Traffic and litter on 99 through Cinco Ranch (Houston, Austin: legality, authority)

[Weatherguy]

Yesterday I made a trip to Sugar Land from Austin. I exited 290 and got on 99 south (Grand Parkway). Traffic between 290 and I-10 was surprising since that area isn't heavily developed yet, but it wasn't really bad traffic. But, when I got to I-10, I ended up in a 5 mile long traffic jam. It was both northbound and southbound. I've seen very heavy traffic in that area on my traffic app many times. Eventually I got out of the jam as I got closer to Sugar Land on 99.

What experiences have Cinco Ranch residents had with traffic on 99?

The other thing that was surprising was that the area of 99 through Cinco Ranch was strewn with litter and debris. Toll roads are normally kept spotless because of the revenues generated from the tolls. Is that part of 99 always trashy or was it maybe a lapse in cleanup by the toll authority or TxDOT (not sure who does the cleanups there).

[oespinoza83]

That area of 99 has been logged jam before the Grand Parkway was completed up to 290 (any beyond, both directions). It has more to do with the explosion of the Katy area and the fact that there are no service roads for that section. Trash is probably something isolated since I don't recall seeing that section messy most days. And I don't know the legality of it, but I am not 100% sure that un-tolled section is governed (or maintained) by the toll authority, so it would be TxDOT.

[TexasTony]

Traffic on grand pkway between westpark toll way and I-10 is horrible even on weekends. I try to avoid that route but occasionally I get stuck in between. Never seen trash or debris on that toll road. Might have been an isolated incident

[Nakika]

There was a pretty bad accident yesterday involving a pickup full of garbage. I imagine you passed by before they had managed to completely clear the debris. Traffic is always awful at 99 and I10 but that should be expected with the population explosion in Katy.

[cheryjohns]

Isolated incident. I run up and down 99 in that area all of the time and have never noticed any trash.

[Houston321]

Traffic between I-10 and 1093 sucks all the time. So much room in the middle to expand and add lanes..... lets go!!!!

[astrohip]

I drive that road twice a week (commute from Brenham to Houston and back). I rarely run into heavy traffic unless it's...wait for it... rush hour. I drove it last Wednesday at noon, and Sunday at 11am. Neither time had traffic.

If I mismanage my departure time and hit the road at 4pm, yeah there's traffic. Just like every other freeway in Houston. But usually I try to drive mid-day, and only have a problem if there's an accident. I usually check traffic before I leave and if there is a problem on 99, I'll take Sam Houston up to 290, instead of 99.

Litter? It's one of the cleanest freeways in Houston. Amazingly clean. Maybe it was that accident Nakika mentioned.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by astrohip

I drive that road twice a week (commute from Brenham to Houston and back). I rarely run into heavy traffic unless it's...wait for it... rush hour. I drove it last Wednesday at noon, and Sunday at 11am. Neither time had traffic.

If I mismanage my departure time and hit the road at 4pm, yeah there's traffic. Just like every other freeway in Houston. But usually I try to drive mid-day, and only have a problem if there's an accident. I usually check traffic before I leave and if there is a problem on 99, I'll take Sam Houston up to 290, instead of 99.

Litter? It's one of the cleanest freeways in Houston. Amazingly clean. Maybe it was that accident Nakika mentioned.

I've been stuck in traffic on 99 on Saturday before. Saturdays in the suburbs have a different traffic pattern than closer in town. People need to quit driving their kids to all these silly special athletic leagues, I think that's a big chunk of it.

[astrohip]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

I've been stuck in traffic on 99 on Saturday before. Saturdays in the suburbs have a different traffic pattern than closer in town. People need to quit driving their kids to all these silly special athletic leagues, I think that's a big chunk of it.

That makes sense. Soccer mom traffic jams!

I'm lucky I almost never have a Saturday commute.

[Weatherguy]

Originally Posted by Nakika

There was a pretty bad accident yesterday involving a pickup full of garbage. I imagine you passed by before they had managed to completely clear the debris. Traffic is always awful at 99 and I10 but that should be expected with the population explosion in Katy.

The trash and debris was along about a five-mile stretch, so it wouldn't have been from a single accident. Someone else mentioned that it's an un-tolled stretch, which I didn't know. That means TxDOT is responsible. I know that anywhere TxDOT is responsible, trash and debris aren't cleaned up very often any more. That applies all over Texas. A staff member at TxDOT told me that it's because of continuing budget cuts, year after year. We used to have clean highways when the Don't Mess with Texas campaign was so strong, but even that campaign has now fizzled. Our current legislature has little or no interest in this issue, so look for our highways to get messier and messier, and that would include 99 through Cinco Ranch.