Texas could spend federal funds meant to cut carbon emissions on highway projects
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act required Texasโ transportation agency to create a carbon reduction strategy to get $641 million federal dollars. Critics say the plan is unlikely to meaningfully cut greenhouse gasses from the stateโs massive transportation sector.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Major weekend closure happening on Southwest Freeway at West Loop
As part of the I-610 West Loop/ I-69 Southwest Freeway interchange project, the Texas Department of Transportation will close all northbound and southbound mainlanes of I-69 Southwest Freeway at I-610 West Loop on Friday at 8 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m.
Texans should avoid travel in regions hit with icy weather as power grid expected to meet demand
School closures and hazardous road conditions are expected throughout a large portion of Texas, according to forecasts. State officials caution Texans about local power outages but expect the grid to stay up.
Your H-Town traffic breakdown!
Welcome back, Houston! This week has been quite busy in terms of traffic. I brought you information, first on โKPRC 2 News Today,โ about a complete closure coming up on the 59/610 interchange project, an update on the East Beltway Ship Channel Bridge progress and a look at the current price at the pump!
TxDOT builds new bypass to ease Cypress Creek Bridge reconstruction woes
The Texas Department of Transportation created a temporary IH-45 North Freeway southbound frontage road bypass between Cypresswood and FM 1960 is now open to drivers. It will provide continuous passage for those on the North Freeway southbound feeder road trying to access FM 1960.
Houstonโs biggest road projects: The West Loop/Southwest Freeway Interchange rebuild
In 2019, the West Loop between the Katy Freeway and the Southwest Freeway was named the most congested highway segment in the state of Texas, and now in the country, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The ongoing intricate, mega-sized project to rebuild the West Loop/Southwest Freeway interchange is aimed to help alleviate some of that congestion while also improving safety along this stretch of road.
Texas teen who went viral for driving through tornado helps launch TxDOTโs โClick it or Ticketโ campaign
A Texas teen who went viral for driving through an active tornado during Marchโs severe weather outbreak helped launch Texas Department of Transportationโs โClick it or Ticketโ campaign event this week.
โClick It or Ticketโ: Campaign helps FBCSO step up crackdown of seat belt violators
The Fort Bend County Sheriffโs Office received a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to help crack down on unbuckled drivers and passengers during the busy Memorial Day holiday as part of a statewide seat belt enforcement campaign.
TxDOT brings awareness to construction work safety by assembling large snake sculpture made of orange barrels previously hit by drivers
The Texas Department of Transportation has launched its annual campaign to remind Texas drivers to keep their eyes out for work zone crews on the roads after traffic deaths related to construction work have risen.
Pause on I-45 highway project partially lifted amid talks
The Texas Transportation Commission says it reached an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration that would allow the state to resume design work on certain parts of a disputed project that would remake 24 miles along Interstate 45 and several other roadways in the Houston area.
Harris County Commissioners Court votes to temporarily pause lawsuit against TxDOTโs I-45 expansion project
At a special meeting of the Harris County Commissioners Court on Monday, the court voted to temporarily pause the lawsuit against the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) I-45 expansion project.
Texas to spend $25 million on 2-mile concrete barrier amid Gov. Greg Abbottโs push for a state-funded border wall
The barrier in Eagle Pass is the first glimpse into how much a state-funded border wall could cost. But Abbottโs office says itโs a โconcrete barrierโ that is separate from his border wall push.
Researchers hunt for the answers to road rage
According to the American Safety Council, 66% of traffic fatalities are caused by road rage. From January through April this year, law enforcement agencies reported 107 road rage crashes in Harris County to the Texas Department of Transportation. Road rage at this point is synonymous with Houston traffic. Dangerous cases happening all the time, drivers not keeping their emotions in check and then taking their frustration out on the road.
TXDOT is making Murphy Road safer. Find out how
MISSOURI CITY, Texas โ Crash after crash and bumper to bumper traffic are two major problems the Texas Department of Transportation is targeting when it comes to improving Murphy Road in Fort Bend County. The heavily traveled road runs through Stafford and Missouri City. According to TXDOT, the number of crashes on Murphy Road needs to be cut and to do that theyโre putting in a raised median thatโll extend from the Southwest Freeway all the way down to Highway 6. The project will place a continuously raised median along the entire stretch of roadway with designated left-turn lanes at certain intersections. TXDOT says this work should cost about $4 million, using both federal and state funding.
โStop putting cars over peopleโ: Harris County sues TxDOT over I-45 expansion project
HOUSTON โ Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee made a demand Thursday for TxDOT to take residents and the environment into consideration in the agencyโs plan to expand Interstate 45. The $7.5 billion expansion project aims to increase the capacity of the freeway to handle traffic through downtown up Greater Greenspoint. Members of the group know, as Stop TxDOT I-45 applauded the county attorneyโs decision to file suit. Good for them,โ said STOP TxDOT I-45 founder, Susan Graham. The following is a statement, from TxDOT Executive Director James Bass, on the Harris County lawsuit regarding the NHHIP:โTxDOT has not yet received a copy of the lawsuit.
Over-height truck trapped on bridge structure on Eastex Freeway near I-45, TxDOT says
An over-height heavy truck is stuck on a bridge structure on Eastex Freeway southbound at Jefferson Thursday night, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. HOUSTON โ An over-height heavy truck is stuck on a bridge structure on Eastex Freeway southbound at Jefferson Thursday night, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT reported multiple main lanes of Interstate 69 Eastex southbound at Interstate 45 were blocked due to the incident. Officials said they responded to the call before 7 p.m.No injuries have been reported. TxDOT crews are on scene.
How counties in Houston area are preparing roads ahead of winter storm
HOUSTON โ The Texas Department of Transportation says they will start pre-treating roads, highways, and overpasses across the Houston area in the next 24 hours. They are waiting for roads to dry before starting the treatment process. โThe more prepared our citizens can be the better off we are going to be,โ said Meghan Arthur, a public information officer for Montgomery County. โWe are expecting to see ice on ground level roadways as well,โ said Emily Black, who is with the Texas Department of Transportation. The weather has already caused problems in Montgomery County.
Ask 2: When is the road going to be reopened on Loop 494 north of FM1485?
As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: When is the road going to be reopened on Loop 494 north of FM1485? Answer: According to the Texas Department of Transportation, this project should be active into the third quarter of 2021. It is taking a little longer than expected due to utility work that needed to be completed in the area. Loop 494 will be expanded from two lanes to four lanes between Sorters McClellan Road and Northpark Plaza.
Ask 2 Traffic: What is recycled asphalt?
Question: What is recycled asphalt? Answer: After speaking with The Texas Department of Transportation, reclaimed asphalt pavement, or RAP for short, is defined as salvaged, milled, pulverized, broken or crushed asphalt pavement. Thereโs also recycled asphalt shingle or RAS, which is defined as processed asphalt shingle material from the manufacturing of asphalt roofing shingles or from re-roofing residential structures. TxDOT uses RAP and RAS in their hot mix asphalt. The maximum allowable percentages of RAP or RAS vary depending on the hot mix types.
5 things for Houstonians to know for Monday, Jan. 25
Here are things to know for Monday, Jan. 25:1. More than 40% of Americans now live in areas running out of ICU space, with only 15% of beds still available. Intensive care units are the final defense for the sickest of the sick, patients who are nearly suffocating or facing organ failure. A Texas Tag system upgrade could cause major problems for your budget if youโre not prepared. The system was still down on Jan. 11, meaning not a single toll had been deducted from any accounts in two months.
Toll Road drivers: Brace yourself for some big bills
HOUSTON โ If you travel frequently on toll roads managed by the Texas Department of Transportation, you could be in for a big surprise over the next few days and weeks. A Texas Tag system upgrade could cause major problems for your budget if youโre not prepared. Delayed Billing and ChargesThe Texas Department of Transportation started transitioning to a new operating system on November 18th. The system was still down on Jan. 11, meaning not a single toll had been deducted from any accounts in two months. Some users worried they would get hit with huge toll bills all at once.
Ask 2: Who can I call to advise about incorrectly marked road signs?
Question: Who can I call to advise about incorrectly marked roadway signs? Answer: The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) handles inquiries relating to road conditions and issues. Issues regarding signs can be reported to TxDOT on its website by selecting โOther / Not listedโ or by clicking here. A complaint form regarding signs can be submitted online by clicking here. For road conditions needing immediate attention, TxDOT can be reached by calling 1 (800) 558-9368.
Need a laugh? Check out the jokes that won TxDOTโs digital highway sign contest
Three Texans proved theyโve got a knack for funny and informative jokes. Their funny, road safety-inspired quips will appear on road signs across the state. Last month, the Texas Department of Transportation offered witty Texans with an affinity for driving jokes the chance to see their wisecracks in big bright lights after putting out a call for new digital highway sign safety messages. Then, the department posted the finalists on social media and let the public make the final determination. Without further ado, here are the safety messages that won the contest:
Need a laugh? Vote for the funniest submissions from TxDOTโs highway road sign contest
A handful of Texans have proven theyโve got a knack for funny and informative humor and now they might just make the big time. The department has since whittled down the entries to 10 finalists, three of which will go on to win the contest, pending public consideration. HO HO HOPE YOUR SEATBELT IS FASTENED / HO HO HOPE YOUR PHONE IS PUT AWAY. RELATED: You have to see these hilarious highway signs spotted in Texas----Which entry did you like the best? Share your favorite road sign idea in the comments below.
Hereโs how your clever message could end up on a Texas highway sign
The Texas Department of Transportation is offering witty Texans with an affinity for driving jokes the chance to do just that after putting out a call for new digital highway sign safety messages. โBy now most Texans have seen the informative โ and often clever โ messages above Texas highways on digital message boards that encourage safer driving,โ TxDOT said in a release. TxDOT will post the finalists on social media and let the public make the final determination. The three messages with the most points will get displayed on highways across the state. RELATED: You have to see these hilarious highway signs spotted in Texas
More than eight years in, Texas high-speed rail company still lacks permits to build Dallas-to-Houston route
DALLAS โ Less than two months before the Texas Legislature begins its next session, the yearslong battle over a controversial high-speed rail project is expected to spark more legislative skirmishes. Kyle Workman, president of Texans Against High-Speed Rail, said that he expects to see similar bills filed as well. Company still lacks key permitsThe Texas Central high-speed rail project has been in the works for more than eight years, and the company has promised to fund the project with the support of private investors and without public funds. But thatโs not the case with high-speed rail, he said. When other companies tried to bring high-speed rail to Texas in the 1980s, Texas created a regulatory agency, the Texas High-Speed Rail Authority.
Southmore Bridge re-opens to traffic
Photos of the Southmore Boulevard Bridge that spans Highway 288 showed traffic was moving across it again Tuesday. The Southmore Bridge isnโt the only one causing traffic trouble for Third Ward residents. The Harris County Flood Control District has been working for more than a year on the Ardmore Street Bridge that connects North MacGregor and South MacGregor, about one mile east of the Southmore bridge. Unfortunately, the work performed on the bridge did not meet Harris County Flood Control District specifications during a routine inspection.โโWe encountered some deficient items in the concrete bridge deck. Hayden said remedial repairs are now underway on the Ardmore bridge that could be complete before the end of the New Year.
Ask 2: How many City Pride Signs can a city have?
HOUSTON โ At KPRC 2, weโre dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: How many City Pride Signs can a city have? Answer: A city may install one City Pride Sign per highway entering the city. The Texas Department of Transportation developed the โCity Pride Sign Programโ to give cities the opportunity to display the names and logos of their civic organizations along state highways without interfering with official highway signs.