Another hurdle has been cleared for the development of the portion of the long-discussed Grand Parkway that is planned to run through the Tomball area.

According to David Gornet, Executive Director of the Grand Parkway Association, federal agencies have given “environmental clearance” for sections E, F1 and F2 of the 184-mile project.

Segment F2 is proposed to be constructed between SH 249 and I-45, connecting just south of the Montgomery County/Harris County line.

Gornet explained that by granting environmental clearance for the project, the F2 portion has met the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a federal mandate that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) must follow in order to construct new roads and highways.

As part of the process for following NEPA, developers must submit alternative routes and hold public hearings, all in an effort to “minimize the impact to the natural environment and the human environment,” Gornet said.

Segment F2 is one of 11 portions of the large loop around the greater Houston area that is among various stages of development. A 28-mile stretch of Segment D and part of E, stretching from Highway 59 in Fort Bend County north to Katy opened to traffic in 1994.

In addition, Segment I2 east of Baytown opened in 2008.

The rest of Segment E, I-10 north to Highway 6 west of Cypress, is scheduled to open to traffic in 2013.

Now that environmental clearance has been given over F2, Gornet explained that design work may now begin on the roadway and right-of-way acquisition could begin next year.

A project timeline shows construction beginning on F2 in 2013 and the 12.1 mile highway opening to traffic in 2015.

As with any major roadway project, the biggest obstacle is financing.

Harris County recently handed over control of its portions of the project, which includes F2, back to TxDOT after county commissioners realized that money raised in their county through tolls could potentially be shared with other counties to aid their funding.

“Obviously, that type of transfer of funds is not politically acceptable to any commissioners court,” Gornet said.

The most likely financing option would be for TxDOT to sell bonds for the project, build the roadways and collect tolls to pay back the bonds.

Gornet explained that another option could be to allow a private company to finance the project and operate the roadway on behalf of the state.

For more information about the Grand Parkway project, visit grandpky.com.

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