Transportation
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
Ron Papsdorf, H-GAC’s chief transportation officer, discusses priorities in Greater Houston area
Community Impact interviewed Ron Papsdorf, the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s chief trans- portation officer, about the state of transportation in the Greater Houston area. H-GAC is a regional organization through which local governments consider issues and cooperate in solving problems in areas such as transporta- tion. Papsdorf, who stepped into the role of chief transportation officer in June, spoke about the region’s greatest transportation priorities and challenges. What are your responsibilities as the chief transportation officer? I have the honor of working with a group of dedicated professionals in service to the Houston region. With the Transportation Policy Council, we partner with local, regional and state agencies to plan, prioritize and invest in transportation system improvements to improve the lives of the people who live and work here. That means marshaling our resources to achieve the region’s transportation goals: improve safety, keep the system well-maintained, move people and goods efficiently, strengthen economic competitiveness and protect the environment. What are the biggest priorities for transportation and mobility in the Greater Houston area? I view addressing the region’s safety, congestion and air quality issues as paramount. If we can address those core issues, we will have a trans- portation system that contributes to a thriving and livable region. As an example, during the last three months of 2024, we experienced over 47,000
crashes on the region’s transportation system. Not only was each of those crashes probably the worst thing that happened that day to the people involved in them, but those crashes also make it harder for people to get to work on time, slow down the deliv- ery of goods to our stores and put our emergency responders at risk. That adds to our congestion, worsens our air quality and hurts the economy. What are some of the challenges this area has when it comes to transportation and mobility? The Houston region is large, dynamic and growing. Our population tripled over the past 50 years to 7.7 million people, and we expect to grow by another 3 million people over the next 20 years. ... We also have challenges with congestion and our ability to efficiently move freight through the region. In fact, according to a study by the American Transportation Research Institute, the Houston region has eight of the nation’s top 100 truck bottleneck locations and two of the top 10. As a port region, our economy depends on being able to move goods efficiently. Are there any new trends you are seeing in mobility needs across the region? Like most regions around the country, we’re still experiencing changes in travel patterns post- COVID, from some people working from home some of the time. E-commerce and increased home deliveries are influencing transportation needs. Finally, changing technologies like self-driving vehicles, artificial intelligence ... will change the way we use and experience the transportation system over time.
COURTESY HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL
What do you want people to know about H-GAC and the role it plays in the region’s transportation and mobility projects? At our core, we are conveners. We bring people together to wrestle through difficult issues and collaborate to make the best possible decisions to address the region’s transportation problems and build a livable future. We support that by collect- ing, analyzing and sharing data and information, and preparing plans and strategies.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .
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