Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP, County Engineer
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Not applicable
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Public Necessity
Project ID (if applicable): 25050MF3VX01
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Any applicable landowner and/or property interest holder
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): Not applicable
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): Not applicable
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Not applicable
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of a certain project, decreeing the project to be a public necessity and convenience, directing the Harris County Real Property Division to acquire two (2) fee simple tracts for the public project known as Barrier Free HCTRA Program, for the purpose of roadway construction, Precincts 3 & 4.
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Background and Discussion:
The Barrier-Free HCTRA Program will provide for a modern, safer, and more efficient alternative to traditional toll booths where drivers must stop to pay workers by hand. Barrier-Free HCTRA, on the other hand, automatically collects the usage fee or toll charged to vehicles using toll roads, HOV lanes, or toll bridges at the point of passage. The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) issues drivers an automated radio transponder device, called an EZ TAG, which is displayed on the vehicle’s windshield. When the vehicle passes a roadside toll reader device, a radio signal from the reader scans the EZ TAG, which transmits back an identifying number that registers the vehicle’s use of the road, and an electronic payment system charges the user the toll.
The Barrier Free HCTRA Program will ultimately provide increased freeway capacity and additional safety improvements along the Sam Houston Tollway. With the primary goals of the program to provide free flowing traffic, reducing congestion, and increasing safety, the project includes additional travel lanes, reconstruction of toll gantries, improved roadway drainage, bridge widening, new retaining walls, new signing and pavement markings, safety improvements at the frontage road intersections, and new fiber installation.
This public necessity is being revised for the project to be acquired in the name of Harris County and not Harris County Toll Road Authority.
Expected Impact:
This project aligns Harris County’s goals of providing accessible, affordable, reliable, safe and sustainable transportation options and networks to facilitate efficient movement of people and goods throughout the region.
Alternative Options:
No other recommended solutions for this identified need.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): F1: Strengthen the County’s commitment to Vision Zero principles and goals.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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8/26/2025 |
25-4906 |
Public Necessity |
Location:
Address (if applicable): 8825 N Sam Houston Pkwy & 2110 W Sam Houston Pkwy, Houston, TX 77064 & 77043
Precinct(s): Precincts 3 & 4
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Anticipated Court Date: 9/18/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Michael Ware, Director, Office of County Engineer
Attachments (if applicable): Findings and Declarations; Metes and Bounds