NHHIP Stays in UTP With Call to End FHWA Pause

TAG is pleased to announce that, just moments ago, The Texas Transportation Commission unanimously approved keeping the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) in the Unified Transportation Program. 
With over 8,000 public comments submitted and 2/3 of those in support of keeping the NHHIP as proposed, this decision clearly represents our region’s desire to move forward with this transformational project. 
Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Bruce Bugg provided additional milestones and statistics on the NHHIP to illustrate its importance to our local and statewide economy and the enormous efforts TxDOT has undertaken to receive public input and achieve consensus. Commissioner Laura Ryan further highlighted the extensive mitigation efforts TxDOT has provided and specifically emphasized how they have worked to listen to all comments and input and they will continue to do this moving forward.
TAG Executive Director Andrea French added support during the meeting’s comment period citing the significance of the overwhelming number of positive comments collected in support of the NHHIP. She reinforced the importance of this project as “vital to the efficient and safe movement of people and freight” and that “we must utilize the funding available now to address these issues.” 
Chairman Bugg concluded his comments with a motion to approve the UTP with the NHHIP funding remaining and a call for FHWA to remove the pause within the next 90 days. The Texas Transportation Commission will revisit this at their December meeting with a call to Houston leaders to work with FHWA to remove the project pause. 

TAG believes strongly in the continued convening our transportation partners and leaders towards real solutions for our region’s safety, connectivity, economic vitality and overall quality of life and we look forward to working with all stakeholders as our region embarks on the transformational NHHIP journey.