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Toll Road Authority trims O&M budget, highlights barrier‑free and renewable pilots
Summary
The Toll Road Authority proposed a 3% reduction in its O&M budget as it transitions to all‑electronic collections, while pursuing a large barrier‑free capital program and pilots to power roadway operations with renewable energy and expand bike/ped safety.
Roberto Trevino, executive director of the Harris County Toll Road Authority, told Commissioners Court the authority rebased its operations after a shift away from cash collection and expects to lower O&M while sustaining revenue capture. Trevino said a combination of contract renegotiations and a new credit‑card processor reduced per‑transaction costs and supported a $384 million O&M budget proposal for FY2025, down roughly 3% from FY2024.
He also outlined large capital ambitions — a barrier‑free program to remove toll plazas and replace them with gantries and a business case to pilot 100% renewable energy on select corridors — and warned commissioners that the toll authority's back‑office/banking platform remains a key risk for transfers to the county. Commissioners asked for further clarity on the timing of transfers and the large‑scale capital scope and costs.
