After years of inactivity, construction to create a six-lane toll road on Hwy. 249 could begin within two years. In October 2010, Hwy. 249 was left off the Houston-Galveston Area Council's 2035 regional transportation plan, which lists the metropolitan planning organization's priority projects, in large part because of a lack of state transportation funding.
However, thanks to state legislation passed in April 2011, collaboration between Harris and Montgomery counties and a newly formed coalition, significant steps are being taken to move the project forward.
"There have been several meetings with [Harris County] Commissioner [Jack] Cagle, representatives from Harris County Toll Road Authority and TxDOT, and we're in the process of beginning negotiations to create a joint effort to construct main lanes from Spring Cypress to FM 1774," said Craig Doyal, Montgomery Precinct 2 commissioner. "We all want to see the project done."
Doyal said he plans to put an item on the Jan. 23 commissioner's court meeting to get authorization for the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority to begin negotiations with Harris County and TxDOT.
"We are of one mind that the well-managed development of Hwy. 249 is critical to the entire region," Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle said. "Montgomery County's plans mesh well with our needs to address growth in Harris County and get people into, out of and through the area safely and quickly."
Transportation legislation
In April 2011, state legislators passed House Bill 2255 and Senate Bill 1420 to allow TxDOT to enter into public-private partnerships to complete a number of road projects, including Hwy. 249, Hwy. 290 and the Grand Parkway.
Rep Allen Fletcher, R–Houston, who sat on the transportation committee, advocated to include Hwy. 249 on the bill.
The legislation does two things. First, it allows TxDOT to take back primacy, or rights to develop, on roads owned by the county—both Hwy. 249 and the Grand Parkway are county-owned roads. Second, it allows TxDOT to enter into public-private partnerships—also called comprehensive development agreements—with a developer to help finance, design, construct, operate and maintain the project.
Through SB 1420, TxDOT stepped up to take primacy of the Grand Parkway, which frees up county funding for Hwy. 249, according to Fletcher.
"I think it's going to be a compilation of county and state money," he said. "I'm going to make sure TxDOT helps us where we have a shortfall."
Next steps
After the MCTRA is enabled to begin negotiations with HCTRA, the next step would be to complete traffic and revenue studies to ensure the project is financially viable. Doyal said he expects the project of creating main lanes from Spring Cypress to FM 1774 to cost approximately $250 million to $300 million.
The segment has already been environmentally cleared by the state, but the report will need to be updated.
Fletcher said he expects the project to be funded this year and construction to start within the next two years.
