North Houston Highway Improvement Project

[Plutonic Panda]

Update from CEW about this project retaining the funding per the updated 10 yr plan:

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/texas-transportation-commission-approves-10-year-plan/53999

[kernals12]

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Harris-County-considering-pause-of-I-45-lawsuit-16622452.php

Harris County is considering pausing their lawsuit, sounds like they're willing to come to some kind of agreement with TxDOT.

[bwana39]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/houston-highway-project-sparks-debate-203458040.html

Just a new discussion

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/houston-highway-project-sparks-debate-over-racial-equity/2824537/

[MaxConcrete]

Breaking news.... 
The Texas Transportation announced that FHWA has ended the pause on sections 3A and 3B, and authorized some pre-construction work to proceed on section 3C.

It was reported that extensive discussions between TxDOT and FHWA have taken place in the recent month and discussions are ongoing.

The project has been delayed at least 2 years due to the FHWA pause.

This discussion will be available in the video of today's meeting when posted, see the meeting opening remarks.

Direct  link to map for people who use browsers that require https: http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/NHHIP-sections.png

[kernals12]

Breaking news.... 
The Texas Transportation announced that FHWA has ended the pause on sections 3A and 3B, and authorized some pre-construction work to proceed on section 3C.

It was reported that extensive discussions between TxDOT and FHWA have taken place in the recent month and discussions are ongoing.

The project has been delayed at least 2 years due to the FHWA pause.

This discussion will be available in the video of today's meeting when posted, see the opening remarks.

Your photo isn't displaying. Also, I'm not seeing news of this anywhere?

Edit: I see it now,

So FHWA has let TxDOT go forward to some degree with every part of the downtown rebuild except for the part that would make urbanists happy?

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah I'm pretty confused by this as well what's the point of even undertaking any of it if they're not gonna fix the bottleneck? Before TxDOT goes and spends billions they probably should make sure they can do the entire project.

[TXtoNJ]

Breaking news.... 
The Texas Transportation announced that FHWA has ended the pause on sections 3A and 3B, and authorized some pre-construction work to proceed on section 3C.

It was reported that extensive discussions between TxDOT and FHWA have taken place in the recent month and discussions are ongoing.

The project has been delayed at least 2 years due to the FHWA pause.

This discussion will be available in the video of today's meeting when posted, see the opening remarks.

Your photo isn't displaying. Also, I'm not seeing news of this anywhere?

Edit: I see it now,

So FHWA has let TxDOT go forward to some degree with every part of the downtown rebuild except for the part that would make urbanists happy?

No, all of 3 is a go - 3D is last because it's the most intensive and disruptive during construction.

[kernals12]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

[abqtraveler]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

[kernals12]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

Maxconcrete

[MaxConcrete]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

This was announced during the meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission, which is livestreamed.

There is probably not yet a news report because the Houston Chronicle transportation reporter was busy on the ship channel bridge report
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Harris-County-to-spend-300M-more-to-fix-Ship-16663883.php

Why do people think I'm a liar? When was the last time I posted invalid information? (answer: never)

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

Maxconcrete

He rarely posts anything except facts and news articles not sure what reason you'd have to doubt him. He is among the most credible posters on this forum, IMO.

[J N Winkler]

Direct link to Texas Transportation Commission meeting agendas, minutes, and media files for 2021

[Rothman]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

Maxconcrete

He rarely posts anything except facts and news articles not sure what reason you'd have to doubt him. He is among the most credible posters on this forum, IMO.

Ad hominem.

[hotdogPi]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

Maxconcrete

He rarely posts anything except facts and news articles not sure what reason you'd have to doubt him. He is among the most credible posters on this forum, IMO.

Ad hominem.

Looks like a legitimate argument. Compare a typical link posted by cpzilliacus and one posted by kernals12.

[kernals12]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

This was announced during the meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission, which is livestreamed.

There is probably not yet a news report because the Houston Chronicle transportation reporter was busy on the ship channel bridge report
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Harris-County-to-spend-300M-more-to-fix-Ship-16663883.php

Why do people think I'm a liar? When was the last time I posted invalid information? (answer: never)

It's called trust but verify. Don't get your panties in a twist.

[Rothman]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

Maxconcrete

He rarely posts anything except facts and news articles not sure what reason you'd have to doubt him. He is among the most credible posters on this forum, IMO.

Ad hominem.

Looks like a legitimate argument. Compare a typical link posted by cpzilliacus and one posted by kernals12.

Ad hominem is never legitimate.  The argument should be attacked on its own merits.  Cpzilliacus isn't perfect and kernals12 can even manage a decent post once a year or so.

[kernals12]

Houston Public Media's reporting

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/transportation/2021/11/30/414398/txdot-gets-the-ok-to-continue-limited-work-on-a-controversial-i-45-expansion/

[TXtoNJ]

I'm still not seeing any one reporting that FHWA has lifted its freeze.

What is your source that the FHWA has lifted its "pause" on Section 3 of the NHHIP?  I did a Google search can can't find anything to that effect.

This was announced during the meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission, which is livestreamed.

There is probably not yet a news report because the Houston Chronicle transportation reporter was busy on the ship channel bridge report
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Harris-County-to-spend-300M-more-to-fix-Ship-16663883.php

Why do people think I'm a liar? When was the last time I posted invalid information? (answer: never)

It's called trust but verify. Don't get your panties in a twist.

Look, I know you're young, but possibly before you were born, MaxConcrete wrote a comprehensive book about Houston Freeways. There's probably nobody outside of TxDOT that has a more detailed knowledge of the system.

If he says it, it's as good as gold.

[kernals12]

How come they need that much clearance between the main lanes and the frontage roads?

[Bobby5280]

How come they need that much clearance between the main lanes and the frontage roads?

The space is needed for various types of ramps to merge in/out of the freeway. Space is also needed for support pylons of any flyover ramps. Room is also needed for drainage, utilities, etc.

[kernals12]

The city of Houston found that, with minor changes, the need for eminent domain takings on the NW corner of the rebuilt i-45/I-610 interchange would be eliminated

[Echostatic]

Seems like a no-brainer, honestly. Still a plenty wide curve and reduces project cost.

[achilles765]

Breaking news.... 
The Texas Transportation announced that FHWA has ended the pause on sections 3A and 3B, and authorized some pre-construction work to proceed on section 3C.

It was reported that extensive discussions between TxDOT and FHWA have taken place in the recent month and discussions are ongoing.

The project has been delayed at least 2 years due to the FHWA pause.

This discussion will be available in the video of today's meeting when posted, see the opening remarks.

Your photo isn't displaying. Also, I'm not seeing news of this anywhere?

Edit: I see it now,

So FHWA has let TxDOT go forward to some degree with every part of the downtown rebuild except for the part that would make urbanists happy?

No, all of 3 is a go - 3D is last because it's the most intensive and disruptive during construction.

LOL that is an understatement...I still cannot even imagine how hellish things are going to be during the construction... I am glad I live five minutes from downtown and don't have to use a freeway most of the time. Though I do cross IH 69/US 59...
I do really hope that there is an exit to better serve Franklin Street/Canal/Navigation/Harrisburg.  And some more (or rebuilt) overpasses or underpasses at those damn railroad tracks... UP is always blocking traffic from East End for hours...
I really feel for anyone who regularly uses the Pierce Elevated though

[kernals12]

Seems like a no-brainer, honestly. Still a plenty wide curve and reduces project cost.

I think this is a product of the use-it-or-lose-it system of government budgeting. If they don't spend the money on this ramp and all the ROW acquisition it requires, then they lose the right to use those funds. This incentivizes wasteful spending.