HGAC holds Waller County outreach on 2050 regional transportation plan; residents press funding, toll and right‑of‑way concerns

Houston‑Galveston Area Council staff and regional partners held a public outreach session in Waller County about the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), answering residents’ questions about the Metropolitan Planning Organization process, where federal transportation dollars come from and how projects are prioritized.

Brandon Mosley, a HGAC presenter, opened the session by saying, “I am with, HDAC, and this meeting is for our 2050 RTP,” and described the RTP as “a guide for future transportation investments, programs, policies, and development for the region for the next 20 to 25 years.” The presentation defined the RTP as a long‑range plan whose first four years form the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the period when projects are actually programmed for funding.

Why this matters: HGAC staff told attendees the region is expected to grow roughly 39 percent — “around 3,000,000 people by 2050” — and that planning now will influence which projects are prioritized and how federal funds are allocated. A staff member said, “It is required by law to establish an NPO when population hits a certain size,” referring to the federal requirement to have a metropolitan planning…