Segment 1

This segment will improve the I-45 between I-610 and Beltway 8 by widening the roadway to accommodate four lanes known as MaX lanes. The roadway would have:

• Four general purpose lanes in each direction with auxiliary lanes.
• Two MaX lane sin each direction operating 24/7 carrying HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) and METRO bus traffic.
• Addition of full-width shoulders
• Addition of bicycle/pedestrian features frontage roads
• Enhanced bicycle/pedestrian features on streets crossing I-45

Drainage in this segment would be improved for residents and businesses along I-45 with the addition of 11 new detention ponds including a joint regional detention pond facility with Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) on Halls Bayou just east of I-45, and with the use of increased storm sewer pipe sizes to provide in-line detention.

Total Cost = $907,200,000

The Segment 1 projects are unfunded and are not actively in detailed design.

The project brings significant economic impacts to the Houston area as well as much needed safety improvements to one of the state's most congested highways. Some 92,000 direct jobs are being created with an additional 89,000 indirect jobs generated from this project. The overall statewide economic impact of NHHIP is estimated at $19.2 billion.

The future of transportation is changing and the infrastructure in the nation's fourth largest city needs to change with it. Parts of the I-45 corridor have not changed since being constructed over 50 years ago. The I-45 improvement project not only brings these highways up to current standards, but also prepares for the future by improving resiliency to weather events and providing safer more efficient travel that could accommodate the transition to electric and self-driving vehicles. And, importantly, it will increase the opportunity for transit and high-occupancy vehicles as a mode choice for those traveling along the I-45 North Houston corridor. Additionally, the neighborhoods in the project area will see many specific benefits beyond the economic and safety improvements.

TxDOT remains committed to evaluating reasonable opportunities to reduce the project footprint in Segment 1 in ways that would not compromise the Purpose and Need of the project, as described in the Record of Decision (ROD).

As noted in the VRA, TxDOT agrees that requests to reduce the Project footprint should be evaluated with a focus on the following:

• Strengthening Houston's economy.
• Reducing flooding on and off the freeway.
• Making travel safer for all road users.
• Providing long-term capacity for all users of the roadway, including automobile, freight, and transit.
• Serving and preserving the neighborhoods along the corridor while enhancing connectivity between neighborhoods.
• Mitigating impacts to existing parks and open space while creating additional opportunity for open space.
• Ensuring accessible evacuation routes.

TxDOT agrees to use the least amount of right-of-way as allowed and defined by law, after evaluation of the project footprint. It is important to note that any proposals to reduce the Project footprint must not compromise safety, flooding mitigation, design standards, freight mobility and evacuation effectiveness.

• Meets Project Purpose and Need as stated in Record of Decision (ROD)
  • No design exceptions
  • No reduction in capacity
• Consider braided ramps where applicable
  • Braided ramps are where the exit/entrance ramps are in the same space, with one over the other
• No elevated MaX lanes
• Minimum 20-foot border width on frontage roads
  • All frontage roads to include bicycle/pedestrian facilities (no on-street bicycle facilities allowed)
  • Potential sound wall locations
• Evaluate different ramp envelopes (this is the distance needed between the inside edge of frontage road and general purpose lanes for the ramps)

• Detention Pond locations were revised based on updated Drainage Studies completed in 2021.
• Revised pond locations shown on Segment 1 plan view.

• Flooding risk reduced

TxDOT worked with HCFCD and the City of Houston to develop a drainage plan extending from downtown up Little White Bayou to Independence Heights that improves hydrologic chokepoints and drainage to the west (with more capacity coming from White Oak).

• Trail support

The community has some support for hike-and-bike trail as long as it does not result in additional displacement of residents.

• African America history highlighted

Updated the historic resources survey report to include discussion of Independence Heights as first African American town in Texas and document history.

• Community signage
  

Provide additional funding for community gateways, wayfinding signage in the neighborhood, street sign toppers.

• Mitigate dust and noise impact

For qualifying minority and low-income, single-family residential households, to mitigate dust and noise impacts during construction.

• Small accessible park

Pocket park near Greater Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.

• Improved air quality
  

During construction, TxDOT will monitor PM2.5, NOx, CO and priority MSAT pollutants.

• Minimize pollutants and run-off

Native vegetation buffer along freeway post-construction.

• Documentation of historic assets

TxDOT hired a consultant to work on planning processes which included windshield survey and documentation of the community's historic assets, that will be featured on the National Historic Emancipation Trail.

• Sound walls

Being provided at property-specific level and offering additional sound walls. Flood Control Historical Weatherization Program Green Space/ Air Quality/ Aesthetics Cultural Planning Process Noise Mitigation

TxDOT has fully, completely, and in good faith complied with all legal requirements in planning for and evaluating alternatives and impacts of the NHHIP. Moreover, TxDOT has committed to many significant actions bringing multiple benefits to the community.