TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
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Harris County authorizes 10% toll rate cut, free EZ tags A Harris County Toll Road Authority program that will reduce the cost of tolls by 10% was approved unanimously by Harris County commissioners Jan. 31. EASING THE BURDEN The 10% toll rate discount—which will go into effect by Sept. 4—will apply to motorists driving two-axle vehicles on toll roads managed by the Harris County Toll Road Authority.
UPCOMING PROJECT
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The discount will represent $894 million in discounts over the course of 10 years, or about $90 million in savings per year, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said Jan. 31. “This gives us confidence in what the [Harris County] Toll Road Authority’s doing,” Ramsey said. “When you look at the consistent revenues that they generate, when you look at their ability to cover what they do—I think we are, in many ways, an envy of the state in terms of how well we run our toll road authority.” The rate reduction will go into effect by Sept. 4. HCTRA will also provide up to eight free EZ tags per household as part of the program. The proposal was initially presented at a Jan. 24 news conference. HCTRA Director Roberto Treviño said the 10% discount would apply to those driving two-axle vehicles, which he said make up 95% of HCTRA’s transactions. He added that drivers can choose to apply the discount on each individual transaction or after aggregating transactions on a monthly basis. As part of the transition to all-electronic tollways, the county will also be phasing in several options for residents to obtain EZ tags at retail stores, open cash- backed accounts and pay at EZ TAG retail stores, Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said during the
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF FEB. 8. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT CYFNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. neighborhood will soon see a project designed to improve roadway surfaces and drainage. Affected streets will in- clude Oak Plaza Drive, King Circle, Carla Way, Chavile, Lynn Haven Street and Oak Plaza Drive. During construction, residents will see daily lane closures and temporary one-way operations. Timeline: Construction to begin in third quarter Cost: $12 million Funding source: Harris County Precinct 3 Tower Oaks Plaza asphalt, drainage improvement According to Harris County Precinct 3 officials, the Tower Oaks Plaza
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SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Jan. 24 news conference. In response to a question at the Jan. 24 news
conference about losing 10% of revenue from 95% of the customer base, Treviño said the population growth in the region will correspond to increased demand and use of the toll road systems. Rachel Carlton contributed to this report.
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CYPRESS EDITION • MARCH 2023
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