Description
The Grand Parkway Program
The 10-county Greater Houston Region is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States with a population of 5.7 million as of the 2008 U.S. Census estimate. The region is among the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. The area grew 25.2 percent between the 1990 and 2000 censuses—adding more than 950,000 people—while the nation’s population increased 13.2 percent over the same period. From 2000 to 2007, the area grew by 912,994 people. From 2000 to 2030, the metropolitan area is projected by Woods & Poole Economics to rank fifth in the nation in population growth—adding 2.66 million people.
Grand Parkway (SH 99) is an approximately 180-mile circumferential scenic highway which traverses seven of the 10 counties comprising the Greater Houston Region. It is being developed both to ensure continued mobility of the citizens of the region and to foster regional economic development. When completed, Grand Parkway will be the third circumferential highway serving Greater Houston. Interstate 610 serves as an inner loop and the nearly completed Beltway 8 serves as an intermediate loop.
Grand Parkway has been divided into 11 segments defined by independent utility and geographic characteristics for the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental compliance process.
Two segments have been partially constructed to date, Segments D and I-2. Additionally, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has received a Record of Decision (ROD) for Grand Parkway Segments E and F1, and is currently managing environmental compliance studies and re-evaluations on the remainder of the segments.
