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.

Road Rehabilitation

• 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.

Roadway Capacity

• Up to $300 million would be allocated to general road bonds.

• About 260 miles of major thoroughfares in the County have significant traffic congestion during peak travel periods, measured as a low Level of Service (E or F).

• Bond proceeds available in this category will be strategically allocated to this need, with the goal of maintaining the County’s overall congestion levels at or below current levels.

• The cost of expanding and rehabilitating roadways with the lowest level of service is over $1 billion.

• To bring all County thoroughfares up to a “Good” or better congestion rating, Harris County planners estimate approximately 850 miles of roadway widening or extensions would be needed, which amounts to more than $4 billion.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Up to $200 million in investments may include new construction and/or maintenance of park facilities and trails, including floodable parks, trail projects, and inclusive parks for people with disabilities.

• Harris County’s previously-authorized parks bonds are nearly fully allocated. Capital project spending levels on parks will decrease over time without a new bond authorization.

• Bond funds can be used for land acquisition or capital improvements within existing County parks. Many project types are eligible, including ballfields, playgrounds, restrooms, picnic facilities, and utility systems.

• In addition to the pipeline of planned projects in precincts, other opportunities include:
  • Floodable parks
  • Inclusive and accessible parks for people with disabilities
  • Trail projects along creeks and utility corridors that increase connectivity, including extensions and connections to existing regional trail systems such as the Bayou Greenways network.