Texas state legislators are holding to a promise not to spend voter-approved transportation funds on new toll roads. Local officials are scrambling.
"Texas lawmakers have gone from championing to criticizing toll roads, a shift that some Houston-area leaders worry has gone too far and could limit upcoming projects," reports Dug Begley.
Responding to the growing backlash against toll roads, Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal is quoted in the article saying, "Without toll roads and that funding, I don't know what we are going to do."
Despite the state's continued growth, the Texas Transportation Commission recently pulled the plug on two projects in the Dallas and Austin areas from the state's ten-year transportation plan "because proposed expansions of Interstate 635 and Interstate 35 rely on a mix of state funding and toll revenues," according to Begley's explanation of the decision. Planetizen correspondent Irvin Dawid recently provided thorough coverage of the state government's pushback on toll roads. Begley's coverage focuses more on the options for local officials in the Houston area trying to plan for more growth.
FULL STORY: Pushback on toll roads rankles Houston-area leaders
New, 44-Mile Section of Houston's Grand Parkway Ready for Construction
When the newest section is complete, the Grand Parkway will connect I-69 southwest of Sugar Land, Cinco Ranch and Cypress, unincorporated Harris County and Spring, and Harris, Montgomery, Liberty, and Chambers counties.
Florida Highway Project Faces Opposition From All Sides
Critics worry the proposed 330-mile corridor would encourage sprawl, harm wildlife, and saddle the state with decades of debt.
How Not to Do Growth
The state of Florida is moving forward with the Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-Cores) plan to build several new toll expressways in rural parts of the state.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”
Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.
California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
Albuquerque Route 66 Motels Become Affordable Housing
A $4 million city fund is incentivizing developers to breathe new life into derelict midcentury motels.
DC Area County Eliminates Bus Fares
Montgomery County joins a growing trend of making transit free.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)