See the below timeline outlining the project milestones
- TxDOT has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) and it is available for review. The ROD identifies the selected alternative and signifies the completion of the environmental review process.
- The Selected Alternative includes construction of roadway improvements to add four managed express (MaX) lanes on I-45 from Downtown Houston to Beltway 8 North, reroute I-45 to be parallel with I-10 on the north side of downtown Houston and parallel to US 59/I-69 on the east side of downtown Houston, realign sections of I-10 and US 59/I-69 in the downtown area to eliminate the current roadway reverse curves that limit capacity, and depress US 59/I-69 between I-10 and Spur 527 south of downtown to remove the problematic weaving sections. The proposed project also includes reconstruction of mainlanes and frontage roads; addition of bicycle and pedestrian realms along the streets that cross the freeways, including a 15- to 17-foot-wide pedestrian realm that will create a buffer between the bicycle and pedestrian traffic and the vehicular traffic; addition of sidewalks along frontage roads; and addition of pass-through lanes on I-10 that will separate traffic desiring to go to downtown from traffic destined to go through downtown.
- The ROD documents selection of the Preferred Alternative described in the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as the alternative selected for implementation. It presents the basis for the decision, summarizes the mitigation measures that will be incorporated into the project, and provides responses to issues raised in comments received on the final EIS. Although the ROD is the final step in the EIS process and results in a Selected Alternative, future changes and refinements to the project can still occur.
- The ROD is written in English. If you need an interpreter or document translator because English is not your primary language or you have difficulty communicating effectively in English, one will be provided to you. If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. If you need interpretation or translation services or you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation to review the ROD, please contact the TxDOT Director of Advanced Project Development at (713) 802-5070 no later than 4 p.m. CT, at least three business days before the date on which you would like to review the ROD. Please be aware that advance notice is required as some services and accommodations may require time for TxDOT to arrange.
- Notice: Record of Decision available for public review
- Aviso: Decisión de Registro Disponible para revisión pública
- Record of Decision
- Appendix A – Summary of means to avoid, minimize, and mitigate Effects
- Appendix B – Responses to issues commonly raised in comments received on the final EIS
- The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has completed the final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the proposed North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP). The final EIS incorporates input received on the draft FEIS and includes project design changes made after the draft EIS, as well as more refined and definitive information on the project’s environmental concerns, impacts, and mitigation.
- The final EIS includes three volumes which are available at the links below.
- Volume I contains the body of the final EIS and includes an executive summary, which can be downloaded separately at the links below in English and Spanish. The summary provides a snapshot of the project background and its need and purpose; summaries of alternatives considered and environmental impacts; and the preferred alternative to improve mobility and safety throughout the NHHIP corridor, from downtown Houston to Beltway 8 North.
- Volume II includes final EIS exhibits; schematics and typical sections for the preferred alternative; technical reports; and documentation of agency coordination and public involvement.
- Volume III contains responses to comments on the draft EIS and the draft technical reports for the final EIS.
- Final Environmental Impact Statement, August 2020
Volume I Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Volume II Final EIS appendices
- Volume II Cover and list of contents
- Appendix A: Final EIS exhibits
- Appendix B: Preferred Alternative Schematic and Typical Sections
- Segment 1-December 2019:
- Segment 2-May 2019:
- Segment 3-May 2019:
- Segment 3: Downtown Loop overall plan view
- Segment 3: I-45 from Scott St. to I-69
- Segment 3: I-45 from I-69 to Elysian St.
- Segment 3: I-45 from Elysian St. to Wrightwood St.
- Segment 3: I-69 from Montrose Blvd. to I-45
- Segment 3: I-69 from I-45 to Lyons Ave.
- Segment 3: I-10 from Houston Ave. to McKee St.
- Segment 3: I-10 from McKee St. to Waco St.
- Segment 3: SH 288 from Binz St./Calumet St. to I-45
- Segment 3: Downtown Connectors
- Appendix C: Air Quality Technical Report
- Appendix D: Archeological Survey Report and Coordination
- Appendix E: Biological Resources Technical Report
- Appendix F: Community Impacts Assessment Technical Report
- Appendix G: Hazardous Materials Technical Report
- Appendix H: Historical Resources Survey Report — Updated
- Appendix I: Traffic Noise Technical Report
- Appendix J: Water Resources Technical Report
- Appendix K: Waters of the United States Technical Report
- Appendix L: Visual Impact Assessment Technical Report
- Appendix M: Agency coordination documentation
- Appendix N: Public involvement
- Appendix O: Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation
- Appendix P: Indirect Impacts Technical Report
- Appendix Q: Cumulative Impacts Technical Report
- Appendix R: Programmatic Agreement
Volume III Comments and Responses
- Volume III Cover and list of contents
- Comments and responses on draft EIS
- Comments and responses on draft technical reports
Appendices:
- Appendix A: Final EIS exhibits
- Appendix B: Plan View and Section Views of Alternatives
- Appendix C: Air Quality Technical Report
- Appendix D: Archeological Survey Report and Coordination
- Appendix E: Biological Resources Technical Report
- Appendix F: Community Impact Assessment Technical Report
- Appendix G: Hazardous Materials Technical Report
- Appendix H: Historical Resources Technical Report
- Appendix I: Traffic Noise Technical Report
- Appendix J: Water Resources Technical Report
- Appendix K: Waters of the United States Technical Report
- Appendix L: Visual Impact Assessment Technical Report
- Appendix M: Agency coordination documentation
- Appendix N: Public involvement
- Appendix O: Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation
- Appendix P: Indirect Impacts Technical Report
- Appendix Q: Cumulative Impacts Technical Report
- Appendix R: Programmatic Agreement
September 2015-Revised Conceptual Layouts and Typical Sections for Proposed Recommended Alternative
Project history
- 2020 Interstate Access Justification Report-Segments 2 and 3
Updated recommended Alternative Design Schematics- December 2019
Based on comments received during the draft EIS comment period and from continuing stakeholder input and coordination, TxDOT has revised the Proposed Recommended Alternative that was presented at the May 2017 public hearing. The revised alternatives for each project segment will be identified as the Preferred Alternatives in the final EIS, and will be the Preferred Alternative for the proposed North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP).
The updated design schematics can be viewed at the links below.
Segment 1- December 2019:
- Segment 1: I-610 to Tidwell Road
- Segment 1: Tidwell Road to Shepherd Drive
- Segment 1: Shepherd Drive to West Road
- Segment 1: West Road to Beltway 8
Segment 2- May 2019:
Segment 3- May 2019:
- Segment 3: Downtown Loop Overall Plan View
- Segment 3: I-45 from Scott St. to I-69
- Segment 3: I-45 from I-69 to Elysian St.
- Segment 3: I-45 from Elysian St. to Wrightwood St.
- Segment 3: I-69 from Montrose Blvd. to I-45
- Segment 3: I-69 from I-45 to Lyons Ave.
- Segment 3: I-10 from Houston Ave. to McKee St.
- Segment 3: I-10 from McKee St. to Waco St.
- Segment 3: SH 288 from Binz St./Calumet St. to I-45
- Segment 3: Downtown Connectors
- 2018 NHHIP Alternatives Analysis: Engineering and Traffic Criteria Report
- 2018 TxDOT list of top 100 congested roadways in Texas developed by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)
- 2018 American Transportation Research Institute’s top truck bottleneck list
- Review and prepare responses to draft EIS comments
- Publish draft technical reports on project website for public comment (2018 - 2020)
- Prepare final technical reports
- Prepare final Environmental Impact Statement (final EIS)
- Complete draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS)
- Request public input on draft EIS and circulate for comment
- Public hearing- May 9 and 11, 2017
- Community meeting- May 15, 2017
- Request public and agency input on Proposed Recommended Alternative
- Fourth cooperating and participating agency meetings: April 22, 2015
- Fourth public meeting: April 23, 28, and 30, 2015
Fourth scoping meeting documents:
- NHHIP Agency Coordination and Public Involvement Plan
- Cover and table of contents
- Project background
- Section 1: Summary of agency and public meetings
- Section 2: Public meeting comments and responses
- Appendix A: Mailouts
- Appendix B: Sign-in sheets
- Appendix C: Meeting notices
- Appendix D: Other media
- Appendix E: Meeting photographs
- Appendix F: Meeting handouts and comment form, presentation, and TxDOT booklets
- Appendix G: Meeting exhibits
- Appendix H: Comments
Fourth public meeting documents- April 2015:
- Fourth public meeting notice
- Aviso de cuarta reunión pública
- Map of public meeting locations
- Handout for cuarta public meeting
- Repartir de cuarta reunión pública
- Presentation for fourth public meeting
- Presentacion de cuarta reunión pública
- Exhibit boards for fourth public meeting
- Glossary of terms
Proposed Recommended Alternative Conceptual Roadway Layouts and Typical Sections- April 2015:
- Segment 1: I-610 to Tidwell Road
- Segment 1: Tidwell Road to Shepherd Drive
- Segment 1: Shepherd Drive to West Road
- Segment 1: West Road to Beltway 8
- Segment 2: I-610 Interchange
- Segment 2: North of I-10 to I-610
- Segment 3: South of Downtown Houston to I-10
- Segment 3: Eastern Area
- Segment 3: Western Area
- 3D Visualization Video View transcript
- Project briefing packet (April 2015)
- 2014 I-45/Hardy Corridor Study Update, which utilized the 2015 and 2035 H-GAC travel demand models
- Refine Alternatives to one proposed Recommended Alternative
- Request public and agency input on Reasonable Alternatives
- Third cooperating and participating agency meetings: Nov. 13, 2013 and Nov. 14, 2013
- Third public meeting: Nov. 14 & 19, 2013
- First phase of North Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) opens: December 2013
Third scoping meeting documents:
- Vol. 1 Cover & table of contents
- Vol. 1 Section 1 Summary and photographs
- Vol. 1 Section 2 Meeting notification
- Vol. 1 Section 3 Registration
- Vol. 1 Section 4 Handouts
- Vol. 1 Section 5 Presentation
- Vol. 1 Section 6 Exhibit boards
- Vol. 2 Cover and Table of contents
- Vol. 2 Section 1 Introduction and comment index
- Vol. 2 Section 2 Email comments
- Vol. 2 Section 3 Mail comments
- Vol. 2 Section 4 Form letters
- Vol. 2 Section 5 Website comments
- Vol. 2 Section 6 Written comments submitted at scoping meetings
- Vol. 2 Section 7 Surveys
- Responses to comments
Third public meeting documents:
- Third public scoping meeting notice
- Aviso de tercera reunión pública
- Handout for third public meeting
- Repartir de tercera reunión pública
- Third public meeting: presentation with notes
- Presentacion de tercera reunión pública con notas
- Exhibit boards for third public scoping meeting
- Tablero de exhibiciones para reunión de tercera alcance público
- Third public meeting: glossary of terms
- Right-of-Way: Segment 1 - I-610 to Tidwell
- Right-of-Way: Segment 1 - Tidwell to gulf Bank section
- Right-of-Way: Segment 1 - Gulf Bank to Northville section
- Right-of-Way: Segment 1 – Northville to BW8
- Right-of-Way: Segment 2 – Alternatives
- Right-of-Way: Segment 2 – Alternatives 45 to I610
- Right-of-Way: Segment 2 – Alternatives I10 to I610
- Right-of-Way: Segment 3 – Alternative 10
- Right-of-Way: Segment 3 – Alternative 11
- Right-of-Way: Segment 3 – Alternative 12
- Reasonable Alternatives: Segment 1 3D
- Reasonable Alternatives: Segment 2 3D
- Reasonable Alternatives: Segment 3 3D
- Develop Range of Project Alternatives
- Develop Alternative Evaluation Methodology to assess impacts
- Request public and agency input on Range of Alternatives and present approved Need and Purpose Statement and Agency Coordination and Public Involvement Plan
- Second cooperating and participating agency scoping meetings: Oct. 10, 2012
- Second public scoping meeting: Oct. 9 & 11, 2012
- Analyze Range of Alternatives to determine Preliminary Alternatives to be studied in detail
Second scoping meeting documents:
- Vol. 1 Cover & table of contents
- Vol. 1 Section 1 Summary and photographs
- Vol. 1 Section 2 Meeting notification
- Vol. 1 Section 3 Registration
- Vol. 1 Section 4 Handouts
- Vol. 1 Section 5 Presentation
- Vol. 1 Section 6 Exhibit boards
- Vol. 2 Cover and table of contents
- Vol. 2 Section 1 Introduction and comment index
- Vol. 2 Section 2 Email comments
- Vol. 2 Section 3 Mail comments
- Vol. 2 Section 4 Form letters
- Vol. 2 Section 5 Website comments
- Vol. 2 Section 6 Written comments submitted at scoping meetings
- Vol. 2 Section 7 Surveys
- Responses to comments
Second scoping meeting documents:
- Second public meeting notice
- Aviso de segundo reunión de alcance público
- Handout for second public scoping meeting - October 2012
- Repartir de segundo reunión pública- Octubre 2012
- Presentation from second public scoping meeting - October 2012
- Exhibit boards for second public scoping meeting - October 2012
- Glossary of terms for second public scoping meeting - October 2012
- Universe of Alternatives summary table
- Universe of Alternatives Segment 1
- Universe of Alternatives Segment 1 - I-45 aerial map
- Universe of Alternatives Segment 1 - Hardy and Beltway 8 aerial map
- Universe of Alternatives Segment 2
- Universe of Alternatives Segment 3
- Universe of Alternatives Segments 2 and 3 - aerial map 1
- Universe of Alternatives Segments 2 and 3 - aerial map 2
- Publish the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) – Federal Register, Oct. 24, 2011; Texas Register, Oct. 14, 2011
- Develop draft Need and Purpose Statement and draft Agency Coordination and Public Involvement Plan
- Request Public and Agency Input on draft Need and Purpose Statement and draft Agency Coordination and Public Involvement Plan
- First cooperating and participating agency scoping meetings: Nov. 14, 2011
- First public scoping meeting: Nov. 15 and 17, 2011
First scoping meeting documents:
- Vol. 1 Cover & table of contents
- Vol. 1 Section 1 Summary and photographs
- Vol. 1 Section 2 Meeting notification
- Vol. 1 Section 3 Registration
- Vol. 1 Section 4 Handouts
- Vol. 1 Section 5 Presentation
- Vol. 1 Section 6 Exhibit boards
- Vol. 2 Cover TOC & Section 1 introduction and comment Index
- Vol. 2 Section 2 Email comments
- Vol. 2 Section 3 Mail comments
- Vol. 2 Section 4 Website comments
- Vol. 2 Section 5 Written comments submitted at scoping meeting
- Vol. 2 Section 6 Surveys
- Vol. 2 Section 7 Verbal comments at scoping meeting
- Responses to comments
- 2005 North-Hardy Planning Studies – Alternatives Analysis Report - Highway Component
- Publish final report: North-Hardy Planning, Alternatives Analysis Report - Highway Component
- North-Hardy Alternatives Analysis Report - Transit component is completed: February 2004
- Review long list of highway alternatives: June 2004
- Draft recommendation of Highway Alternative presented publicly. Public feedback modified the draft Highway Alternative: Oct. 26 & 28, 2004
- 2004 North-Hardy Planning Studies – Alternatives Analysis Report (Transit Component)
- Community requests that the Highway Component of the North-Hardy Corridor Alternatives Analysis Report be set aside until the transit component is completed
- Initiate North-Hardy Corridor Alternatives Analysis Report-Transit Component: July 28, 2003
- Locally Preferred Transit Investment Strategy is approved by METRO Board and the voters: November 2003
- Notice of Intent from FHWA, TxDOT, METRO & H-GAC partner to conduct North-Hardy Planning Studies and Environmental Impact Statement: January 9, 2002
- Technical work sessions with consultant, METRO, TxDOT and H-GAC: May 6, 2002
- Public review process with stakeholders from six North-Hardy segments and three general public meetings, culminating with the Stakeholder Advisory Committee.