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PRESS RELEASE

Pearland City Council approved a resolution in support of Proposition 7, a constitutional amendment for increased state funding for transportation.

Passage of Proposition 7 will provide additional transportation funds for on-system (TxDOT) roadways, which will allow more funds that traditionally are awarded to TxDOT projects to be awarded to local governments through the Houston Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). With the passage of Proposition 7, several City of Pearland projects, currently being evaluated for TIP funding, will have a significantly increased chance for funding.

Texans will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment on November 3 that will provide billions more in state transportation funding without new taxes, fees or debt. The Texas Sales and Use Tax Revenue for Transportation Amendment, Proposition 7 is on the November 2015 ballot as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment, which was approved by the State Legislature earlier this year. The measure, upon voter approval, would provide additional funding for the State Highway Fund.

This new revenue for the State Highway Fund would be used to construct and maintain non-tolled roadways, purchase rights-of-way and make payments on general obligation bonds issued by the Texas Transportation Commission.

The funds would be provided from two sources:

• Beginning in fiscal year 2018 (Sept. 1, 2017), up to $2.5 billion will be dedicated to the State Highway Fund annually from the state’s general sales tax, once the sales tax totals $28.0 billion. This allocation would expire on September 1, 2032.
• Beginning in fiscal year 2020 (Sept. 1, 2019), 35 percent of the motor-vehicle sales tax revenue exceeding $5 billion would be dedicated to the State Highway Fund annually. For example, if $6 billion came in from this tax source, then 35 percent of $1 billion, or $350 million, would be dedicated to the fund. This allocation would expire on August 31, 2029.
  The Texas Legislature would be allowed to reduce the amount of sales and use tax revenue allocated to the State Highway Fund if two-thirds of legislators agree to do so. The legislature would also be permitted to extend these revenue allocations beyond their expiration dates for 10-year periods if a simple majority of legislators agree to do so.

This amendment, which follows the 2014 approval of Proposition 1, would provide another significant step toward meeting the unmet funding needs for transportation projects in Texas. However, the addition of this funding source will not “solve” Texas’ transportation funding challenge.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) estimates that the state has at least $5 billion in unmet transportation needs each year. Even with the passage of this ballot proposition, the state still faces a smaller but significant funding gap for transportation infrastructure.

The specific ballot language for the proposition reads: “The constitutional amendment dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue to the state highway fund to provide funding for non-tolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt.”

For more information, visit PearlandTX.gov.

Over the past 15 years, residents began using the Hwy 288 corridor to travel to the Medical Center, downtown Houston and the Galleria area for work. The growth of Pearland, coupled with the construction of Hwy 288 and Beltway 8, which provided area residents improved access to the major job centers in the Houston region, led to congestion issues on SH 288. Because of that, transportation and mobility initiatives have been planned to ease the congestion and improve mobility in and around the City of Pearland.

SH 288 Toll Project - Brazoria County portion (Updated as of August 2015):

• Scope: Develop 4 toll lanes from CR 58 to the Harris/Brazoria County line.
• Estimated Construction Cost: $100 M
• Status: Design Phase at 95 percent, Finalizing T&R Investment Grade Study

SH 288 - Harris County portion (Updated as of August 2015):

• Scope: The Texas Department of Transportation project consists of a 10.3-mile section of SH 288 from US 59 to the Harris County line at Clear Creek in Harris County
• Estimated Construction Cost: The total project investment is estimated at $800 million.
• Status: Estimated construction start first quarter 2016, Estimate Open to Traffic Early 2019

The project includes the following:

• The design, construction, maintenance, and operation of four tolled lanes within the median of SH 288 from US 59 to the Harris County line at Clear Creek and design, construction, maintenance, and operation of up to eight direct connectors at Beltway 8
• Direct connectors to provide access from SH 288 tolled lanes to the Texas Medical Center; eight direct connectors at Beltway 8; and rebuilds most of the I-610/SH 288 interchange.
• Conditionally awarded project to Blueridge Transportation Group

Toll Project Map

Design Schematic

Beautification Efforts (A City of Pearland/Pearland Economic Development initiative):

• In November 2013, a management district (PMMD#2) was created to improve the appearance the SH 288 corridor. A Board of Directors was established and a maintenance and operations tax of $0.10 per $100 in valuation was approved by voters in the District.
• The 288 Corridor Master Improvements Plan was adopted by the Pearland Economic Development Board of Directors, the Pearland Municipal Management District #2 and the City of Pearland and includes plans and cost estimates for the beautification of key intersections along the corridor.
• After PMMD#2’s approval of the SH 288 Master Improvements Plan, work began on the initial clean-up of the corridor, including the power washing of the Shadow Creek-SH 288 and FM 518-SH288 interchanges and more frequent mowing, sweeping, and trash collection along the corridor.
• The City, PEDC and PMMD#2 have also been working to implement the long-term projects from the 288 Corridor Master Improvements Plan in unison with BCTRA and TxDOT plans for the managed toll lanes.
• The first scope of work for this initial phase will include the hardscape enhancements that will be included in the County’s toll lane construction contract for work such as retaining walls, brick pavers, grading and amentitizing of the detention ponds for the entire corridor.
• A second scope of work will be for the improvements at the toll lane entrance at Hughes Ranch/Discovery Bay Drive and the McHard/Shadow Creek Parkway interchange based on the Master Plan improvements. The completed design documents will depict actual materials, sizes and specific locations of all landscape elements, fine grading, lighting, irrigation, sidewalks and gateway markers. The Broadway, CR 59 and Beltway 8 intersections will be completed in later phases.

Beautification Efforts Key Milestones