Transportation

Proposition B - Transportation

Up to $900 million in investments may include road rehabilitation and added capacity; roadway and neighborhood drainage improvements; walking, biking, and mass transit access; and safety projects to reduce transportation-related fatalities and injuries.

Up to $100 million would be allocated to roadway maintenance and rehabilitation.
Harris County owns and maintains more than 6,600 miles of roads, of which:
- 1,250 miles (18%) are in “Poor” to “Fair” pavement condition, and
- 180 miles (3%) are in “Failed” to “Very Poor” pavement condition.
A portion of the transportation investment will be devoted to projects intended to maintain the County’s overall pavement condition at or above current levels. Available funds will be strategically allocated.
- Rehabilitating all low-rated roads to the highest rating categories would exceed the bond allocation. It is estimated to cost more than $500 million for roads in “Poor” to “Fair” condition and $1 billion for roads in “Failed” to “Very Poor” condition.

Neighborhood Drainage

Up to $200 million would be allocated to improve street drainage.
Within Harris County’s budgeting structure, drainage investments for creeks, bayous, and larger drainage ditches are assigned to the Harris County Flood Control District. The Flood Control District received voter approval for bonding authority in the August 2018 election.
Neighborhood drainage systems are storm sewer pipes and shallow ditches along the roads, installed by developers or the Harris County Engineering Department and then maintained by the four Harris County precincts.
Harris County Engineering Department’s currently-funded neighborhood drainage program will reduce flooding risk for a minimum of 4,000 structures (approximately 20,000 people) and is scheduled for completion in 2023-2024.
However, during Hurricane Harvey, 105,000 structures outside the 100-year floodplain experienced flooding, meaning, in many cases, stormwater was not able to flow out of neighborhoods and into detention basins or major channels effectively.
Funding from this bond will allow the program to extend neighborhood drainage improvements to more neighborhoods.

Vision Zero (Roadway Safety)

Up to $50 million would be invested in Vision Zero.
Vision Zero is an initiative adopted by the Harris County Commissioners Court with the goal of reducing fatalities and serious injuries on the transportation system to zero.
Harris County experiences an average of 430 traffic-related fatalities per year, equating to approximately ten per 100,000 people.
The funded projects in this category will address safety issues on a substantial portion of a high-injury network identified in Harris County’s Vision Zero Action Plan.

Multimodal Transportation

Up to $50 million would be invested in multimodal transportation.
Bringing additional transportation choices to County residents requires investments in pedestrian and bicycle facilities serving those who are walking, bicycling, and using mass transit (multimodal transportation).
Despite recent progress, safe bicycling options remain limited in many parts of the County.
61% of Harris County-maintained roads lack sidewalks.
This effort would also bring more sidewalks and curb ramps into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Partnership Opportunities

Approximately $200 million would be allocated to partnership projects that include external funding sources.
Commissioners Court has elected to create a specific bond fund category to take advantage of external public and private funding opportunities.
Bond funds in this category can be used as matching funds for state or federal grants or funding for the County’s contribution to joint projects with Harris County cities, Municipal Utility Districts, or nonprofit organizations.
Partnerships create opportunities to stretch Harris County tax dollars.

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