Laura Ryan, Texas Department of Transportation transportation commissioner, said the agency was confident agreements could be reached with Harris County and the Federal Highway Administration over the controversial I-45 widening project. Ryan spoke at the North Houston Association’s luncheon Jan. 31.
Known as the North Houston Highway Improvement Project, the project aims to expand and reroute portions of I-45 between Beltway 8 and downtown Houston. However, the $7.9 billion project is on pause amid an ongoing Federal Highway Administration investigation into civil rights complaints related to the project.
At the NHA luncheon, Ryan said the FHA was open to a “voluntary resolution agreement.” The agreement would allow some design modifications, but the project’s purpose would not change. Ryan did not clarify which design aspects would be modified.
Additionally, advocacy groups filed a Dec. 16 Civil Rights Act complaint against the project, alleging intentional racial discrimination and that TxDOT violated procedures in moving forward with the project. Ryan did not comment on the Dec. 16 suit.
