Hempstead Corridor Commuter Rail Conceptual Presentation

The Gulf Coast Rail District received at their September 13, 2011 meeting an update on conceptual engineering for the commuter rail project within the Hempstead Corridor completed by Trans Systems and Klotz Associates.  Ridership projections indicate that upon start up of the line with no CBD link will have daily boardings of 2,640.  After build out of the line in 2,035 but with no CBD link boardings will be 5,952 daily.  With a link to the CBD boardings in 2035 will reach 18,816.  An upgrade of the 2035 build out anticipated in the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan would up daily boardings to 22,578. 

Cost of the project is estimated to be $290.7 million for the 2019 build out stopping at Loop 610 and an additional $254 million for the line to reach the Central Business District.

TxDOT US 290 Overview Report.  Download at this link (PDF)

US 290 Corridor Link to TxDOT US 290 Corridor site. The Corridor upgrade is designed to address overwhelming traffic congestion in this major mobility link Greater West Houston transportation system serving northwest Harris County from Loop 610 to beyond Hempstead, a distance of over 40 miles.  TxDOT's proposed improvements cover a corridor of varying width that is approximately 38 miles long, extending from the interchange area of I-10W/I-610/ US 290 northwest to FM 2920.

The overall vision for the US 290 Program includes:

Freeway capacity reconstruction and widening from IH 610 to FM 2920 to create:
--Five general-purpose lanes in each direction from IH 610 to just west of SH 6, plus auxiliary lanes where appropriate
--Four general-purpose lanes in each direction from just west of SH 6 to near the proposed SH 99/Grand Parkway, plus auxiliary lanes
--Three general-purpose lanes in each direction from near the proposed SH 99/Grand Parkway to the west study limit, plus auxiliary lanes
--Two- or three-lane frontage roads in each direction throughout the corridor
 

Also:
--A four-lane, two-way managed lanes facility along Hempstead Tollway from IH 610 to the proposed SH 99/Grand Parkway
--Two non-tolled frontage road lanes in each direction to be reconstructed along Hempstead Tollway from IH 610 to Beltway 8
--US 290 METRO HOV operations moved to the Hempstead Tollway managed toll lanes
--Proposed high-capacity transit corridor located along Hempstead Tollway
--Bicycle and pedestrian improvements

Phase I of US 290 construction includes the US 290/IH 610 interchange and US 290 out to W. 34th Street. Segment K of this phase is scheduled to go to construction in 2011, and that segment will be paid for with Proposition 12 funding. Click here to learn more about Proposition 12. Segment J-1 of this phase is scheduled to be put out for construction bid in Fall 2012, and will be paid for with Proposition 14 funding.

In addition, TxDOT has identified additional funding mechanisms that will allow the Department to advance construction areas on several areas of the Program Corridor. It is important to note that these funding mechanisms are limited, and will only provide for minimal construction at select locations. Click here to learn more about these newly funded projects.

At this time, funding the remaining portions of the US 290/Hempstead Corridor has not been identified, and time frames for construction remain unclear due to several factors including current state and federal funding challenges as noted here. The sooner funding can be secured the sooner construction on these phases can begin.