The Texas Department of Transportation would like to spend stimulus funds to build ramps connecting Texas 99 with Interstate 10 to relieve traffic on local roads.

In order to do that, the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan needs to be amended, said Patricia Waskowiak, Houston-Galveston Area Council transportation program manager.

H-GAC will host a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at its offices on 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, where it will take comments on amending the regional plan. H-GAC had received no comments from businesses or homeowners as of Oct. 30, said Waskowiak.

The comment period is open through Nov. 25. Written comments can be submitted to H-GAC Transportation Public Information, P.O. Box 22777, Houston, Texas 77227-2777, e-mailed to PublicComments@h-gac.com or faxed to 713-993-4508.

The proposed amendment would add two ramps — also called connectors — to the master plan to make it a full intersection. A full intersection has eight ramps and when completed would be similar to the interchange at I-10 and Beltway 8, Waskowiak said.
But Raquelle Lewis, TxDOT spokeswoman, said the projects are not comparable because the Beltway 8 project reconstructed ramps, while Texas 99 at I-10 would be building new ramps.

If the regional plan is amended, the next step would be environmental review by the Federal Highway Administration, Waskowiak said, before any work could begin. According to H-GAC, this amendment is consistent with regional air quality planning efforts.

If TxDOT obtains the approval it needs, it could seek bids for the $30 million project next year, Waskowiak said. Lewis said all $30 million is stimulus funding.

The projected letting date is April 2010, she added. Because the state is preparing for bidding, a definitive construction schedule is not yet available, she said.

“We haven’t run a complete construction schedule, but 18 to 24 months is typical (for two connectors),” Lewis said.

The first two ramps would take northbound traffic on Texas 99 going east to Houston and westbound traffic from downtown on I-10 going to southbound Texas 99.

“That’s where the highest volume of traffic exists,” explained Lewis.

“Subsequent phases would be contingent upon funding,” Waskowiak said. “As money becomes available, TxDOT would proceed.”