HGAC invites input on multi-county plan

BAYTOWN— Last week, the Houston-Galveston Area Council heard from Liberty County residents to help create a multi-county, master transportation plan.

On Tuesday, July 15, HGAC held the first of a few public meetings for the Regional Transportation Plan 2050.

"The feedback you share tonight will help us shape the vision, the goals, the priorities for the future," HGAC Principal Planner Brandon Mosley said.

The RTP aims to develop a cohesive, connected long-term plan for the eight counties in the Houston-Galveston area, encompassing all aspects of transportation, including highways, public transit, sidewalks and more.

Residents from around the county came out to share their thoughts, from drainage to traffic conditions.

Bill Wallace, a former Chambers County commissioner, discussed congestion on FM 1409 where it intersects Interstate 10, a common theme at the meeting.

Wallace noted Texas 146 has a lot of truck traffic, which causes heavy congestion during peak travel hours.

"It's a growth pain," Wallace said.

Wallace said commissioners have done some good work to help address traffic issues, primarily by adding new roadways, such as Kilgore Parkway.

Theresa Horn's primary concern was safety on Texas 146 and general road maintenance.

The main concern for Richie Devillier, who lives in the Winnie area, was drainage.

Devillier, who marks the fourth generation on his family land, said his property never flooded until Interstate 10 was raised in 2000.

Before construction, sections of I-10 allowed water to pass, but after construction, I-10 became a dam with 32-inch concrete barriers.

During Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda, Devillier's property was significantly flooded. After taking his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, Devillier won a lawsuit against Texas.

Devillier said he attended the meeting to ensure drainage was a priority for future plans to prevent the same thing from happening to others.

The meeting featured interactive maps and posters for attendees to share their concerns, as well as an interactive voting system that utilized beans.

For the interactive posters, there was a higher focus on how goods are transported, drainage and suggestions to alleviate traffic congestion.

In the interactive maps, there were suggestions for additional traffic lights in the Cove area.

There will be two more public meetings before the fall of 2026, which is the expected completion date for the final draft.

For more details and to participate in the survey, visit RTP2050.com.