TXDOT Extending HOV Lanes to the Bay Area

According to recent news, the construction (and pending work), along Interstate 45 from Beltway 8 to Medical Center Blvd will help with traffic congestion in the Bay Area. This is part of a $171 million project which is expected to be completed in 2016. A few businesses have closed down in preparation for the additional lanes of traffic, which will include a HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane.

The Houston Metro Park & Ride locations closest to the Bay Area are at Monroe, Fuqua, and Bay Area Blvd. When you look at the proximity of these Park & Rides, one can very well see how much the HOV lane is needed in an area that is rapidly building in both businesses and residential homes. Ridership on these Metro buses is high in the Bay Area, which can be noted as you pass by the overflow of vehicles in the Metro parking lots.

The Victory Lakes Park & Ride facility, (opened in 2012), at UTMB Victory Lakes Specialty Care Center in League City is the result of a successful partnership between the Gulf Coast Center and University of Texas Medical Branch and was funded with federal stimulus dollars matched with the value of the UTMB land lease. The park and ride service using new 35-passenger buses is managed by Gulf Coast Center/Connect Transit, and operated by City of Galveston Island Transit. Funding came from the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Texas Department of Transportation and the City of League City. For the complete morning and afternoon schedules, please go to Connect Transportation page at the Gulf Coast Center website.

Until the multi-million dollar project is completed, drivers will have to deal with construction, which will likely cause more congestion.

By Pamela Moore for Brockway Realty

Originally Posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Official Blog