The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County opened a new segment of HOT lanes, open to carpools and toll paying solo drivers, on U.S. 290 in Houston this week.
Six new miles of HOT lanes opened on U.S. 290 in Houston on Monday, reports Dug Begley.
"Starting at 5 a.m. Monday, the carpool lane, open to toll-paying solo occupants for part of the peak inbound and outbound commuting times, will run from near Mason Road northwest of Cypress to Loop 610. The end of the line now is just past Huffmesiter Road," explains Begley.
The latest segment of new HOT lane capacity "is among the last parts of the $2.1 billion rebuild of U.S. 290 that socked traffic in northwest Houston for more than six years," according to Begley.
According to data from Houston TranStar, the openings of new HOT lane capacity on U.S. 290 have dramatically improved travel times compared to 2015, even as more people have used the highway. "The new lanes have not cured all ills, however. Evening trips have remained roughly the same duration, according to the TranStar data," according to Begley.
FULL STORY: Seven more miles of the U.S. 290 HOT lane open Monday
Environmental Study Released for $7 Billion Houston Highway Project
The final environmental impact statement for the controversial North Houston Highway Improvement Project is available for public comment, courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation.
Tolls Not Included: Toll Proposals Keep Ending Up in the Dustbin in Texas
Another example of the growing political and planning opposition to the idea of tolling new roads in Texas.
Do Shorter Travel Times Really Justify Highway Expansions?
It all depends on one thing: How much are travelers willing to pay for a shorter trip?
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.
Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service