Current News
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Big news for Northeast Harris County.
Your commute will soon be easier than ever.
The newest and final segment of the Sam Houston Tollway opens February 26, and everything about this new 13-mile roadway is designed to save you time and ease your commute.
First of all, it’s EZ TAG only, which means you can forget about fumbling for change (or waiting for other drivers to) and enjoy a smoother, safer traffic flow as you bypass 10 stoplights in either direction. At the same time, traffic on the adjacent free frontage roads should be less congested, too, making it a win for everyone.
To top it all off, there will be a brand-new EZ TAG store along the route, opening February 14, to provide you with a quick and easy way to get an EZ TAG or take advantage of other customer services. You can also sign-up to get your EZ TAG online.
Sam Houston Tollway Northeast:
What it has, how it works
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 This new roadway provides easy, nonstop access to Bush Intercontinental Airport and many northeast-Houston commercial and residential developments and recreational venues. In addition, it offers a fast link for vehicles bound to and from the Houston Ship Channel industries and the Port of Houston.
There are six tolled on/off ramps at Wilson, John Ralston, West Lake Houston, Winfield, Garrett and Tidwell Roads, with a main-lane plaza between West Lake Houston and Winfield.
The road has eight free on/off ramps at Mesa, Wilson, John Ralston, West Lake Houston, Winfield, Garrett and Tidwell Roads and US 90.
A connector ramp links the toll road to the north and southbound lanes of US 59.
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Click on the map to enlarge and view toll rates. |
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Sam Houston Tollway Northeast Facts and Figures |
- 13 miles, extending from US 59N to US 90E
- Three lanes in each direction
- Tolling is EZ TAG only - no booths, no cash
- Flanked by toll-free roads in both directions
- Eliminates 10 stoplights each way
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Six Houston hospitals ranked on U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 “America’s Best Hospitals” list, with the University of Texas at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center again coming in at No. 1 for cancer.
Texas Children’s Hospital received Top 10 pediatric rankings in heart and heart surgery (No. 3); neurology and neurosurgery (No. 4); cancer (No. 5); gastroenterology (No. 4); pulmonology (No.4); kidney disorders (No. 4); neonatal care (No. 7); urology (No. 9) and No. 10 in diabetes/endocrine disorders.
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center kept its top ranking in the cancer specialty, and also was No. 6 for ear, nose and throat and No. 10 for urology. It also ranked No. 11 in gynecology and No. 19 in gastroenterology. Also, M.D. Anderson's ranking in diabetes and endocrinology jumped to number 21 this year, up from 41 last year and unranked the year before.
Other area hospitals earning spots in the Top 10 included:
• Memorial Hermann-The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research — No. 5 in rehabilitation.
• Menninger Clinic — No. 5 in psychiatry
• St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital’s Texas Heart Institute — No. 4 for heart and heart surgery.
The Methodist Hospital ranked in twice as many specialties as any other hospital in Texas, according to the list.
Methodist was among the country’s top hospitals in 13 specialties although it wasn’t ranked in the Top 10 for any of them: Ophthalmology (12), ear, nose, throat (17), urology (18), gastroenterology (20), geriatrics (20), kidney (24), neurology/neurosurgery (25), orthopedics (26), pulmonary (27), gynecology (36), heart/heart surgery (42), diabetes/endocrinology (44) and cancer (45). Last year, the system earned a spot on the “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll.
Outside of the top 10, the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System also ranked in several specialties: No. 30 in kidney disease; No. 38 in gynecology; No. 46 in heart and heart Surgery; No. 48 in urology.
And, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital also had rankings in numerous specialties: No. 38 in gastroenterology; No. 39 in urology; No. 44 in geriatrics and No. 45 in kidney disease.
In determining the rankings, U.S. News said 4,852 hospitals were considered for their reputations, mortality rate, patient safety and care-related factors including nurse staffing and technology. Four specialties — ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology were ranked on hospital reputation alone.
A total of 4,852 hospitals were considered for the rankings with only 152 ranking in even one of the 16 specialties.
To see a complete listing of the hospitals on 2010 list, click here.
Read more: Six Houston hospitals make 'best' list - Houston Business Journal
A new survey finds the Lone Star State is leading in terms of growth rate and household income. Atascocita, Tex., is No. 1 in the state
Tired of reading about how rotten the real estate market is? Here's some good news that shows that even during the worst of the recession plenty of American cities, towns, and suburbs continue to grow.
One such place is Atascocita, Tex. A mostly residential community 20 miles from Houston, it gained more than 1,800 households in 2009, an 8% year-over-year increase, according to new data from Little Rock-based data firm Gadberry Group. Over the decade, amenities that have helped attract residents to this wooded locale include Lake Houston, just east of the city; the school district; and proximity to the city of Houston. With new roads in the area under construction, "we're starting to see major industry start to take a look at the area," says Mike Byers, president of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.
Migration levels nationwide stayed low last year as homeowners saddled with pricey mortgages stayed put--but there are some positive trends. Research by the Gadberry Group shows that some areas, resisting the effects of the recession, continue to attract both domestic and foreign migrants and, as an effect, bring in new businesses to provide services. While other cities across the U.S. have contracted, these have continued to grow.
Some states are better off than others, though. As thousands of people left places such as New Orleans and Flint, Mich. (the country's two fastest-shrinking cities), in the last decade, communities with the best mix of economic activity, proximity to job centers, and a good environment for families continued to grow. While not entirely spared by the economic downturn (some homes in these areas are now in foreclosure), people continued to move in during 2009.
Texas Grew the Most
Texas came out on top of Gadberry's survey, with four high-growth cities: Atascocita, Katy, Mansfield, and Wylie. The report only included areas larger than 10,000 occupied households that met requirements for growth rate, household income, length of residence, and other factors.
Larry Martin, principal of the Gadberry Group, says many of the places with the biggest housing growth at the beginning of the last decade, such as Nevada, Florida, and Arizona, also saw the biggest drop-off since the economy sank. Texas, however, enjoyed relatively strong housing and job markets over the last 10 years, thanks in large part to the presence of major employers in the robust energy business. As of December, the state unemployment rate was 8.3% (lower than the national rate of 10%), according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It also had the largest state population growth between July 2008 and July 2009, according to a December release by the Census Bureau. "New homes are still being built and people are still moving into these homes" in Texas, says Martin.
Part of the state's strength, says Mark Mather, a demographer at the Population Reference Bureau in Washington, D.C., is its diversified economy. Main industries include petroleum refining, chemical production, aerospace, and information technology.
Meanwhile, areas that depended on the housing boom are now dealing with high foreclosure rates. Places such as Summerlin South, Nev., which appear in Bloomberg BusinessWeek's slide show of fast-growing cities, gained population but, like the rest of the state, may be dealing with high mortgage default rates.
"If you live by migration, you also die by migration," says Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute. "It doesn't guarantee continued growth."
New Business Opportunities
Migration is typically highest among people in their 20s seeking jobs near large urban cores, but employment opportunities are not the only draw. "Amenities are also important in migrational decisions," says Johnson. Many families consider factors such as schools and recreational amenities like scenic areas and parks.
This is a consideration now in Spring Hill, Tenn., which gained 7,645 households since 2000 as many young families moved to the town for affordable housing and work at the General Motors plant, which is now idle. Dustin Dunbar, chairman of the Spring Hill Economic Development Commission, says this has created demand and opportunity for businesses that provide youth activities and entertainment. "We hope to recruit some businesses to cater to our largest demographics," he says.
While migration in 2010 may remain sluggish, "we'll see a continuation of urban sprawl once the economy bounces back," says Mather.
COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Texas' economy gained 133,100 jobs from August 2009 to August 2010, an annual growth rate of 1.3 percent.
During the same period, the U.S. economy added 278,000 jobs, an annual growth rate of 0.2 percent. The state's private sector posted an annual employment growth rate of 1.4 compared with 0.3 percent for the United States.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 8 percent in August 2009 to 8.3 percent in August 2010, while the nation’s rate in August decreased from 9.7 to 9.6 percent.
All Texas industries except the trade, construction and information industries had more jobs in August 2010 than in August last year.
Twenty-four Texas metro areas had positive employment growth rates for the year ending Aug. 31, up from 19 for the period from July 2009 to July 2010. Sherman-Denison ranked first in job creation, followed by San Angelo, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Odessa and Tyler.
The state’s actual unemployment rate in August 2010 was 8.4 percent. Midland had the lowest unemployment rate followed by Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo and Abilene.
For the complete set of August data, see the Monthly Review of the Texas Economy — September 2010 by Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Ali Anari and Chief Economist Dr. Mark G. Dotzour