Order your free copy now and learn all you need to know about living the good life in the nation's fourth largest city!
| Need to Know Information About Houston and the Region |
— Sam Houston Tollway
Beltway 8, the Sam Houston Parkway, along with the Sam Houston Tollway, is a beltway around the city of Houston, lying entirely within Harris County. Beltway 8, a state highway, runs mostly along the frontage roads, only using the main lanes where they are free (mostly on the north side of Houston). The main lanes elsewhere are the Sam Houston Tollway, a toll road owned and operated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority. East of Houston, the Tollway crosses the Houston Ship Channel on the Jesse H. Jones Memorial Bridge, a toll bridge; this forms a gap in Beltway 8 between Interstate Highway 10 (Baytown-East Freeway) and State Highway 225 (La Porte Freeway).
— Westpark Tollway
The Westpark Tollway spans a total of 19 miles through Harris and Fort Bend Counties. The Westpark Tollway was the nation's first all-electronic roadway providing a barrier-free drive between Houston's Galleria district and Katy, Texas. Drivers must have an EZ TAG to use the Westpark Tollway.
Harris County's segment of the Westpark Tollway (14 miles) begins at I-610 on the east and extends to the county line near FM 1464. The Westpark offers an alternative east-west corridor for West Houston residents with access to US 59 and the Galleria, the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8) and The Grand Parkway.
— Hardy Toll Road
The Hardy Toll Road runs from Interstate 45, north of Houston just below the Harris County line, to Interstate 610, near central Houston. The road generally parallels Interstate 45. The portion from I-610 to Crosstimbers Road is known as Spur 548, although it displays no signage. Construction on the toll road started in September 1984 and the entire road was complete by June 1988. The toll road runs 21.6 miles and costs $3 to drive its full length ($1.50 north of Beltway 8 and $1.50 south of Beltway 8). A four-mile connecting road to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport requires $1.00 toll. At each toll plaza, a 25 cent discount applies to electronic EZ TAG users. The road is named for nearby Hardy Street, which in some areas makes up the frontage roads for the toll road.
Rail Systems
Two major rail systems – Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific – operate 14 mainline tracks radiating from Houston. The Port Terminal Railroad Association, a switching line, serves the industrial area plus the Port of Houston. AMTRAK (amtrak.com) provides passenger service on the Sunset Limited, which serves the Orlando-Houston-Los Angeles route. Since Hurricane Katrina, service from New Orleans to Orlando has been suspended until the lines can be repaired.
Houston TranStar
TxDOT, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), the City of Houston and Harris County jointly operate Houston TranStar, a coordinated traffic management system. It also is responsible for coordinating the planning, design, operations and maintenance of the transportation and emergency functions in the Houston region.
Houston TranStar’s Transportation and Emergency Management Center utilizes high-tech components and multiagency specialists and includes a transportation control room, communications, telephone switch room and the region’s emergency operations center. TranStar also gathers and distributes traffic information and efficiently manages freeways. The system uses computerized traffic signals, dynamic message signs, telephones, advanced radio technology and computers. Visit houstontranstar.org to view a real-time traffic map and to learn about any lane closures.
Public Transit/METRO
METRO opened for business in January 1979 and services the cities of Houston, Bellaire, Bunker Hill Village, El Lago, Hedwig Village, Hilshire Village, Humble, Hunters Creek, Katy, Missouri City, Piney Point, Southside Place, Spring Valley, Taylor Lake Village and West University Place. Major portions of unincorporated Harris County are also included.
— Bus Service
With a fleet of 1,211 buses, METRO operates an extensive network of bus routes and convenient Park & Ride facilities helping to ease rush hour commutes. It’s also paving the way for a cleaner Houston with 34 transit diesel-hybrid buses currently in operation with plans to add 52 commuter buses, as well as 48 additional transit buses and 10 Signature Service buses, which will be placed in service this year.
— METRORail
2004 marked the introduction of the METRORail Red Line, a 7.5-mile light rail service running from the University of Houston-Downtown to south of Reliant Park along the streets of Main, Fannin and San Jacinto. There are 16 conveniently located stations with a total of 18 vehicles that provide access to many of the city’s major employment, cultural/ entertainment, education and medical centers. Major METRORail destinations include downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, Hermann Park/Houston Zoo, Texas Medical Center and Reliant Park.
— HOV Lanes
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are open to buses, vanpools/carpools and motorcycles. The lanes, which are accessed via freeway or facility ramps, are reversible to accommodate commuters during peak periods of traffic flow. Users must observe the occupancy requirements, rules of the road and hours of operation. Freeways that utilize HOV lanes include the Northwest, Gulf, North, Eastex and Southwest freeways.
Beltway 8, the Sam Houston Parkway, along with the Sam Houston Tollway, is a beltway around the city of Houston, lying entirely within Harris County. Beltway 8, a state highway, runs mostly along the frontage roads, only using the main lanes where they are free (mostly on the north side of Houston). The main lanes elsewhere are the Sam Houston Tollway, a toll road owned and operated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority. East of Houston, the Tollway crosses the Houston Ship Channel on the Jesse H. Jones Memorial Bridge, a toll bridge; this forms a gap in Beltway 8 between Interstate Highway 10 (Baytown-East Freeway) and State Highway 225 (La Porte Freeway).
— Westpark Tollway
The Westpark Tollway spans a total of 19 miles through Harris and Fort Bend Counties. The Westpark Tollway was the nation's first all-electronic roadway providing a barrier-free drive between Houston's Galleria district and Katy, Texas. Drivers must have an EZ TAG to use the Westpark Tollway.
Harris County's segment of the Westpark Tollway (14 miles) begins at I-610 on the east and extends to the county line near FM 1464. The Westpark offers an alternative east-west corridor for West Houston residents with access to US 59 and the Galleria, the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8) and The Grand Parkway.
— Hardy Toll Road
The Hardy Toll Road runs from Interstate 45, north of Houston just below the Harris County line, to Interstate 610, near central Houston. The road generally parallels Interstate 45. The portion from I-610 to Crosstimbers Road is known as Spur 548, although it displays no signage. Construction on the toll road started in September 1984 and the entire road was complete by June 1988. The toll road runs 21.6 miles and costs $3 to drive its full length ($1.50 north of Beltway 8 and $1.50 south of Beltway 8). A four-mile connecting road to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport requires $1.00 toll. At each toll plaza, a 25 cent discount applies to electronic EZ TAG users. The road is named for nearby Hardy Street, which in some areas makes up the frontage roads for the toll road.
Rail Systems
Two major rail systems – Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific – operate 14 mainline tracks radiating from Houston. The Port Terminal Railroad Association, a switching line, serves the industrial area plus the Port of Houston. AMTRAK (amtrak.com) provides passenger service on the Sunset Limited, which serves the Orlando-Houston-Los Angeles route. Since Hurricane Katrina, service from New Orleans to Orlando has been suspended until the lines can be repaired.
Houston TranStar
TxDOT, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), the City of Houston and Harris County jointly operate Houston TranStar, a coordinated traffic management system. It also is responsible for coordinating the planning, design, operations and maintenance of the transportation and emergency functions in the Houston region.
Houston TranStar’s Transportation and Emergency Management Center utilizes high-tech components and multiagency specialists and includes a transportation control room, communications, telephone switch room and the region’s emergency operations center. TranStar also gathers and distributes traffic information and efficiently manages freeways. The system uses computerized traffic signals, dynamic message signs, telephones, advanced radio technology and computers. Visit houstontranstar.org to view a real-time traffic map and to learn about any lane closures.
Public Transit/METRO
METRO opened for business in January 1979 and services the cities of Houston, Bellaire, Bunker Hill Village, El Lago, Hedwig Village, Hilshire Village, Humble, Hunters Creek, Katy, Missouri City, Piney Point, Southside Place, Spring Valley, Taylor Lake Village and West University Place. Major portions of unincorporated Harris County are also included.
— Bus Service
With a fleet of 1,211 buses, METRO operates an extensive network of bus routes and convenient Park & Ride facilities helping to ease rush hour commutes. It’s also paving the way for a cleaner Houston with 34 transit diesel-hybrid buses currently in operation with plans to add 52 commuter buses, as well as 48 additional transit buses and 10 Signature Service buses, which will be placed in service this year.
— METRORail
2004 marked the introduction of the METRORail Red Line, a 7.5-mile light rail service running from the University of Houston-Downtown to south of Reliant Park along the streets of Main, Fannin and San Jacinto. There are 16 conveniently located stations with a total of 18 vehicles that provide access to many of the city’s major employment, cultural/ entertainment, education and medical centers. Major METRORail destinations include downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, Hermann Park/Houston Zoo, Texas Medical Center and Reliant Park.
— HOV Lanes
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are open to buses, vanpools/carpools and motorcycles. The lanes, which are accessed via freeway or facility ramps, are reversible to accommodate commuters during peak periods of traffic flow. Users must observe the occupancy requirements, rules of the road and hours of operation. Freeways that utilize HOV lanes include the Northwest, Gulf, North, Eastex and Southwest freeways.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
