Transportation
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
TxDOT nalizes buyback of 10-mile stretch of Hwy. 288 in Harris County
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45
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develop, design, construct, nance, operate and maintain the SH 288 Toll Lanes Project in Harris County, according to the agency’s website. Terminating the agreement will bring operations of the toll road under the state, according to the Oct. 8 news release. As part of that, TxDOT will assume the responsibility of building out future lanes along Hwy. 288. Tolling policies will not change in the short-term, but o cials expect future rates to be reduced and rise at a slower rate under TxDOT, according to the release. Stay tuned Building out the two free, general-purpose lanes will begin no later than 2030, per the release. The addition will consist of one lane in each direction. O cials could not con rm by press time what the cost of the project is expected to be.
Drivers heading down Hwy. 288 in Harris County could soon see tolls reduced after the state acquired the toll road, o cials with the Texas Department of Transportation said in an Oct. 8 news release. As part of the buyback, TxDOT o cials said they plan to eventually expand the free part of the highway with two more lanes. What you need to know O cials con rmed in an Oct. 22 email the agency will take over the section of the highway, which runs from Hwy. 69 to the Harris County/Bra- zoria County line at Clear Creek, from Blueridge Transportation Group. TxDOT announced it terminated the SH 288 Comprehensive Development Agreement, which was signed in 2016 and called for Blueridge to
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$1.7 billion buyback of Hwy. 288
$4 billion worth of value
Two new free lanes
50% reduction of tolls over next few years
SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
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