Transportation
BY JULIANNA WASHBURN
Ron Papsdorf, H-GAC’s chief transportation officer, discusses priorities in Greater Houston area
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.
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 biggest priorities and challenges for transportation in the Greater Houston area as well as new trends he is seeing in mobility needs across the region. 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 were 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
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .
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