However, development for Segments F1, F2 and G, which are plotted for North Harris and South Montgomery counties, has been accelerated thanks to plans by the Texas Department of Transportation to enter into a public-private partnership funding mechanism. TxDOT accepted Requests for Information from private companies through early July and, on Nov. 18, issued Requests for Qualifications from interested companies.
TxDOT spokesperson Raquelle Lewis said the primary reason for the agency exploring a public-private partnership is a lack of funding options for the project.
“Presently we do not have the funding to proceed with development for the segments of Grand Parkway,” Lewis said. “So what [a public-private partnership] brings is the ability to leverage state resources along with private industry investments to actually bring those projects to fruition.” Funding sources
During the summer 23 companies submitted Requests for Information for the three Grand Parkway segments. However, Lewis said not all companies who submitted RFIs will or will be required to go through the Requests for Qualifications process, which is scheduled to end Jan. 18. Request for Proposals for the three projects will be released in the spring and a contract could be executed in winter 2012-13.
The types of companies that submitted RFIs range from fund management firms to development firms specializing in public-private partnerships to international engineering companies.
“What typically is considered the benefit to a private industry is the ability to leverage the capital to provide infrastructure that is being supported by toll revenues,” Lewis said. “It’s an investment opportunity.” Segment alignments
Segment F1 stretches from U.S. 290 in Cypress east to SH 249 in Tomball, F2 from SH 249 in Tomball to I-45 in Spring and Segment G from I-45 in Spring east to U.S. 59 in New Caney. Each of those segments have been given environmental clearance, but design work has yet to be completed.
Lewis said the National Environmental Protection Agency requires infrastructure projects, such as the Grand Parkway, to gain environmental clearance through the Federal Highway Administration.
William “Billy” Burge, president of the Grand Parkway Association, said environmental studies on F1, F2 and G began about two years ago.
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