Over 600 residents from Creekland Village, a neighborhood inside Howard Hughes’ Bridgeland master-planned community, signed a Change.org petition asking the Bridgeland Council to address several issues within the community. Chief among them: unexpected toll charges stemming from a lack of roads leading into the area.
According to the petition, residents have contacted the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) regarding toll charges on Jack Road, which is currently the only access point for Creekland Village. However, TxDOT and HCTRA advised residents that the issue falls outside of their jurisdiction and that they should work with the developer.
These tolls, charged at a rate of $0.54 per entry and exit were not implemented until January 2024, after many homes began closing. Furthermore, Creekland does not have direct access to Bridgeland amenities like pools, parks and gyms yet, meaning residents have to leave the community more often — a financial burden of over $200 per month for some families.
“I’m paying upwards of $150 per month just to enter and exit the neighborhood. Other village residents do not have this issue,” one resident commented on the petition. “Not to mention, we’re paying to leave the neighborhood to use amenities in other Bridgeland Villages because ours are not yet finished. How is that fair? The tolls didn’t start charging until residents started closing in the neighborhood, knowing this is our only way out is exploitative.”
The petition, originally penned on Facebook by Creekland resident Rhys Williams, maintains that the Bridgeland Council should work with Howard Hughes to expedite the development of through streets in the neighborhood and consider a temporary reduction of HOA fees until the lack of alternative routes is addressed, or present an alternative solution to reduce the financial burden of tolls on Creekland residents.
The petition earned over 500 signatures in its first 24 hours online, a Change.org representative told Houston Agent.
Houston Agent has reached out to Howard Hughes for comment.
Last updated Jan. 20.