Tri-Party Agreement
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The Tri-Party Agreement is a demonstration of the efforts made by local mobility partners to work together to creatively bring transportation improvements to our region. In March 2001, the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) proposed to assume responsibility for the four managed lanes recommended as part of the Katy Freeway MIS results and to construct them as a regular toll road. A Reevaluation of the Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS) was conducted to specifically address social, economic and environmental impacts relative to the use of these four managed lanes and their operation as a Toll Facility in the center of I-10 between SH 6 and I-610. The Reevaluation was distributed to all interested parties and a public meeting was held in February 2003. The Tri-Party Agreement by Harris County representing HCTRA, TxDOT and FHWA was signed March 14, 2003. This agreement is innovative and groundbreaking in: (1) the composition of its planning and operating partners of the I-10 project, (2) the operational arrangement of the facility, (3) the financing of the managed use portion of an interstate highway being underwritten by a county toll operator and repaid by tolls, (4) dynamically priced tolls for multiple passenger vehicles, and (5) open road electronic tolling. The signing ceremony included Dan Reagan, Regional Administrator for FHWA, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, Michael W. Behrens, P.E., TxDOT Executive Director and Gary K. Trietsch, P.E., TxDOT Houston District Engineer. Local elected officials, including U. S. Congressman John Culberson, the Harris County Commissioners, and the representative to the three-seat Texas Transportation Commission voiced approval of the plan recognizing the financial advantages to using HCTRA funds to construct toll lanes on the Katy Freeway. Together TxDOT and the Harris County in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration have created the first tri-party agreement to operate toll lanes on an interstate highway. |
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