Texas Archival Resources Online

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Historical Note

Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Description of Series

Toll Road Controversy

Houston Public Library, Houston Metropolitan Research Center

Hardy Street Toll Road Controversy Collection:

An Inventory of Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library



Descriptive Summary

CreatorMetropolitan Organization
TitleHardy Street Toll Road Controversy Collection
Inclusive Dates1969-1983
Bulk Dates1979-1983
IdentificationRG F 018
Extent 0.5 linear feet; 1 document box; approximately 235 items.
LanguageMaterials are in English.
RepositoryHouston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library

Historical Note

To alleviate traffic congestion on the north side of Houston, in 1980 the Texas Turnpike Authority developed a plan to build a toll road along Hardy Road. Residents of the neighborhoods through which the highway was to be built objected. They felt the highway would destroy their neighborhoods, increase air pollution, add to parking problems downtown, and would only benefit people commuting to downtown from the suburbs. Opposition to the toll road was led by The Metropolitan Organization, a multiethnic community organization made up of over 60 churches in the Houston area. Many of those opposed to the toll road plan instead favored the development of a mass transit system based on rail traffic. The Hardy Toll Road was authorized by Houston voters in 1983 and completed in 1988.

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Scope and Contents

The collection consists of files created by The Metropolitan Organization. The files were arranged topically. The original organization has for the most part been kept.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

None.

Use Restrictions

None.

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Index Terms

Subjects
Political activists--Texas--Houston
Community organization--Texas--Houston
Railroads, Local and light--Texas--Houston
Toll roads--Texas--Houston
Traffic congestion--Texas--Houston
Organizations
Hardy Toll Road (Houston, Tex.).
Metropolitan Organization, The (Houston, Tex.).

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Hardy Street Toll Road Controversy Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library.

Acquisition Information

Donated by: Brian McCann, September 1983

Processing Information

Processed by: Andrew Hempe, April 2000

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Detailed Description

 

Toll Road Controversy

BoxFolder
11Harris County Toll Roads.
Contains miscellaneous items relating to toll road bonds.
2Meeting notes, 1982.
3Meeting notes, 1983.
4Report: “A Concept for an Urban Transit System for Houston, Texas, Using Existing Tracks”, September 16, 1969.
5MTA Budget. Reports: “Regional Transit Capital Improvement Program”, “Plan of Financing for the Regional Transit Capital Improvement Program”, “Capital Budget Summary by Funding Source”.
6Position paper by The Metropolitan Organization on the Hardy Street Corridor.
7Rail Transit – D. C. Trip. Notes, correspondence, and news clippings regarding trip of representatives of The Metropolitan Organization to Washington, D. C.
8Report: “The North Corridor and Hardy Road”.
9Harris County Air Pollution. Report, abstract.
10Schedule of action taken by The Metropolitan Organization, 1980 – 1981.
11Correspondence, 1980.
12Correspondence, 1981 – 1982.
13Correspondence, 1983.
14Speeches. Includes pamphlet.
15Report: “Analysis of Financing Risks of the Hardy Toll Road System”.
16Report: Economic Development Strategies for Revitalizing Houston’s Fifth Ward: A Feasibility Study”.
17T. C. Jester – Watonga. Memos, opinions regarding proposed extension of T. C. Jester Boulevard and Watonga Boulevard.
18Press releases.
19Feasibility studies: Houston Toll roads and Hardy Toll Road.
20News clippings, 1980.
21News clippings, 1982.
22News clippings, 1983.
23News clippings, n.d.
24Miscellaneous Metropolitan Organization materials.
25Election sign: “Yes For Houston Bus & Rail”.

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