Project history

• First project construction to begin, St. Emanuel drainage project

• December 2023 Public Meeting Series
  
• Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA) reached with Federal Highway Administration
  
• I-45 NHHIP taken off pause

• Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) reached with City of Houston and Harris County
  
  • City of Houston Memorandum of Understanding-I-45 Project (Dec 19, 2022)
    
  • Harris County Memorandum of Understanding-I-45 Project (Dec 22, 2022)

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) places I-45 NHHIP on pause
  
• Issues Record of Decision

Issues final EIS

• 2020 Interstate Access Justification Report-Segments 2 and 3
  • Main report
  • Appendices

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 2: I-45 north of I-10 to I-610
• Segment 2: I-610 Interchange

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.