Sneakiness in government aggravates me to no end. For example, releasing a long-term plan on a Friday and voting on the plan less than a week later. Oh, and not posting the plan online (update: see this comment), or encouraging media coverage.
That’s exactly what Harris County did and the Citizens Transportation Coalition has the details:
On Fri June 17, Harris County released the new 5-year
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) which identifies the next 5-7 priority toll road corridors. The document is available on paper at the county office downtown but is not available online.Tomorrow, Harris County commissioners are expected to approve the plan at the only scheduled public hearing — Tues June 21 at 9:00 am. Commissioners are then expected to vote at the 10:00 am Commissioners’ Court meeting to authorize $192,295 for traffic and feasibility studies for the new priority toll roads.
This four-day process is remarkably fast and opaque with no public notice and no mention by the press. When and where was the public supposed to learn about the new toll road corridors or participate in the planning process?!?
Check out information from the new plan about the 5-7 new “priority” toll roads for Harris County: http://www.ctchouston.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18
CTC is working to make the press and the public aware of toll road plans that will affect neighborhoods as well as the lack of public accountability in toll road planning.
You can help by doing two things:
1) TODAY, please call both your Harris County Commissioner and the Harris County Judge and let them know that the public deserves notice and a meaningful opportunity to review these plans and weigh in. This 4-day process is way too fast and precludes real public participation.
Precinct 1 Commissioner El Franco Lee (713) 755-6111
Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia (713) 755-6220
Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack (713) 755-6306
Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole (713) 755-6444
County Judge Robert Eckels (713) 755-40002) CTC needs neighborhood leaders to come to the hearing and Court meeting. If you are available to come downtown Tuesday morning from 9:00 – 11:00 am, please let Robin (713) 526-2283 or Polly (713) 524-4578 know ASAP.
To sign up to speak Tuesday, please call (713) 755-5113 and tell them you want to comment on both the Capital Improvement Plan and agenda item 1.c.1.c. (on page 2). If they tell you to just show up, please insist that they take your name and topic.
There is simply no excuse not to have posted this information online, long in advance, so the public could become and informed and comment on it.
And I am really tired of governmental agencies not posting relevant information on their websites in a timely fashion. We (voters and taxpayers) need to demand that this happens. We pay the government’s bills; we elect these officials; it’s time for them to be more responsive to us.
(Thanks to a blogHOUSTON reader for passing on the information.)
In the extended entry, I will copy the list of projects in the plan:
1. Beltway East Mainlanes. Wilber Smith Associates will be requested to update a traffic and revenue study and provide an investment grade level analysis for the project. An agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation will also be required.
2. Brazoria County Toll Road. This project would connect the City of Alivin to SH 288 south of Pearland and continue on SH 288 to a point inside IH 610, and potentially to US 59. An investment grade study and agreements with Brazoria County and the Texas Department of Transportation will be needed.
3. Grand Parkway, Segment E. This project, which is almost ready for final design and right of way acquisition, will require an investment grade analysis and an agreement with TxDOT.
4. Hardy Toll Road Extension. The road would be extended from IH 610 to downtown. Final design is underway. A projection of traffic and revenue will be prepared along with an agreement with TxDOT. Subject to the state, connections by the Hardy Extension are to be made with the Elysian Viaduct into downtown and southbound to US 59.
5. Hempstead Road Managed Lanes. The lanes would go from Jones Road to IH 10. An investment grade study will be needed along with an agreement with TxDOT. The agreement would include standards and timing for the state’s improvements to US 290.
In addition to the above five projects, the director shows two other projects that could become priorities. One would be the second phase of the Fort Bend Connector from US 90A along Post Oak Boulevard to the IH 610 Loop. Phase one is from SH 6 to US 90A near Chimney Rock. The director said the second phase project will be evaluated as to its feasibility and community impact. Projected traffic and revenue appear to be sufficient to cover the debt to accomplish the project. The state would need to approve the connection into IH 610.
A second potential project for the priority list could be the Fairmont Parkway/Red Bluff Tollway from SH 146 to Beltway 8. Additional traffic and revenue data will be needed for evaluation with investment grade studies. A part of the evaluation will included the impact of truck traffic from the Port of Houston’s Bayport terminal.
