H-GAC seeking public feedback on updated regional transportation plan

Contributed Report
Posted 3/17/23

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) has updated its regional transportation plan and seeks public feedback from residents and stakeholders to ensure that the proposed plan’s vision and strategies align with the region’s transportation needs. The proposed vision is a safe, resilient, equitable, and reliable multimodal transportation system that contributes to a livable region.

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H-GAC seeking public feedback on updated regional transportation plan

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The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) has updated its regional transportation plan and seeks public feedback from residents and stakeholders to ensure that the proposed plan’s vision and strategies align with the region’s transportation needs. The proposed vision is a safe, resilient, equitable, and reliable multimodal transportation system that contributes to a livable region.

The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is the region’s long-range plan prioritizing transportation projects in the eight-county Houston-Galveston metropolitan planning area. The plan is updated every four years and is a framework for what the region’s transportation system will need to look like to sustain the population and its socioeconomic needs. The plan also identifies the strategies and investments necessary to get there. Currently the region is expected to grow by 50% (3.6 million people) by 2045 and the Regional Transportation Plan Update (RTP Update) provides the foundation in which transportation projects and programs are brought to the Gulf Coast region to address transportation needs.

“The RTP allows for us to bring down federal and state funds into our 8-county region,” Anita Hollmann-Matijico, H-GAC regional planning manager, said. “It helps us prioritize and understand what projects should be funded, where we need to fund projects, and how to move forward. By planning twenty years out, it allows for us to be prepared to accommodate for future needs and have the funds to do so.”

H-GAC developed the proposed vision based on feedback heard in the first two phases of public input starting in April 2022. These two phases of public outreach included hosting 16 public meetings, working with elected officials, conducting a digital survey, hosting an interactive mapping tool, and presenting at several special interest group meetings. The proposed tactics that support this vision are to improve safety, achieve, and maintain a state of good repair, move people and goods reliably and efficiently, strengthen regional economic competitiveness, and conserve and protect natural and cultural resources.

“It’s important to hear from the public because this plan is really for all residents,” Hollmnn Matijico said. We are all users of the transportation system, so it is important that everyone have the opportunity to comment on how funds are spent to improve our transportation system.”

A final public meeting will be held virtually on at 6 p.m. March 21. Residents can sign up online at h-gac.com/RTP. Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin language interpreters and American-sign language interpreters will be available.

Public comments will be accepted from March 15-April 17 and can be made online at h-gac.com/RTP or by emailing publiccomments@h-gac.com. Residents and stakeholders can learn more about the proposed RTP 2045 update at the website.

H-GAC, transportation