The Tollway is operated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) and the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority (FBCTRA) and currently spans approximately 22 miles from Westpark Drive just west of the South Rice Avenue intersection to Farm-to-Market (FM) 1093 just past FM 723 in Fulshear.

More than 500,000 people live within one mile of the Tollway. Situated in the fastest growing region in both the Gulf Coast and Texas, the Tollway spans Harris and Fort Bend Counties. The area has seen an increase of more than 400,000 new residents since 2010.

Trailblazing into the Future – A History of the Tollway

The Westpark Tollway made history as the first all-electronic tollway in the United States, removing the need for cash collection booths and increasing efficiency of travel.

In 1953, the first line of what would become the Westpark Tollway appeared on the map. In the 1990s, HCTRA acquired right-of-way (ROW) from the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), then broke ground on construction of the tollway in 2001.

Construction of the Westpark Tollway was completed in 2005, extended to FM 723 in 2017, and now more than 25,000 vehicles use the tollway daily, registering an average of 180,000 transactions per day and nearly 5 million trips per month.

Construction is underway to extend the tollway to the Texas Heritage Parkway.

  • 1970s -1990s

    1970s -1990s

    Early plans and ideas for the Westpark corridor varied depending on the entity involved, with lines appearing on maps next to the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad.

  • Mid 1980s

    Mid – 1980s

    The Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) took a leadership role in developing transportation options in the region and purchased the abandoned 100-foot railroad right-of-way, securing the corridor as a mobility asset.

  • Early 1990s

    Early 1990s

    Interest in developing a toll road within the corridor resurfaced.

  • Late 1990s

    Late 1990s

    The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) took leadership of the Westpark project. In 1999, HCTRA purchased 50 feet of the 100-foot rail corridor from METRO, preserving the remaining 50 feet for transit use.

  • 1999 onwards:

    1999 onwards

    HCTRA commissioned schematic design for the tollway project and began acquiring hundreds of individual parcels adjacent to the northern property line to accommodate the 4-lane controlled access tollway.

  • Late 1990s -Early 2000s

    Late 1990s-Early 2000s

    Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority (FBCTRA) committed to extending the tollway into Fort Bend County, planning the section using existing FM 1093 right-of-way.

  • May 1, 2004

    May 1, 2004

    First section of the HCTRA Westpark Tollway opened from Loop 610 to Old Westheimer Road.

  • October 9, 2004

    October 9, 2004

    Second HCTRA section opened, extending from Old Westheimer to Highway 6.

  • June 8, 2005

    June 8, 2005

    Third HCTRA section opened, stretching from Highway 6 to FM 1464.

  • August 17, 2005

    August 17, 2005

    FBCTRA extension from FM 1464 to SH 99 (Grand Parkway) opened.

  • First half of 2006

    First half of 2006

    Interchange work at the Grand Parkway completed.

  • 2017

    2017

    FBCTRA extended the Westpark Tollway to FM 359

  • 2021

    2021

    FBCTRA bid additional direct connectors to the Grand Parkway (99).

  • 2024 (current)

    2024 (current)

    FBCTRA is constructing an extension of the Westpark Tollway to Charger Way in Fulshear.