The Texas Department of Transportation is the owner and government entity responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the state’s highways. For more information, visit www.txdot.gov.

 
For more information visit www.acsinfra.com and www.iridiumconcesiones.com.

The Drive288 Story

 As one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in the country, SH 288 Express Toll Lanes are a result of Houston’s incredible growth and continued success.

The SH 288 Express Toll Lanes is a public-private partnership or “P3”. This means that a contractual agreement was established between TxDOT and BTG to design, construct, finance, operate, and maintain the SH 288 corridor from I-59 to Clear Creek, including the frontage roads, general purpose lanes, and express toll lanes.

Houston’s growth is being driven by major industries like energy, healthcare, and biosciences. In order to quickly and efficiently make infrastructure improvements, like the SH 288 Express Toll Lanes project, to support the city’s growth, the state of Texas is utilizing the P3 delivery method to partner with trusted firms. The state contributed 1.7% to the construction of this project, therefore having very little impact on taxpayers.

SH 288 Express Toll Lanes project is the only tollway P3 project in Houston, which is why it operates differently than other toll lanes in the city. It provides both tolled lanes and non-tolled lanes within the same facility, allowing users to make the most convenient decisions for their travel needs.

As Houston continues to thrive, BTG and TxDOT are working to ensure that the SH 288 Express Toll Lanes accommodates the daily hustle and bustle of an internationally prominent city. The goal is to give drivers options that alleviate traffic and congestion in the general-purpose lanes and communities along the corridor.

Why Drive288

With safety as a top priority, BTG works alongside TxDOT to operate and maintain the SH 288 corridor from US 59 to the Brazoria County limit from right-of-way to right-of-way, including frontage roads, the non-tolled general-purpose lanes, and the express toll lanes.

This roadway reduces traffic and congestion in the communities adjacent to the corridor. For every driver who uses the express toll lanes, there is less congestion in the general-purpose lanes. Ensuring the option for expedited travel on the SH 288 results in less commuter traffic for local communities along the roadway.

The SH 288 corridor primarily serves drivers to and from Brazoria and Harris County, which, when combined, have grown by almost one million residents since the project began in 2016. This makes the SH 288 Express Toll Lanes project a critical connector for this booming region to important areas of Houston.

The SH 288 Express Toll Lanes are designed specifically to provide a faster and more convenient driving experience for business professionals, healthcare workers, and Houston families. The highway serves as an important thoroughfare into Houston and the primary express artery to the world’s largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center. The below graph shows the consistent increase in daily traffic to the Texas Medical Center via SH 288 Express Toll Lanes

The Benefits of Drive288

 Prior to the SH 288 Express Toll Lanes, driving conditions along the 10.3 miles of roadway from US 59 to the Brazoria County limit were unpredictable and unavoidable. TxDOT had the foresight to address this issue as the population in this region continued to boom.

Now, despite the population along this corridor having grown by roughly one million people, drivers have a convenient and reliable express option during peak traffic hours and an alternative to the frequently congested non-tolled general-purpose lanes.

The SH 288 Express Toll Lanes are different from most others in the region. While other toll roads in Houston offer alternative roads, they do not offer an express toll and non-toll lanes in the same corridor. SH 288 Express Toll Lanes are designed specifically to give our drivers more options to allow them to choose what works best for their busy schedules and budgets.

Toll rates are based on the day of the week, time of day, and historical utilization. Average prices vary and are typically higher during weekday rush hour periods and lower during non-peak periods and weekends. This structure gives the SH 288 toll lanes superior reliability compared to other toll lanes in the city. Our drivers can opt for a more predictable and manageable commute when they need it.

The SH 288 Express Toll Lanes reduce congestion in the non-tolled general-purpose lanes by absorbing a significant amount of the peak-hour traffic volume. This, in turn, allows for less traffic and congestion in local communities along the corridor. Additionally, local drivers also have the option to utilize the express lanes as an easily accessible asset to expedite their travel into downtown Houston.

Since the development of the SH 288 Express Toll Lanes, traffic in the Houston region has increased exponentially. Thanks to SH 288, Houston drivers have options. This road provides a convenient and reliable option during peak hours of traffic as an important thoroughfare into critical areas of Houston and the primary express artery to the world’s largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center.