Since opening in November, the Brazoria County Expressway, a 5.2-mile system of toll lanes in the median of Texas 288, has carried far more traffic than area officials had projected.
“The expressway has experienced a monthly average of approximately 594,000 toll transactions, including closure for almost a week during the (mid-February) freeze conditions,” said Kent Burkett, manager of the Brazoria County Toll Road Authority. “This number far exceeds the projected monthly average of 251,000 transactions.”
‘Everybody wants to try it out’
Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole sees two reasons for the higher-than-expected numbers on the north-south expressway, which has two lanes running in each direction and was built at a cost of $97 million..
“I think the initial traffic-and-revenue study done was prepared in a really conservative manner; so I’m not surprised usage is higher than expected,” he said.
Also he added, “I think there is the novelty effect as well. Everyone wants to at least try it out.”
No matter the reason, Cole said it is clear that people are willing to pay the tolls to get to destinations more rapidly. All portions of the tollway require a TxTag or EZTag.
The expressway is part of a larger Texas 288 toll system that continues north into Harris County and Houston through a segment built by the Texas Department of Transportation at a cost of $2.1 billion. All together, the toll lanes span more than 15 miles along the highway.
Cole and Burkett expect even more drivers to use the tolls lanes as coronavirus pandemic restrictions are lifted and more people, many of whom have been working from home during the entirety of the pandemic, head back into the office in the Texas Medical Center or downtown Houston.
A co-founder of the Greater 288 Partnership several years ago, Cole advocated for improved transportation options in Pearland and Brazoria County.
He said the goal always was to get ahead of commercial and residential growth along the Texas 288 corridor and that the opening of the toll lanes, which was planned for years, is an important milestone.
“The expansion is huge for Pearland and Brazoria County,” said Cole, who added that he personally has used the toll lanes.
Looking ahead, he said other transportation options such as light rail may eventually be feasible, particularly in Pearland’s Lower Kirby District.
“I’ve always believed our best bet for rail is in the Kirby corridor and connecting to the Fannin line,” Cole said, referencing Metropolitan Transit Authority’s rail route west of Texas 288 that extends south to a transit center at 1604 W. Bellfort St., Houston.
Two toll gantries track vehicles on the Brazoria County Expressway. Toll rates are 50 cents for an all-day fare in either direction on the toll gantry between County Road 58 and Farm Road 518, according to Sharon Trower, public information officer for Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta Jr. From FM 518 to the Brazoria/Harris County line, the all-day toll fees in each direction equal $1.30. In short, a full trip through both gantries will cost motorists $1.80.
Harris County tolls for trips range from 45 cents to $3.20, depending on which gantries drivers pass through, at what time of day and whether they are traveling on a weekday or a weekend. The highest fees are charged during weekday morning and afternoon rush-hour traffic times.
For information on closures or construction related to the Brazoria County part of the toll lanes, visit https://bcexpressway.org. For information on closures on dthe Harris County portion, visit drive288.com.