Judge Clears Segment E Lawsuit, Rules Against Sierra Club and Audubon Society

US District Judge Lake ruled May 19th that TxDOT and FHWA did not act arbitrarily or capriciously as claimed by the Sierra Club and Audubon Society in their bid to stop Segment E of the Grand Parkway.  The Judge found for the agencies with prejudice.  This clears the way for HCTRA to advance the project to construction when the Corps of Engineers issues it wetlands mitigation letter.  (Read the Judges opinion at this link PDF)

May 11, 2010

Harris County Commissioners Court has authorized HCTRA to seek qualifications of consulting engineers for design of additional sections of the Grand Parkway, Segments F1 & F2.  When designed these segments will join Segment E (I-10 to US 290) as ready for construction.  (Read More PDF)

Expand Planned Interchange of GP at Interstate 10

The West Houston Association thanks area transportation agencies for their initiatives on the Segment E of the Grand Parkway and urges additional Interstate 10 direct connection ramps be included in the first phase of the work.  In addition, north-south Grand Parkway traffic should have fully grade separated movement through the interchange.  See the Association letter.

Grand Parkway Segment E Starts Work

Harris County Commissioners Court on March 10, 2009 and March 24th  approved executing agreements with engineering firms to begin the design of Segment E of the Grand Parkway.  This contingent upon TxDOT confirming supplemental funding in the amount of $181 million from the stimulus bill.  These actions by the Commissioners Court clears the way for design and ROW acquisitions process to begin.

Also on March 10th the Sierra Club announced it has filed a suit claiming the FHWA and TxDOT acted arbitrarily and capriciously issued a record of decision on the environmental impact statement.  A copy of the filing can be download here . Named in the suit are Federal Highway Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation and Transportation Commission.

The County had previously approved an agreement with TxDOT that will allow the County to begin engineering of Segment E between I-10 and US 290.  The agreement also would allow the County to begin construction on this segment.  The agreement calls for TxDOT to by out all Harris County investment in the project if another project developer is selected by TxDOT to undertake the entire Grand Parkway loop.

Grand Parkway-State Highway 99

The Grand Parkway is a planned 184 loop around the Greater Houston metropolitan area which currently has several sections currently open to traffic--from I-10 West to US 59 South and in Baytown on the east side of Houston region.  The total cost of this loop is currently estimated to be $3.7 billion.

A description of the Grand Parkway (from the current TxDOT/Area Counties discussions) is available in PDF format at this link.

Grand Parkway West will tie the Greater West Houston region's residential and commercial centers  together with a vital new north-south link.  Making up this link are:

• Section D, currently completed south from I-10 to the Westpark Toll Road (FM 1093), continuing south with frontage roads to Sugarland and US 59.
   
• Section E, a 15.2 mile section north from I-10 to US 290 has received its record of decision.
  
  The current schedule (link to PDF) calls for design and right of way acquisition to begin in 2008 and construction to commence in January 2010.  While the schedule published by local and state agencies current call for completion in January 2011, it is likely this section can be completed and open to traffic in two-thirds that time, by January 2010.
  
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• Section F1, is an 11.4 mile section north from US 290 to US 249.  It is in environmental study with a record of decision expected in June, 2008. Click on the links below to view a location map for this segment (PDF).
  
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  Segment F1 Map 1     Segment F1 Map 2     Segment F1 Map 3
   
• Section F2 connects the Grand Parkway to Interstate 45 north of Houston, and G connects to US 59 North (Eastex Freeway).

TxDOT and Harris and surrounding counties are negotiating terms and conditions leading up to a decision whereby one or the other undertakes the construction of the Grand Parkway.