aosman

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/18/1800.asp

You need to have an open mind about this. The free market determines what's best for land use (not government by zoning). I don't live in Bridgeland but I do appreciate the fact that they are preserving so much open grean space, lakes, 225 acres of parks and no overhead powerlines (all underground) public utilities - correct me if I am wrong, but I thought each local community pays that through M.U.D tax?

Well, they can put the tollway in a trench or better yet, they can make it a tunnel. These neighborhoods should not mind if it is tunneled. (good compromise?). It is only about 7 miles long and two exits at the most (at IH-10 and 59). Just a quick toll-tunnel connection from the area where 290 terminates to 610 and Post Oak Rd. This bypass if built, will reduce the traffic congestion on the westloop and I think will generate so much revenue for HCTRA and pay for itself quickly.

I am not sure if this idea came up before, but wouldn't it be a great idea for HCTRA to build a new tollway along the railway ROW that runs along the west loop and eventually connects to the Hempstead tollway? The westloop is constantly congested and this project could provide relief!

On the contrary, I think Texas is the most forward thinking state in nation when it comes to transportation innovations and implementation. It is all about the money people! Building these new toll roads/extensions is in the interest of the region as a whole and is good for Houston

Why is TxDOT collecting concession fees? since when they are in the business of making money? Why can't TxDOT build the frontage roads with the tax payer's dollars and HECTRA can build the tollway? I wounder if Perry had something to do with this! I am so upset! the more they wait the harder this thing is going to be to get built.

Well, the reason I don't want to stick it on the windshield is because I still did not move to Houston and I won't for at least five more months. I need to keep it with me everytime I fly down and use it in the rental car. I don't like going throught the full service gates as they are very sloooow! Also, I would like to have the option to drive on Westpark if needed. It won't make since for me to get one now if it is not going to work by just holding it up. If someone tried it and they say it works, I'll get one now.

I am planning to get an EZ-TAG from HCTRA. I heard that the new EZ-TAGs are stickers. My question is, when I pass through an EZ-TAG lane, would it work if I just hold the sticker up? I don't want to stick it to the windshield.

Alot could be done but I would start with the following: 1. Rebuild the 290 Northwest Frwy to at least 5 lanes in each direction + 2 lanes on each direction for HOT lanes. 2. Complete the Grand Prkwy arround Houston and make it toll-free

I live in Northern Virginia. We have a road called the "Dulles Greenway" or Rt. 267 that was built in 1995 and is operated by a private company. As far as I know the state money was not involved in building this road from the start. (http://www.dullesgreenway.com/cgi-bin/dginfo.cfm) The company that built it bankrupted because of the massive debt. The road later got purchase by another company which is now breaking even or making a profit. the road is approximately 13 miles long and runs between Leesburg, VA and Dulles Airport. After the airport it becomes a state toll road and connects all the way to the capital beltway (I-495). I have an EZ Tag to I don't usually pay attention to how much the price of the toll is to drive it but I think it was recently raised to $2.50 or maybe $3 for the 13 mile private stretch. Now, back to Houston. I think that HCTRA should not sell or lease the toll roads. They are doing just fine financially and they need to focus their energy on building more toll roads to relieve state highways and provide redundancies. Introducing a private firm will hurt residents by increasing tolls and possible miss-management. I would like to see HCTRA build a toll road that parallels 290 and build the Grand Parkway in the next year or two. Oz