{"id":786537,"date":"2026-05-10T12:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T12:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/786537\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T12:42:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T12:42:02","slug":"houston-drivers-paid-nearly-1-billion-in-tolls-so-why-are-they-still-stuck-in-traffic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/786537\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston drivers paid nearly $1 billion in tolls \u2014 so why are they still stuck in traffic?"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOUSTON<\/strong> \u2013 Paying to sit in traffic. Houstonians are tired of it.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s the continuous reality along some parts of Beltway 8<\/a> which is operated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority<\/a> \u2014 better known as HCTRA.<\/p>\n

Overall, HCTRA is responsible for a system that consists of 133 miles, and in recent years they\u2019ve launched a \u201cKeep it Moving\u201d campaign designed to attract and sell drivers.<\/p>\n

One problem, drivers tell us they are routinely not moving. The system they pay for is not working for them, and as a result they are exiting the Beltway for a faster commute along surface streets. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve heard that feedback, but we\u2019ve also heard the feedback that the lighting is good on our system, the condition of the roadway is really well,\u201d said Roberto Trevi\u00f1o, the Executive Director of HCTRA. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

However, a good roadway and lights? These are baseline expectations for drivers.<\/p>\n

But, paying to sit in traffic or to flee from it because surface streets work better is another avenue altogether? <\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t speak for the people who are making the decision to get off our system, as we start taking a look at the traffic we are monitoring where the traffic is and we do have plans to address the congestion on our system,\u201d said Trevi\u00f1o to 2 Investigates<\/a> in a recent interview. <\/p>\n

In 2025, HCTRA collected $874 million dollars in toll revenue, according to Trevi\u00f1o.<\/p>\n

A system flush with public dollars where salaries are on the rise.<\/b>2 Investigates questions HCTRA’s leadership over high salaries and hundreds of millions in public dollars being transferred to the county in 2025. (Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n

In fact, HCTRA\u2019s finances show that in Trevi\u00f1o\u2019s first year in 2021 he was the only executive making an annual salary over $200,000. The agency lists his salary from five years ago at $287,492.40. <\/p>\n

Fast forward to 2026 and the number is now at nine executives making north of $200,000 with Trevi\u00f1o\u2019s publicly funded salary at $490,000.20.<\/p>\n

Trevi\u00f1o justified his salary and those of his team with a system that is well-kept and with tolls that have not gone up in ten years. <\/p>\n