Freeway Traffic Counts (Orange, Katy, West: 2014, stats, trains)

[bigboyz06]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

They did - the Westpark Tollway was built to serve as a reliever to both I-10 and 290. At this point the only hope is alternative modes imo, e.g. BRT or commuter rail.

Do many people use the Westpark Tollway?

[majicdonjuan]

Originally Posted by bigboyz06

Do many people use the Westpark Tollway?

It's pretty well used, but it's narrow and inadequate for the traffic needs of the area. Having it is certainly better than not having it from a traffic standpoint though. Before it was built 59 was horrible all the way from Sugar Land to Downtown. (With that said, 59 was also still undergoing widening in Ft. Bend County at that time, as I remember, so that also exacerbated the issue.)

59 is way better than it was in the late 90s, while 290 has just gotten worse. 10 is pretty bad now, but it was an absolute parking lot prior to the expansion. I hated going out west back then.

[bigboyz06]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

It's pretty well used, but it's narrow and inadequate for the traffic needs of the area. Having it is certainly better than not having it from a traffic standpoint though. Before it was built 59 was horrible all the way from Sugar Land to Downtown. (With that said, 59 was also still undergoing widening in Ft. Bend County at that time, as I remember, so that also exacerbated the issue.)

59 is way better than it was in the late 90s, while 290 has just gotten worse. 10 is pretty bad now, but it was an absolute parking lot prior to the expansion. I hated going out west back then.

I've heard so much about how bad 290 can get. Hopefully the expansion can take care of that issue. When is that project slated to be completed?

[fnh]

KUHF reported yesterday that construction is nearly complete on the 290 to I-10 direct ramp. That will make a bigger difference than any expansion, I suspect. 610 is more congested than 290 (as is 59, 45, 10... According to TXDOT.). We travel 290 everyday between the beltway and downtown and it isn't particularly bad. I too have "heard" so much about 290 from people who don't drive it, lol.

For updates on the 290 project: Home

[majicdonjuan]

Originally Posted by fnh

KUHF reported yesterday that construction is nearly complete on the 290 to I-10 direct ramp. That will make a bigger difference than any expansion, I suspect. 610 is more congested than 290 (as is 59, 45, 10... According to TXDOT.). We travel 290 everyday between the beltway and downtown and it isn't particularly bad. I too have "heard" so much about 290 from people who don't drive it, lol.

For updates on the 290 project: Home

Thanks for the link. Historically in Houston (especially on the west side) traffic sometimes doesn't get much worse in construction zones because many commuters will avoid those areas all together and use alternates. Part of the reason 290 probably isn't as bad as it could be is because many people are using 10 or other alternates. This was the case during the 10 expansion (290 and 59 got worse) and during the 59 expansion (10 was already horrible and got much worse then as well).

I heavily suspect that once the 290 expansion is done, not only will it help traffic flow on 290, but it will also result to reductions in AADT on 10 as well (compared to what the traffic would be without the expansion). I also agree that the direct ramp will have a positive effect on 610 traffic flow.

That part of town will see even more benefit if the Hempstead Highway plan gets off the ground.

[curbur]

Originally Posted by majicdonjuan

That part of town will see even more benefit if the Hempstead Highway plan gets off the ground.

Houston turned that project over to TXDOT entirely, and unfortunately it's in line with a bunch of other pet projects Austin has lined up. We're slated to begin construction in the early to mid 2020's, but the good news is there's a lot of talk of having some sort of rail along it whenever it does get built though. I'm not sure whether it would be commuter or long distance travel to other cities, but what I do know is that I'll be old and grump by the time this thing is done.

[majicdonjuan]

Originally Posted by curbur

Houston turned that project over to TXDOT entirely, and unfortunately it's in line with a bunch of other pet projects Austin has lined up. We're slated to begin construction in the early to mid 2020's, but the good news is there's a lot of talk of having some sort of rail along it whenever it does get built though. I'm not sure whether it would be commuter or long distance travel to other cities, but what I do know is that I'll be old and grump by the time this thing is done.

That's unfortunate that it's so far down the funding pecking order.

Speaking of commuter rail, has anyone heard any updates on the GCRD's studies to run commuter rail northwest and west of the city to a future upgraded Northwest TC?

[bigboyz06]

Just wondering what are the traffic counts for Beltway 8?

[JohnnyDA]

Damn. That 1-10 traffic increase in mind blowing.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by JohnnyDA

Damn. That 1-10 traffic increase in mind blowing.

It proves that increasing traffic lanes just increases traffic and rearranges priorities so people use a particular road.