Res 1986-062 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Perhaps an even stronger indication of the progress made is the extent of local commitment to fund mobility improvement projects. With the creation of the Harris County Toll Road Authority in September 1983, voters authorized the expenditure of $900 million of local funds for toll road construction, including the 21-mile Hardy Toll Road and 29 miles of toll facilities along Beltway 8. Legislative initiatives in the 1984 session such as an increase in the motor vehicle registration fee and a state gasoline tax increase have also greatly enhanced implementation progress on the RMP. Since the RMP was intended to be flexible and changing to keep up with the pace of this fast growing city, the regional mobility planning effort is a continuing one. Each year, members reevaluate and update needed improvements and financing options to reflect current conditions in Houston. Barry M. Goodman Associates, Inc. will continue to be actively involved in this most important planning effort. Since the Houston RMP was first developed, many area associations, chambers of commerce and neighboring counties began working to identify existing and future transportation improvements within their area of concern. These groups have developed area-specific subregional mobility plans and are succeeding in ensuring the Houston RMP is a more precise instrument for determining the requirements for adequate regional mobility planning. Barry M. Goodman Associates, Inc. has been instrumental in the development of several subregional mobility plans. 2. South Montgomery County Subregional Mobility Plan - Montgomery County is one of the fastest growing county in Texas. Adjacent and contiguous to the Houston urban area, South Montgomery County is experiencing tremendous increases in residential and business population. Growing development in The Woodlands, Kingwood, and other south county areas are creating traffic demand which exceeds current transportation infrastructure capability. Recognizing the urgent need to maintain mobility for the future of South Montgomery County, public and private leadership requested Barry M. Goodman Associates, Inc. to prepare a subregional mobility plan. Actually an extension of the Houston RMP, the South Montgomery County Subregional Mobility Plan utilized compatible technical criteria, financial data and methodology in formulating the plan. The improvements in this plan were prioritized into three time periods. Phase I (1983- 1985) indicated immediate improvements, Phase II (1986-1987) indicated those improvements needed in five years, and Phase III (1988-1992) specified projects needed in 10 years. The plan was limited to 10 years to focus on priority improvements needed in the foreseeable future and to provide a realistic framework for the planning and financing of transportation infrastructure requirements. Funding requirements were also identified in each phase.