger vehicles for a toll. The four lane roadway, running between I-610/West Loop
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...
and SH 6, has been completed. The lanes opened during the second quarter of 2009.
Hardy Downtown Connector
This 4 miles (6.4 km) long project will provide a connection between Downtown HoustonDowntown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
and the current terminus of the Hardy Toll Road at I-610. Final design of the four lane tollway should be completed in 2009 with construction beginning shortly after.
SH 288 Managed Lanes
To help alleviate congestion on SH 288, HCTRA plans to construct toll lanes in the median of the existing freeway. The route would begin at US 59 just south of Midtown and terminate at the intersection of the proposed Grand Parkway (SH 99) for a total length of 26 miles (41.8 km). Construction is estimated to begin in 2012.SH 249 Southbound to Westbound Sam Houston Tollway Direct Connector
This project will add a direct connector to feed traffic travelling south on SH 249 onto the westbound Sam Houston Tollway. This will be the second tolled direct connector at that intersection. Final design of the project will be completed in late 2009 with construction beginning shortly after.Grand Parkway Tollway: Segment E
This project will feature a 15 miles (24.1 km) tollway beginning at the terminus of the completed Segment D (just south of I-10 West) and ending at the intersection of US 290U.S. Route 290
U.S. Highway 290 is an east–west U.S. Highway located entirely within the State of Texas. Its current western terminus is at Interstate 10 milepost 477 , southeast of Junction, and its eastern terminus is at Interstate 610 on the northwest side of Houston.-Route Description:West of Austin, U.S...
. Currently a feeder road is complete one mile north of I-10 ending at Franz Road. Final design of this portion of the Grand Parkway was completed in Fall 2008. Construction is set to begin in 2009 and is expected to finish in 2011 according to accelerated plans approved in July 2008.
Grand Parkway Tollway: Segment F-1
Continuing around the proposed loop, the 12 miles (19.3 km) tolled Segment F-1 will travel from US 290 to SH 249. Final design of the tollway began in Fall 2008 and should take approximately two and a half years. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2011 and be completed during Spring 2013.Grand Parkway Tollway: Segment F-2
The next tolled segment of the Grand Parkway travels 12.1 miles (19.5 km) between the SH 249 and I-45 NorthInterstate 45
Interstate 45 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston over the Galveston Causeway to the Gulf of Mexico...
freeways. The segment will follow the same design and construction schedule as Segment F-1.
Grand Parkway Tollway: Segment G
Segment G will pick up where Segment F-2 ended, travelling 13 miles (20.9 km) from I-45 North to US 59 North. Spring 2009 will see the beginning of final engineering design with construction beginning in Spring 2011 and completion in Spring 2013.Grand Parkway Tollway: Segment I-2
This 14.5 miles (23.3 km) segment of the Grand Parkway opened in early 2008. The route begins at Business SH 146Texas State Highway 146
State Highway 146, or SH 146, is a north–south highway in southeastern Texas beginning in Livingston, starting at US 59 and proceeds south to Liberty, where it meets US 90...
and terminates at I-10 East. The northern-most 9 miles (14.5 km) of the segment will be converted into a toll road by the start of 2009. Even though the tollway will be located in Chambers County and is a project of TxDOT, HCTRA will most likely become of the operator of the toll road.
Hempstead Highway/US 290 Managed Lanes
The planned project will add four tolled lanes along the Hempstead Highway corridor between I-610 and the future Grand Parkway (SH 99) northwest segment. The project is one component of the complete US 290 corridor upgrade by TxDOT, which also includes added capacity to US 290, a new HOV system parallel to the Hempstead Highway, and a possible commuter rail line in conjunction with METRO. Final design of HCTRA's portion of the project should end in late 2010 with construction beginning shortly after.Fort Bend Parkway/South Post Oak Road Extension
The project will connect I-610 via the South Post Oak exit to the northern terminus of the Fort Bend Parkway with just over 3 miles (4.8 km) of tolled lanes.Increased capacity of existing toll roads
Added capacity is planned for the following existing tollway segments:- Sam Houston Tollway West from the plaza to the Memorial DriveMemorial Drive (Houston, Texas)Memorial Drive is an arterial road in the western half of Houston, Texas, United States. It runs from Interstate 45 west to State Highway 6, a distance of approximately 20 miles , although a section goes through several predominantly higher-income residential neighborhoods in the cities of...
exitway - Sam Houston Tollway South from SH 288 to US 59 South
- Sam Houston Tollway from Gessner Road to West Road