Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA)
Skip to main content

Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA)

What is the VRA?

  • This Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA) is an understanding by and between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

  • The purpose of the VRA is to resolve the FHWA investigation of TxDOT regarding the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (Project) under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) by setting forth specific mitigation actions for the Project.

  • The VRA provides specific, enforceable timelines and monitoring by FHWA to ensure that TxDOT carries out the Project consistent with the requirements of Title VI.

  • FHWA has withdrawn the project pause allowing TxDOT to resume all project development activities.

The actions in the VRA will be performed in addition to and/or in compliance with the mitigation actions already committed to by TxDOT, as contained within the Record of Decision (ROD), including:

  • Twice annual public meetings through design and construction;
  • Mitigating displacements, relocations, housing, and other community impacts;
  • Drainage improvements to reduce flooding;
  • Parks, open space, trails, pedestrian and bicycle facilities;
  • Community access during construction;
  • Highway "footprint" reduction;
  • Structural highway caps;
  • Air quality mitigation; and
  • Meaningful access for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP)

This site can be translated to Spanish using the dropdown in the top menu. Other languages are available with your web browser. Translation of specific embedded graphics, images, and PDFs can be obtained by request using the link below. Request translation.

This agreement moves forward an important project, responds to community concerns, and improves the North Houston Highway Improvement Project in ways that will make a real difference in people's lives. Through this agreement the community will have a greater voice in the design and throughout the project's life cycle," said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. "We have lifted the pause, and with FHWA oversight, TXDOT may proceed with design and construction.

This portion of I-45 was built in stages in the 1950s and 1960s and the design remained essentially the same while the area population has doubled," stated Marc Williams, TxDOT executive director. "The reconstruction of I-45 will address mobility needs for people and freight, while also improving safety and a number of environmental mitigations that include critical measures to improve storm water drainage. Considering the recently executed agreements with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County, and now the FHWA, we are excited to get this critical infrastructure project moving with our partnering agencies.

Initial 30-day requirements

Within 30 days of this agreement, TxDOT will establish a publicly available project-specific website. The website will be maintained and updated regularly through completion of the Project. The website will include the following information, as it becomes available:

Eligibility requirements for move-out and rent stipends

Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Programs

To mitigate for potential short-term construction noise impacts, TxDOT will provide funding for weatherization and energy efficiency for qualifying low-income single-family residences.

  • The program will include a weatherization assessment and the opportunity for energy efficiency improvements (e.g., caulking, insulation, storm windows and storm doors).
  • This website will be updated to provide eligibility criteria and details of the weatherization and energy efficiency programs for low-income single family residences that are adjacent to NHHIP construction areas.

    Subscribe for website updates on this topic

Move-out dates for public housing

The entire Clayton Homes property located at 1919 Runnels Street, Houston, Texas 77003 is needed for the NHHIP. TxDOT and Houston Housing Authority (HHA) have agreed to a two-phase acquisition of the property. Phase I acquisition is complete and Phase II acquisition is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2023.

As of September 2022, all residents of Clayton Homes have been relocated to various residential locations as selected by each residential family. HHA will replace Clayton Homes by constructing two new residential properties within two miles the original Clayton Homes location. Please visit HHA for more information about these new residential projects.

TxDOT will remain in contact with the former residents of Clayton Homes to maintain their current contact information so they can claim their opportunity to move into the new residential properties once available for occupancy. The residents can also contact HHA and TxDOT to provide updated contact information. HHA can be contacted at 2640 Fountain View Dr., Houston, TX 77057 or 713-260-0500.

TxDOT can be contacted at www.hou-piowebmail@txdot.gov or 713-802-5076.

A portion of the Kelly Village property located at 3118 Green Street, Houston, Texas 77020 is needed for the NHHIP. TxDOT and Houston Housing Authority (HHA) will negotiate for this partial acquisition. Along with direct communication with the residents to be relocated, this website will be updated to reflect anticipated dates that the residents will move out of the portion of Kelly Village that will be needed for the NHHIP.

It is anticipated that HHA will replace the portion of the Kelly Village units acquired for the NHHIP with the construction of new residential properties within 2 miles of the original Kelly Village location. HHA will update its website to reflect information about new residential projects to replace the portion of Kelly Village units to be acquired for the NHHIP and moving dates specific to relocation from Kelly Village.

For the residents of the portion of the Kelly Village units that will be acquired for the NHHIP, TxDOT will remain in contact with these residents to maintain their current contact information so they can claim their opportunity to move into the new residential properties once available for occupancy. The residents can also contact HHA and TxDOT to provide updated contact information. HHA can be contacted at 2640 Fountain View Dr., Houston, TX 77057 or 713-260-0500. TxDOT can be contacted at hou-piowebmail@txdot.gov or 713-802-5076.

Reporting concerns during construction

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2024 along St. Emanuel between IH 45 South and Buffalo Bayou to install drainage improvements for a portion of the NHHIP. Please report concerns about construction activities by emailing us at hou-piowebmail@txdot.gov, calling us at 713-802-5076, or visiting us at 7600 Washington Ave. Houston, TX 77007

Construction alerts

This website will be updated to provide notices of disruption from construction work including bus reroutes, road closures and detours, trail closures, demolitions, and late-night activity.

Please use the following link to subscribe to receive construction alerts.

Subscribe for construction alerts

NHHIP-related job fairs

This website will be updated to post details about project-related job fairs as they are scheduled.

Subscribe for website updates on NHHIP-related job fairs

Air quality status

Please visit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to view the air quality status of the Houston regional area.

 

Please visit the Pollution Control Services Department of Harris County to view the air quality status of Harris County.

TxDOT will place one air monitor in each project segment one year in advance of the start of construction on the corresponding project segment. This website will be updated to post the readings from the air monitors.

Learn more about the lastest readings here. 

Subscribe for website updates on NHHIP air quality

 

Flood mitigation

Please see below for the proposed flood mitigation plan for Segments 1, 2, and 3.

Active transportation

Please return to the NHHIP homepage and utilize the interactive map located at the bottom of the home page to view the active transportation options in the project corridor. Utilize the layer icon in the lower right of the interactive map to view the various active transportation modes.

Emancipation National Historic Trail Study

The Emancipation National Historic Trail Study Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and passed in January 2020, amended the National Trails Systems Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(c)) by adding the Emancipation National Historic Trail (Emancipation Trail). The proposed Emancipation Trail “extend[s] approximately 51 miles from the Osterman Building and Reedy Chapel in Galveston, Texas, along Texas State Highway 3 and Interstate Highway 45 North to Freedmen’s Town, and then to Independence Heights and Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas, following the migration route taken by newly freed slaves and other persons of African descent from the major 19th-century seaport town of Galveston to the burgeoning community of Freedmen’s Town located in the 4th Ward of Houston, Texas.” Learn more about the Emancipation National Historic Trail Study as led by the National Park Service.

TxDOT will assist with federal efforts to develop the Emancipation Trail and will evaluate the feasibility of accommodating trail links within the state’s right-of-way within the project limits.

 

TxDOT will accommodate proposed designated trail links that result from the Emancipation National Historic Trail Study to the extent such proposed trail links are feasible within the state’s right of way for the NHHIP.

 

TxDOT will place signage and historical markers within the state’s right of way for the NHHIP for the proposed designated trail links that result from the Emancipation National Trail Study to the extent such placement is feasible.

TxDOT will participate in the National Park Service’s feasibility study for the Emancipation National Historic Trail to share how the NHHIP pedestrian-bike realm can complement the potential study outcomes and any other transportation-related aspects of the Emancipation National Historic Trail.

School access during construction

In order to ensure that pedestrian and bike access to schools is maintained during construction, TxDOT will develop plans during the detailed design phase for traffic control detours of pedestrian and cyclist movements showing the locations of schools adjacent to the project footprint, existing routes traveled by children to these schools, routes during construction, and the anticipated finished condition of pedestrian and cyclist routes after construction on the project is completed.

Where construction of the project will require pedestrian and bicycle detour routes to maintain access to schools, TxDOT commits to bringing such designated detour routes up to current standards prior to beginning the associated construction in order to ensure that students, staff, and the public continue to have safe and accessible pedestrian and bicycle paths of travel to project adjacent schools.

TxDOT will design and direct its contractor to maintain non-circuitous sidewalks to maintain safe pedestrian and cyclist access to schools during and after construction.

TxDOT will work directly with schools to develop parent and school bus drop-off and pick-up routes, direct TxDOT contractors to maintain the safe operations of these routes during construction, and inform decisions about appropriate detour routes with the goal of safety and minimizing increased commute times.

TxDOT will maintain communication with school officials for the design of access accommodations during the construction phase.

TxDOT will provide an ombudsman for the schools to communicate concerns that arise during construction to TxDOT in order for timely resolution of concerns.

Once construction starts, this website will be updated to inform the public about bicycle and pedestrian access including maps.

Subscribe for construction alerts

Project Ombudsman

The project ombudsman is Grady Mapes, who is the single point of contact for parents and schools to communicate concerns to TxDOT during construction. The project ombudsman will facilitate the timely resolution of concerns. Grady Mapes can be contacted at nhhip.ombudsman@txdot.gov / 713-866-7040.

TxDOT-City of Houston NHHIP Memorandum of Understanding

The Memorandum of Understanding between TxDOT and the City of Houston regarding the NHHIP can be found here:

City of Houston Memorandum of Understanding-I-45 Project Dec 19, 2022

Since being executed in December 2022, no progress reports have been published. Progress reports will be added to this website as they are published.

TxDOT-Harris County NHHIP Memorandum of Understanding

The Memorandum of Understanding between TxDOT and Harris County regarding the NHHIP can be found here:

Harris County Memorandum of Understanding-I-45 Project Dec 22, 2022

Since being executed in December 2022, no progress reports have been published. Progress reports will be added to this website as they are published.

Transit access during construction

TxDOT will obtain METRO’s review and comment of the construction work phasing and sequencing of light rail facilities and operations that are impacted by construction.

TxDOT will obtain METRO’s review and comment in instances where a bus stop needs to be temporarily relocated during construction.

TxDOT will provide fourteen (14) calendar-day public notices of bus and light rail service disruptions due to construction activities.

TxDOT will post notices of bus and light rail service disruptions on this website and will coordinate with METRO for notices to be posted on METRO’s website. 

Subscribe for website updates about transit access during construction

Noise barriers

Learn more about TxDOT's process to analyze and propose noise barriers on transportation projects like the NHHIP.

Subscribe