The installation of toll lanes on congestion-riddled Hwy. 288 will begin by late summer 2015. The project will add four tolled lanes—two in each direction—from Hwy. 59 to CR 58. Officials said the project will expand the reach of businesses in Brazoria County and ease congestion on the freeway, which carries more than 160,000 cars daily at the Hwy. 288 and Beltway 8 intersection.

"Someone who lives in Pearland may leave to go to work at 6:15 a.m., but it might take them until 7:30 a.m. to get to the [Texas] Medical Center or downtown because congestion is getting worse," Brazoria County Judge-elect Matt Sebesta said. "This project will make Brazoria County a better place to work and live if folks can get to work in an expedited manner."

Additionally, the Greater Houston area's largest concentration of medical center employees—about 10,000 people—reside in Pearland, using Hwy. 288 as a main route to work, Sebesta said.

"A main driver on Hwy. 288 is the economic link between the medical center and northern Brazoria County," said Alan Clark, director of transportation planning for the Houston-Galveston Area Council. "It's a key aspect that makes this project important."

Forward-thinking planners

When Hwy. 288 first appeared on the city of Houston's Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan in the 1950s, it was designed as a dual freeway. This allowed transportation officials to acquire right of way for a larger median along the corridor so additional lanes could be built in the future inside the grassy median.

"Decades ago, planners were thinking about the fact our region would have significant growth to the south, and thankfully they did," Clark said. "We wouldn't be able to do what we are doing now on Hwy. 288 if people in the 1970s didn't acquire the right of way that allows us to develop the

managed lanes."

The toll lanes project will be constructed by both the Texas Department of Transportation and Brazoria County. A 10.4-mile segment of the project from Hwy. 59 to the Harris County line will be constructed by TxDOT through a comprehensive development agreement. TxDOT will select an outside firm to build and maintain its portion of the project, which is expected to improve mobility.

"As travel demand increases, mobility is projected to deteriorate to unacceptable levels with congestion extending south to Hwy. 6 and eventually to CR 60," TxDOT spokeswoman Raquelle Lewis said.

TxDOT's portion of the project also includes direct connectors to the medical center and Beltway 8, the latter of which many county residents use to get around the city of Houston, Brazoria County Engineer Matt Hanks said.

"Without those direct connectors, if you want to head west on Beltway 8 you'll have to exit and go through three traffic lights and travel down the feeder [road] before getting on the Beltway," he said. "With the direct connectors, it cuts out all that time with the lights."

Project timeline

The toll lanes project is not a new concept in Brazoria County. Commissioners Court approved the creation of the Brazoria County Toll Road Authority in 2003 to push for recognition that something needed to be done on Hwy. 288.

"Pearland was exploding, Shadow Creek was filling up with houses and there was continued growth even farther down in the county," Sebesta said.

Much of the significant growth began along the Hwy. 288 corridor over the past 15 years as residents began using the Hwy. 288 corridor to get to the medical center, downtown Houston or the Galleria area for work, said Matt Buchanan, president of the Pearland Economic Development Corporation.

"Growth originally started because of the construction of Hwy. 288 and the Beltway," he said. "Both of those transportation projects gave residents in this area better access to the major job centers in the Houston region."

Brazoria County is more than 90 percent done with the design of the toll lanes but does not plan to start construction until TxDOT begins work on its portion.

"We want to make sure their project is a go," Sebesta said. "The goal is to finish at the same time rather than have a race to the starter's gun."

Drivers who use the new lanes will pay a toll, but the price could vary with the travel demand that is experienced on the roadway. Travelers can also choose to remain on the existing general purpose lanes and not pay a toll. Construction of the new lanes is not expected to affect traffic on the general purpose lanes.

"By using pricing to manage demand for travel in a corridor, you can ensure a maximum number of people can move through the area," Clark said.

Future growth

The ultimate Hwy. 288 project involves expanding the toll lanes farther south to CR 60.

"I think [the project] will continue to spur more growth as you go south on [Hwy.] 288 down to Hwy. 6 and farther north in Brazoria County," Buchanan said.

Sebesta said he believes the project will be a tremendous catalyst for economic growth, but added it has been a long process.

"The toll road authority was created 11 years ago and we still haven't turned the first shovel full of dirt, but we're getting close," Sebesta said. "We've got some fantastic design firms working on the process to make it a reality."