SH 288 Toll Lanes P3

Paving the Way: An Innovative P3 Solution for Houston’s Traffic Challenge

Project Highlights

• Transformed 10.3 miles of SH 288 from a 6/8-lane facility to a 10/12-lane corridor by constructing two tolled managed lanes in each direction within the median (total of 41 lane miles)
• Reconstructed two major four-level interchanges at I-610 and Beltway 8, improving key regional highway connections
• Constructed five major direct connectors, including;
  • two, three-level interchanges
  • three multi-level interchanges
  • direct connectors to better access Texas Medical Center
• Built or modified 53 bridges, including:
  • 18 new high-level directional flyovers
  • 22 new overpass bridges
  • 13 widened bridges
• Constructed substantial drainage upgrades to mitigate flooding in historically flood-prone segments of the corridor
• Installed a comprehensive Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), including real-time traffic monitoring, dynamic messaging signs, and camera infrastructure
• Integrated electronic toll collection (ETC) systems supporting cashless tolling and interoperability with regional toll authorities, including:
  • 11 toll zones
  • 14 toll points
  • 19 toll gantries
  • Variable pricing module
  • Integration with both TxDOT and HCTRA tolling commercial back office
• Provided for future bus rapid transit (BRT) access along the tolled lanes to support multi-modal transportation goals
• Long-term operations and maintenance of the toll lanes, ITS, and associated infrastructure is managed by the developer under the terms of the DBFOM agreement, ensuring performance-based service delivery for the concession period

This project integrated landscape, public art, and architecture into roadways and bridges to help Houston boost its public image. SH 288 links the major employment center of downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center with the rapidly growing residential communities of Harris and Brazoria Counties, making it Houston’s third most-congested highway. TXDOT aimed to relieve some of this congestion by adding express lanes along the corridor.

This project was a revenue-risk, design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM) project that transformed a 10.3-mile section of SH 288 from a 6 to 8-lane highway to a 10 to 12-lane highway with two managed toll lanes in each direction. Because this was also a Greenroads project, it was designed and constructed to be more sustainable than the current standard practice, which will increase its longevity. The construction scope of this project included 53 bridges and 18 interchange ramps.

Several alternative technical concepts (ATCs) were approved and implemented. One major ATC increased toll lane traffic volume, eliminated the need for public funds and incorporated deferred ramp connectors at the IH 610 interchange within the initial build configuration.

The project also included the design, supply, installation, testing, and integration of an intelligent transportation system (ITS) for real-time traffic management and electronic toll collection (ETCS) for the variably priced express lanes, plus the related infrastructure. The ETCS also needed to meet statewide interoperability and compatibility standards, requirements and protocols. During construction, S&B USA Construction was also responsible for relocating, salvaging and maintaining existing ITS devices and power services.
 

It was a pleasure to work with you and your team, S&B USA, on TxDOT’s SH288 Toll Lanes P3 project. S&B USA was always a partner in helping the state of Texas reach its goal of having better traffic flow on the 3rd most congested highway in Texas, increasing revenue to the state from tolling, and providing better access to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world.
-Ba L Trinh, P.E. CPM PCPE, TxDOT

Financing

At the time, this project was one of the largest P3s in the United States to reach financial close. To finance it, S&B USA Concessions and its partner in Blueridge Transportation Group (BTG) split the debt between a TIFIA loan (55%) and tax-exempt private activity bonds (PAB, 45%). Additional funding was secured through equity and public subsidy, which would be recovered through tolls. S&B USA Concessions held 21.6% of the total equity for the SH 288 project until divesting its share in 2023.

Construction

With a 50% share in the Almeda-Genoa Contractors design-build construction joint venture, S&B USA Construction was the lead contractor, held key leadership positions, managed all major aspects of construction, including roadway, structures, environmental, stormwater, utilities, traffic control, ITS, signage and lighting, and project and design management, and self-performed portions of most project elements. S&B USA’s construction strategy emphasized phased delivery, temporary detours and off-peak closures to minimize disruptions to traffic flow. The team also employed accelerated construction techniques, such as prefabricated beams, to meet milestones and avoid delays.

To expedite project delivery, the project was divided into seven simultaneous segments. The team demonstrated exceptional resilience and adaptability as the project faced unprecedented disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, two hurricanes (causing significant flooding), winter storm Uri and other environmental obstacles. By expediting construction starts, deploying additional crews and re-sequencing work, the project team mitigated the impact of these unforeseen events on milestones.

In total, the Almeda-Genoa Constructors team built 53 bridges, including 18 new high-level directional flyovers up to 7,000 ft in length (utilizing innovative accelerated bridge construction), 22 new overpass bridges, and widened another 13 bridges. They also reconstructed two major four-level interchanges and created two additional three-level direct connectors—all in a suburban environment. The interchanges contain long-span, post-tensioned straddle bents and sharply curved girder bridges. The total area for the new bridge decks is approximately 1,800,000 sf.

The project required close collaboration with the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA), which operates the nearby Beltway 8 Sam Houston Tollway. The team worked with HCTRA to design and construct direct connectors linking the toll lanes to Beltway 8, improving regional mobility and travel efficiency.

Additionally, the SH 288 project included 19 new toll gantries and 21 new overhead sign structures. The ITS infrastructure for those toll lanes incorporated a state-of-the-art, all-electronic toll collection system that utilizes time of day congestion pricing to set variable toll rates.

The express lanes use congestion management pricing to optimize traffic flow, allowing toll prices to fluctuate periodically throughout the day based on traffic conditions and demand in the corridor to maintain consistent traffic flow.

Operations & Maintenance

SH 288 was part of a 52-year DBFOM project with toll revenue risk that was retained by the concessionaire, BTG, of which S&B USA Concessions was a member. The operations and maintenance (O&M) phase commenced in 2020.

This responsibility included the development and integration of a new tolling system capable of interfacing with various systems such as EZTAG, EZTAG Express, TxTag, BANCPASS, NTTA, KTAG and PIKEPASS. Additionally, BTG ensured routine preventive maintenance of all renewal and rehabilitation items in compliance with the project's handback requirements prior to 2023 when S&B USA Concessions divested this asset.

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