What happened
At separate City Council meetings on April 7 and April 14, Friendswood and Pearland city officials voiced concerns that the proposed legislation—Senate Bill 2722 and House Bill 5177—could undermine local infrastructure funding and jeopardize critical transportation projects.
If passed, SB 2722 and HB 5177 would require Harris County to transfer 30% of surplus revenue from the Harris County Toll Road Authority, estimated at $58 million annually, to the city of Houston to be used for law enforcement and emergency services related to toll roads.
Currently, the county precincts can allocate those revenues to any city to fund partnering projects that support greater connectivity throughout the region, city manager Trent Epperson said.
Those opposed
Harris County officials have vocally opposed the bills and asked suburban communities surrounding Houston to also voice opposition, Epperson said.
The bills could hinder Friendswood’s collaboration on infrastructure projects with Harris County and the Texas Department of Transportation, such as Blackhawk Boulevard, city manager Morad Kabiri said.
“The city of Friendswood relies on the strength of Harris County’s transportation infrastructure,” the city’s resolution reads. “These bills would significantly hinder the county’s ability to maintain and improve roads that benefit residents and businesses in our city”
What else?
If the bills pass, nearly $10 million in local and regional infrastructure projects in Pearland would be at risk, namely the Hughes Road expansion and completion of the Clear Creek Recreational Trail Segment 5, according to agenda documents.
Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole called the bills a “money grab,” and said that county toll roads are already policed by county law enforcement and felt the state was acting on Houston’s behalf to cover some gaps in the city’s budget.
“What this is at the end of the day is the [Texas] Legislature is trying to say, ‘Hey, Harris County help plug the gaps in the city of Houston’s budget,’” Cole said.
Those in favor
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said at a previous Houston City Council meeting that he felt the bills were fair and pointed out that over 60% of the toll road miles are in the city of Houston and over 60% of the revenue is generated in the city of Houston.
“Our first responders have made 6,500 calls,” Whitmire said. “Last year, they took in over $850 million in tolls, most of those people coming into Houston to work. We get 700,000 people from the suburbs coming to Houston every day that we have to protect.”
What’s next?
The bills are currently under consideration in the Texas State Legislature. Nearby cities like Deer Park, Pasadena and La Porte have also voiced opposition to them, Cole said.
