TRANSPORTATION UPDATES
COMPILED BY EMILY LINCKE & SAAB SAHI
TxDOT launches new travel app for Houston The Texas Department of Transportation on Sept. 16 launched its new mobility app Houston
UPCOMING PROJECTS
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an impact on our safety,” Texas Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan said in a statement. “The thing that excites me the most are the app’s safety features. ConnectSmart’s eort to reduce serious and fatal crashes is another tool to help us achieve our goal of reducing fatalities in half by 2035 and to zero by 2050.” The app covers Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller, Wharton and Walker counties. According to the initial project proposal in 2016, the development of the app was predicted to cost around $17.8 million and was partially funded by an $8.9 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration with the rest of the money sourced from various partners. ConnectSmart was developed by Metropia and is the product of a collaboration among TxDOT, the FHA, the Houston-Galveston Area
COMMUTING SOLUTIONS
ConnectSmart, which oers users a variety of dierent travel options to optimize commutes in the Greater Houston area. Regional commuters can use the application to nd ideal routes and available nearby parking, view tra c conditions through TranStar roadside cameras, form private carpools for high-occupancy vehicle lanes and get free emergency roadside assistance from Tow and Go, according to the website. Routes can be customized in dierent ways with lters such as speed or safety for cyclists. The app oers a variety of transit options ranging from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County to BCycle bike rentals, and purchases can be made directly on the app, according to a Sept. 16 news release. “Tra c is a regional concern that has an impact on every commuter,
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Greater Houston-area commuters can use the app to nd routes and form carpools. The app cost $17.8 million to develop and was funded in part by an $8.9 million federal grant. Houston ConnectSmart provides information on:
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF OCT. 3. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SKLNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. third quarter 2025 Cost: $7.9 million Funding source: Harris County Precinct 3 Spring Stuebner Road expansion This project is in the study phase; however, Harris County Precinct 3 is seeking to kick o construction in the third quarter of 2024. Planned improvements include upgrading Spring Stuebner Road from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane concrete road from west of Leitner Lane to the Grand Parkway. Drainage and tra c signals will also be improved and added as needed. Construction is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2025. Timeline: third quarter 2024-
Route planning
Roadside assistance
Trac conditions
Council, the city of Houston, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston TranStar, Tow and Go, Conroe Connection, BCycle, Fort Bend Transit and Harris County Transit. SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY IMPACT Carpools Parking
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SPRING KLEIN EDITION • OCTOBER 2022
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