Toll authority leads mobility growth

There has been some talk about possibly appointing a five-member board to oversee the MCTRA instead of the commissioners once the toll roads are operating and generating revenue. Although the MCTRA does not have regular planned meetings, the agency meets as needed to discuss where toll roads should be built.

"It's important to determine where they'd be the most cost effective," Doyal said. "There's a great deal of consideration given to the viability of the toll road before construction."

Construction began in May on the $34 million flyover at Hwy. 242 and I-45 and is expected to be complete in November 2014.

"It will allow northbound traffic on 1-45 to directly access 242 without having to exit the freeway and go through a traffic signal," Doyal said. "The flyover will help so there's no disruption of that traffic flow. And southbound on I-45, it will move all that traffic out under the bridge and relieve much of the congestion that's there."

Commissioners on the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority and several other area officials have identified additional projects and problem areas to be studied by the Houston-Galveston Area Council's transportation study of the area. The study, which should be completed by spring of 2014, will examine transportation concerns across South Montgomery County.

Sadler suggested studying the feasibility of toll roads, particularly one connecting the planned Grand Parkway to Hwy. 242, which could expand further north to Hwy. 105. Another potential toll road could stretch northwest into Montgomery County.

Sadler said he believes toll roads could provide funding for transportation projects that will be difficult to obtain from bond referendums, tax increases and TxDOT.

Noack said the county hired Pate Transportation Partners to study the toll road feasibility, but he abstained from the vote because the study was not vetted.

"We do need to plan," Noack said. "I'm not a big believer that toll roads are the right way to go or the only way to go. They're a possibility."

Additional reporting by Shawn Arrajj and Matt Stephens