Transportation
BY MELISSA ENAJE
H-GAC regional plan backed by $140B
The timeline
After incorporating public feedback from surveys and a third round of public meetings, H-GAC will provide a public draft project list slated for late 2026.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council is drafting a long-term blueprint for transportation investments through 2050. Residents across H-GAC’s planning region— including Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties—shared feedback during public meetings in July and August. At least $140 billion in local, state and federal funds are expected to be allocated over the next 25 years for projects part of the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. H-GAC officials said the community’s perspective is critical to ensuring investments address key needs, such as population growth, sustainability and overall quality of life. Harris County alone is projected to see a 39% population increase by 2050, according to H-GAC data, creating additional demand for reliable infrastructure and expanded mobility options. “Community feedback is at the heart of this plan,” H-GAC Assistant Transportation Director Allie Isbell said. Road projects in The Woodlands area listed in H-GAC’s plan through 2045 include widening Grogans Mill Road between Research Forest Drive and Woodlands Parkway from four to six lanes. In addition, a new transit center is planned at Six Pines Road and Lake Robbins Drive and a project is planned to construct braided ramps at the Hardy Toll interchange with I-45. As part of that project, ramps between the Grand Parkway and Woodlands Parkway would also be modified and auxiliary lanes would be added.
1 Grogans Mill Road widening between Research Forest Drive and Woodland Parkway • Timeline: 2045 H-GAC proposed transportation projects in The Woodlands area H-GAC is using the updated 2045 plan to identify projects. Three major projects are expected to be carried over to the 2050 RTP.
Regional Transportation Plan 2050 process
Summer 2025: Public meeting Phase 1 Fall 2025: H-GAC goes over goals and objectives Fall 2025: Public meeting Phase 2 Spring 2026: Call for projects; Public meeting Phase 3 Fall 2026: Approved final draft
2025
• Project cost: $21 million 2 New transit center • Timeline: 2040 • Project cost: $35.55 million
2026
3 Braided ramps at Hardy Toll Road interchange and other improvements • Timeline: 2032 • Project cost: $141 million
SOURCE: HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The outlook
RESEARCH FOREST DR.
SIX PINES RD.
The public’s spending priorities included: • New roads and lanes • Existing roadway maintenance • Demand for travel • Pedestrian and bicycle improvements • Public transit • Enhancing operations with technology Harris County resident Jesse Bellow gave feedback on multimodal transportation. “Residents want options outside of driving their car and sitting in traffic and dreading their life,” he said.
LAKE ROBBINS DR.
1
2
WOODLANDS PKWY.
45
3
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SOURCE: HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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