The Houston-Galveston Area Council announced its ranking of major projects on Oct. 15, placing the construction of braided ramps along I-45 to the Hardy Toll Road as the third key project in the Houston region, alongside a number of other mobility improvements.

Why it matters

The H-GAC ranks major proposed transportation projects every year for considerations to include the project on the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan.

According to the agency’s website, the ranking “utilizes a combination of the investment category focused criteria, planning factors, and a cost-benefit analysis for project scoring.”

The details

The list ranked 58 different projects across the Houston region; the top five include:

• SH 249 widening from Beltway 8 to I-45: $115.73 million
• I-10 E. San Jacinto River Bridge and interchange reconstruction: $415.58 million
• I-45 braided ramps to Hardy Toll Road: $150 million
• FM 1488 widening and access management from FM 2978 to I-45 N.: $51.95 million
• FM 521 widening and railroad grade separation: $52.06 million

Montgomery County has allocated $8.97 million for preliminary engineering and study efforts on the I-45 ramp project and is awaiting approval from the Texas Department of Transportation to use pass-through toll funding for additional engineering and environmental studies.

Quote of note

“I appreciate H-GAC and TxDOT leadership recognizing the importance and value of such an innovative solution that will improve safety, mobility and quality of life not only for Montgomery County residents, but all commuters along the Interstate 45 corridor,” Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said in a news release. “Once completed, this project will ease congestion, curb accidents and reduce response time for law enforcement and medical personnel. In addition, it will be an economic driver locally and regionally."