|
The following information is from the
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
Meeting
Held on October 26, 2004
Each square represents one information
station (a tripod with information upon it)
~ There was no printed information given,
the following information was created from
digital pictures taken at the meeting.
Participants at the meeting were Carter
Burgess, Texas Department of Transportation,
North Hardy Planning Studies (www.north-hardy.org)
|
At the Request of the Community
Community asked that highway
improvements be considered only
after options for advanced
high-capacity transit and maximum
use of the Hardy Toll Road are
thoroughly explored
Analysis of highway alternatives
assumed both advanced high-capacity
transit and Hardy Toll Road
improvements in place
Transit solution for North-Hardy
Corridor: (approved by voters)
North Corridor LRT –
UH-Downtown to Bush IAH
Two-way express bus
service on IH 45
First phase of LRT –
UH-Downtown to Northline Mall
Hardy Toll Road: HCTRA planned
improvements
Hardy Toll Road
Extension from IH 610 to Downtown
Widen Hardy Toll Road to
6 lanes from Beltway 8 to IH 45 in
Montgomery County
|
|
Continued Community Participation
Encouraged
Upon completion of
the North-Hardy Planning Studies,
the Texas Department of
Transportation will begin the
preliminary design phase and explore
multiple options to overcome the
challenges of limited existing right
of way
During the next 2 to
3 years as the preliminary design
and environmental is undertaken,
TxDOT strongly encourages the
community to remain involved
|
|
Corridor Issues
Transportation Deficiencies:
IH 45
capacity & safety concerns
Lack of continuous major
thoroughfares
Right-of-way constraints
High capacity transit one-way only
Development issues:
Projected growth in
population and employment
Major redevelopment
opportunities
Need to avoid disruption
of neighborhoods & historic areas
Multiple Major Activity Centers:
Business & Residential
Diverse Travel Needs
Long distance commuter
Local travel
|
|
Funding Constraints
With TX Dot’s traditional
“pay-as-you-go” financing only about
1/3 of needed projects statewide
could be funded
With HB 3588, the Texas Legislature
gave TxDOT new financing tools
including tolling options
In order to bridge the funding gap,
all appropriate highway improvement
projects are now tested for tolling
potential
Because toll funded alternatives can
be implemented sooner than
conventionally funded projects,
preference is given to viable toll
alternatives
|
|
IH 45: Existing Conditions
9 lane cross section – 8 general
purpose lanes and 1 reversible HOV
lane
(Downtown to Beltway 8)
11 lane cross section – 10 general
purpose lanes and 1 reversible HOV
lane
(Beltway 8 to FM 1960)
8 lane cross section – 8 general
purpose lanes
(FM 1960 to SH 242
|
Traffic Volumes (2001 w/o frontage road
volumes) |
V/C |
LOS |
Peak Speed |
|
IH 10 to IH 610 |
224,000 |
1.11 |
E |
36 mph |
|
IH 610 to Beltway 8 |
262,000 |
1.30 |
E |
31 mph |
|
Beltway 8 to FM 1960 |
234,000 |
.93 |
D |
40 mph |
|
FM 1960 to SH 242 |
158,000 |
.88 |
D |
42 mph |
|
Reversible HOV lane |
7,322 |
.43 |
B |
55+ mph |
V/C =
Volume to Capacity Ratio LOS
= Level of Service
|
|
No Build Alternative
9 lane cross section – 8 general
purpose lanes and 1 reversible HOV
lane
(Downtown to Beltway 8)
11 lane cross section – 10 general
purpose lanes and 1 reversible HOV
lane
(Beltway 8 to FM 1960)
8 lane cross section – 8 general
purpose lanes
(FM 1960 to SH 242)
|
Traffic Volumes
(2025 main lane & frontage road
volumes) |
V/C |
LOS |
Peak Speed |
|
IH 10 to IH 610 |
269,727 |
1.24 |
E |
32 mph |
|
IH 610 to Beltway 8 |
314,794 |
1.45 |
E |
27
mph |
|
Beltway 8 to FM 1960 |
324,991 |
1.21 |
E |
33 mph |
|
FM 1960 to SH 242 |
242,263 |
1.23 |
E |
33 mph |
|
Reversible HOV lane |
14,456 |
1.02 |
E |
38 mph |
V/C = Volume
to Capacity Ratio LOS = Level
of Service
|
Plans Continued--> |
