Funding At Stake
If you have traveled on I-45, you can agree that it is in need of improvement. An improvement project has been in the planning and design phase for 15 years and received funding from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Unified Transportation Program (UTP), a 10-year plan, guiding transportation project development across the state.
TxDOT allocated $7.5 billion of funding through the UTP to the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) believing it essential to Harris County’s future economic and infrastructure development.
In addition to expanding and upgrading the corridor to meet highway safety standards, the agency plans to use the funds for congestion relief, improved flood mitigation and drainage improvements along I-45.
Additionally, the project could lead to transit and mobility improvements throughout north Houston and job creation across the region.
This is now in jeopardy due to opponents of the project.
If the project is halted, then the $7.5 billion in funding will be redirected to other counties in Texas.
LOCAL IMPACT:
While I-45 is not directly in Tomball, stopping this project could have impacts felt to our area.
Funding for other projects could be impacted, as well as timelines for completion of projects already in progress.
These projects include, but are not limited to:
*The widening of FM 2920 from Tomball to Waller.
This could directly affect the M-124 drainage project that will mitigate flooding at Calvert Road
*The redevelopment project for Main Street through downtown Tomball
*Future direct connectors on the Tomball Tollway
To read more, please visit:
business.tomballcham ber.org/news/details /action-needed-fundi ng-at-stake