Houston: tolls removed from IH45/SH242 direct connect ramps

[MaxConcrete]

Toll removal had been discussed, but I had not seen any news reports of the removal actually taking place. So I was pleasantly surprised today when I drove through the area and noticed there is no longer toll collection on the ramps.

Tolled connection ramps was an especially egregious form of tolling, so I'm glad it's gone. (DFW still has a couple along IH35E.) This is also the first-ever toll removal in Houston, although I don't expect any other removals any time in the foreseeable future.

For those not familiar, the ramps are nice, long elevated ramps forming a four-level separation.
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2065666,-95.4560063,3a,75y,177.66h,97.23t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sEZrPAMIG19T0msFedGMCzg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DEZrPAMIG19T0msFedGMCzg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D272.7144%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2054808,-95.4557533,672m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Further west on SH 242 work is in progress to widen the highway. Work is just underway on the San Jacinto River bridge for westbound traffic. The new grade separation at FM 1314 is around 80% complete.

[sprjus4]

Unexpected, but nice! I guess they realized the ramps were underutilized and backups still lingering at the traditional exit. Probably acquired enough funds to buy it out.

[NE2]

Tolled connection ramps was an especially egregious form of tolling, so I'm glad it's gone. (DFW still has a couple along IH35E.)

Where?

[wxfree]

The only place I know of is the new ramps connecting the north side of I-35E with Sam Rayburn Tollway.  Originally, only the south side ramps were built.

The toll sign says "Pay by mail" instead of "Zip Cash," so I assume that means it's a TxDOT toll, not NTTA.  It also has a discount for HOV use, which NTTA doesn't give.  It appears to be a part of the managed lanes project, but it uses a fixed toll amount.

[Bobby5280]

One of the ramps from LBJ Freeway (I-635) to Northbound I-35E sort of works like a tolled ramp. I found out about it the hard way making a wrong turn. My girlfriend and I were leaving the Cinemark theater at Webb Chapel, intending to take I-635 to Grapevine and then pick up TX-114 to get out of DFW. The very first entrance ramp to WB I-635 just west of the Webb Chapel intersection is tricky -thanks to some arguably very misleading signage. That entrance ramp is primarily signed as an entrance ramp to I-635 West when it's really mainly a ramp to get to the tolled lanes on I-35E. Once you're on that ramp there is a last chance exit to get to I-635, but (again) it's poorly signed. The overhead sign gives drivers a choice between tolled I-35E lanes or an exit to Denton Drive and Harry Hines Blvd. There's a little "blink and you miss it" post sign with a I-635 shield and "Right Lane" panel. That crap should be on the overhead sign.

I should have stayed on the WB frontage road a couple more blocks for a more direct entrance ramp onto WB I-635. That's ultimately where that "I-635 Right Lane" ramp nonsense leads. It puts you back on the frontage road, cutting underneath the elevated toll lanes, to get to the actual ramp onto WB I-635.

[wxfree]

That's pretty bad.  I just Street Viewed it.  Using that ramp lets you avoid the Josey Lane intersection, but I-635 is not a minor road.  That small sign should be overhead, since there's no room for a big sign to the side, and the Interstate shield should be on the Denton Dr. sign.

[bassoon1986]

One of the ramps from LBJ Freeway (I-635) to Northbound I-35E sort of works like a tolled ramp. I found out about it the hard way making a wrong turn. My girlfriend and I were leaving the Cinemark theater at Webb Chapel, intending to take I-635 to Grapevine and then pick up TX-114 to get out of DFW. The very first entrance ramp to WB I-635 just west of the Webb Chapel intersection is tricky -thanks to some arguably very misleading signage. That entrance ramp is primarily signed as an entrance ramp to I-635 West when it's really mainly a ramp to get to the tolled lanes on I-35E. Once you're on that ramp there is a last chance exit to get to I-635, but (again) it's poorly signed. The overhead sign gives drivers a choice between tolled I-35E lanes or an exit to Denton Drive and Harry Hines Blvd. There's a little "blink and you miss it" post sign with a I-635 shield and "Right Lane" panel. That crap should be on the overhead sign.

I should have stayed on the WB frontage road a couple more blocks for a more direct entrance ramp onto WB I-635. That's ultimately where that "I-635 Right Lane" ramp nonsense leads. It puts you back on the frontage road, cutting underneath the elevated toll lanes, to get to the actual ramp onto WB I-635.

Ooh you're right. That is confusing. The one that essentially puts you back on the frontage road, then back to 635 to exit the "old way"  to 35E north will still get you to the very close Valley View exit. Following what you think is express lane only northbound DOES give you a free and toll lane exit option to northbound 35E but you wouldn't know it before that point. The free option there is a much longer ramp that bypasses Valley View and gets you on 35E before Valwood.


iPhone

[Chris]

The tolls on the SH 242 ramps were removed on May 28 already: https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/city-county/2019/05/28/montgomery-county-commissioners-initiate-toll-removal-along-hwy-242-flyovers/

UPDATE: This article has been updated to confirm tolls will cease May 28 at midnight.

[Perfxion]

This was a great idea to remove the tolls, and really didn't help traffic flow as shunpiking had hardly many using it. But this ramp really helps those trying to get to LSCC by dropping one off right at the entrance.

[armadillo speedbump]

So are the direct connectors from the Grand Parkway north to I-10 east or west tolled or not? (Katy, TX)  Google maps shows them free, but the signage for the frontage road exit immediately before says "Last free exit." 

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7731417,-95.7770872,3a,75y,356.06h,95.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-iALB42kcRCW57Eocmp7WQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4

Since I don't have a tolltag I never took the chance to drive it and find out, instead always exiting to the frontage road.

Next sign at the actual DC exit suggest they aren't tolled:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7758834,-95.7771407,3a,75y,2.36h,77.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sR3NRuiyQcMhDlgTfhLuAYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4

[sprjus4]

So are the direct connectors from the Grand Parkway north to I-10 east or west tolled or not? (Katy, TX)  Google maps shows them free, but the signage for the frontage road exit immediately before says "Last free exit." 

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7731417,-95.7770872,3a,75y,356.06h,95.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-iALB42kcRCW57Eocmp7WQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4

Since I don't have a tolltag I never took the chance to drive it and find out, instead always exiting to the frontage road.

Next sign at the actual DC exit suggest they aren't tolled:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7758834,-95.7771407,3a,75y,2.36h,77.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sR3NRuiyQcMhDlgTfhLuAYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4

A quick glance at Street View through the flyovers doesn't appear to have any toll gantries.

The I-10 East to TX-99 South flyover is displayed as "Free Exit" on I-10 East.

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7852959,-95.787601,3a,42.5y,94.66h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUJGaj5QDYH7Jb1-xKAal7w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Perfxion]

So are the direct connectors from the Grand Parkway north to I-10 east or west tolled or not? (Katy, TX)  Google maps shows them free, but the signage for the frontage road exit immediately before says "Last free exit." 

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7731417,-95.7770872,3a,75y,356.06h,95.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-iALB42kcRCW57Eocmp7WQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4

Since I don't have a tolltag I never took the chance to drive it and find out, instead always exiting to the frontage road.

Next sign at the actual DC exit suggest they aren't tolled:

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7758834,-95.7771407,3a,75y,2.36h,77.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sR3NRuiyQcMhDlgTfhLuAYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4

It says last fee exit because its start being a tollroad. I-10 ramps themselves aren't tolled, but the TXdot likes making people dump onto feeders just to make people suffer if they don't want to touch a toll road.

[CtrlAltDel]

Just out of idle curiosity, how much was the toll on the ramps? I can't imagine it would be very much, but I read somewhere they took in about $100,000 a month.

[MaxConcrete]

Just out of idle curiosity, how much was the toll on the ramps? I can't imagine it would be very much, but I read somewhere they took in about $100,000 a month.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2084286,-95.4423918,3a,75y,273.67h,122.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8mL5wFKmdm6o2wAjUGzpCg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

[CtrlAltDel]

Just out of idle curiosity, how much was the toll on the ramps? I can't imagine it would be very much, but I read somewhere they took in about $100,000 a month.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2084286,-95.4423918,3a,75y,273.67h,122.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8mL5wFKmdm6o2wAjUGzpCg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

I was looking for something like that. Thanks for finding it.