Alternative routes into and out of downtown are provided below to help you learn the many different routes to get wherever you want to go. Knowing alternative routes is very important during this time of widespread construction projects. The Downtown District issues this information with the assistance of the City's Traffic Management team, and the Special Operations Division of the HPD.

SPECIAL NOTE AS OF AUGUST 10, 2003.
Permanent Changes to Franklin and Commerce - The next step in the Traffic Management Plan for downtown will be made this Saturday, 8/9/03. When you drive in Monday and use those streets you will find things have changed in part of both streets as they will be converted to one-way. The areas to be converted will be Commerce between Chartres and Fannin to one-way westbound and Franklin between Hamilton and Milam to one-way eastbound.

Drivers coming inbound on Navigation, that becomes Commerce, will find a new asphalt street street once they cross Chartres where the one-way begins. Once they reach Fannin they can turn south into downtown or continue in the two-way section of Commerce to Milam.

Drivers coming inbound on Franklin will be detoured at Hamilton to Congress or may turn right on Chartres to Commerce and continue across town toward the County campus and the theater district.

Do you have Jury Duty and want to know the best route or where to drop off someone?
Look for the asterisks (***) below for special advice on the route and the next paragraph for good drop-off locations. The Harris County web site has a map of the buildings in the Harris County Campus at http://www.justex.net/Map.htm and other information for jurors at http://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/Jury_Info/Jury_Info.asp Remember, the Jury Assembly parking garage is on Congress Street between Main and Fannin. On their map that building is marked as "1" and on the left side. You may find it easier to park at one of the surface parking lots in the area-those closer to Minute Maid Park will be cheaper. A few blocks walk can save you money. Be sure to have some $1.00 bills and quarters for the cash box in many of those lots.

If you are dropping someone off for jury duty look for the drop-off signs at three sites - two on Fannin and one on Congress. The person dropped off will have a very short walk and the person driving will avoid a lot of traffic congestion.

If you want to go to Astro's Field or the entertainment area in the historic district remember that the Harris County juror area is between the ballpark and the restaurant and bars on the north end of downtown. If you use the routes with the asterisks (for jurors) you will only be a few blocks away. There will be a lot of on-street parking (thanks to the Cotswold project) and surface lot parking.

The Metro work on Milam is being allowed by the City to close all but one lane during off-peak hours, i.e. 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. during peak hours they will have two lanes open. To avoid the longer lines during construction use Fannin or Smith as alternates.

Once you decide the route you will want to decide where to park. Go to our map of parking lots and garages.

HINT: One of the seldom-recognized "routes" in Downtown is the freeway "loop" around downtown and inside the IH610 loop. Many new access routes are open to you if you remember that IH 10, IH 45 and US 59 create a loop. You can enter that loop and quickly travel around downtown to exit at a ramp from one of the other highways or enter the loop and travel around to your highway home. Remembering this loop will give you many alternative combinations. We have tried to identify the most common in the following list.

From I-10 West

***Exit Smith Street to the west side of downtown for the core business district, the theater district and the entertainment venues in the historic district. For Jurors turn left on Texas from Smith, turn left on San Jacinto; turn left on Congress to the Juror Parking Garage entry. If Congress is congested continue to Franklin and turn left to Fannin and turn left to Congress and turn right to find the parking garage entrance on your immediate right.

***Take the McKee Street exit and turn right on McKee that becomes Hamilton and then turn right on Commerce or Congress. This is a great way to get to the Harris County campus for those with jury duty or visiting the courts. To reach the Jury Assembly Parking Garage turn right on Congress and the garage will be on your right immediately after you cross Fannintrun.

Exit Hamilton to the east side of Downtown near the Ballpark. Turn right on Congress and the garage will be on your right immediately after crossing Fannin.

Exit to I-45 and take the McKinney exit or the Dallas/Pierce exit. If you take the Dallas/Pierce exit watch for the sign on the left to Jefferson or continue to Pierce. Remember that Pierce is being rebuilt so to avoid that construction take Jefferson. Either one takes you across downtown to streets going into the heart of the city. Turn on Louisiana or San Jacinto. (both of which have been rebuilt and are now complete!)

To IH 10 West

***Go north on Louisiana to IH 10 West. For Jurors take Commerce, Prairie or Texas to Louisiana.

***Go west on Texas, right on Louisiana and left on Prairie that becomes Memorial, right on Westcott, to Washington, Left on IH 10 West. Go west on Walker and follow the signs to IH 45 North. Merge left and follow the signs to IH 10 West. Go west on Pease or St. Joseph Parkway, follow the signs to IH 45 North and follow the signs to IH 10 West.

***Go east on Franklin, Texas or Rusk, turn left on Chartres and follow the signs to IH 10 West.

From I-10 East

***Exit US 59 southbound, take Chenevert exit (be in left-side lane and watch for exit well before you cross I-H 10) and turn right on Franklin to reach the Harris County area. Turn left on Fannin then right on Congress and the Juror Assembly parking garage entrance on your right.

***Exit San Jacinto/Main and turn left at Main. Immediately after crossing the bridge turn left on Commerce and go one block to Fannin and turn right; go two blocks to Congress and turn right; the Juror Parking Garage is on your right immediately after turning.

Take IH 45 South and exit Dallas/Pierce or McKinney. If you exit Dallas/Pierce watch for the sign to Jefferson to avoid the construction on Pierce. Jefferson takes you across downtown to streets with no construction going into the heart of the city. Turn left off Jefferson to Louisiana or San Jacinto (streets that have been completed), or Travis.

To IH 10 East

Take Commerce, go north on San Jacinto, turn right on Rothwell, and merge left to IH 10 East.

Go east on Franklin, Texas, Rusk, Leeland or Jefferson and turn left on Chenevert. Chenevert becomes the ramp to IH 10 east. This is the best route from the east side of downtown.

Go east on Franklin, Texas, Rusk or Leeland, and turn left of Chenevert, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on IH 10 frontage road, merge left to IH 10 East.

Go west on Walker, Pease or St Joseph Parkway and follow the signs to IH 45 North. Once you are on IH 45 Stay in the right-hand lanes and follow the signs to IH 10 East and Beaumont.

From US 59 South

*** Take the new Polk Street exit and stay on Chartres. From Chartres turn left on Congress. When you cross Fannin the Juror parking garage is on the right immediately after crossing Fannin—be in the right hand lane.

*** Take the new Polk Street exit and turn left at the first traffic signal which is Polk Street taking you past the Convention Center, Hotel and Arena construction sites and continue to the west side of downtown. If your destination is the Harris County campus and the Juror Assembly building turn right from Polk to San Jacinto and continue to Congress and turn left to Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin.

*** Take the new Polk Street exit and stay on Chartres. From Chartres turn left on Capitol, go to San Jacinto and turn right, go to Congress and turn left to Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin.

*** Take the new Polk Street exit and from Chartres turn left on Prairie, go to San Jacinto and turn right, go to Congress and turn left to Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin.

To US 59 South

***Go south on Smith, keep left and follow the signs to Spur 527 and US 59 South. For jurors take Franklin, Congress or Commerce to Smith and after 20+ blocks you will see signs to Spur 527 and US 59 South. Smith was resurfaced in April 2002 and you will find this a fairly quick trip.

To SH 288 and US 59 South

Take Hamilton south to Webster. Webster ends at a ramp to US 59. IF you are going to 288 ; stay in the right-side lanes and follow the signs. If you are staying on US59 merge to the left and follow the signs.

***Go south on LaBranch, left on Webster, right to US 59 South on-ramp. For jurors take Franklin, Preston, Texas or Rusk to LaBranch, left on Webster, follow the signs right to US 59 and SH 288. Go south on Caroline, left on Webster, right to US 59 South on-ramp and follow the signs to SH 288.

Go west on Walker, follow the signs to IH 45 North, stay in the right-hand lanes, keep right to IH 10 East, keep right to US 59 South and follow the signs to SH 288.

***Take San Jacinto north across Buffalo Bayou and turn right on Rothwell, merge left to IH 10 East. Stay in the right hand lanes and take the ramp US 59 South. Follow the signs to SH 288.

From US-59 North

Exit Lorraine, take Lorraine westbound to Hardy, take Hardy southbound to Downtown.

***Exit Chenevert and turn right on Commerce or Congress to reach the Harris County area. Turn on Congress and watch for the Juror Assembly parking garage entrance on your right after you cross Fannin. Those two streets also take you into the entertainment areas of the historic district.

To US 59 North

Go east on Franklin, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on IH 10 frontage road, left on Meadow to US 59 Frontage road, turn right on the frontage road and merge left to US 59 North.

Go east on Franklin, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on Lyons, left on US 59 frontage road and merge left to US 59 North.

Go east on Texas, left on Chartres, right on Franklin, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on Lyons, left on US 59 Frontage road and merge left to US 59 North.

Go east on Rusk, left on Chartres, right on Franklin, left on Navigation, left on Jensen, right on Lyons, left US 59 Frontage road and merge left to US 59 North.

Go west on Walker, Pease or St. Joseph Parkway, follow the signs to IH 45 North, stay in the right hand lanes and follow the signs to IH 10 East, follow the signs to US 59 North.

***Go north on Crawford, which becomes Elysian Street, turn right on Quitman and follow the signs to US 59 North. For Jurors take Franklin, Preston or Texas to Crawford that becomes Elisian Street, turn right on Quitman and follow the signs to US 59 North.

From 1-45 North

Exit Milam Street to the west side of downtown for the core business district, the theater district and the entertainment venues in the historic district. To reach the Harris County area turn left on Texas from Smith, turn left on San Jacinto, turn left on Congress to the Juror garage entry immediately after you cross Fannin.

***Exit McKinney Street to the core business area. If you are going to the Harris County area turn left on Louisiana, Travis or San Jacinto. From Travis turn right on Franklin or Commerce, turn right on Fannin, turn right on Congress and the Juror parking garage is on your right immediately after the turn. . From Louisiana turn right on Texas, left on San Jacinto, left on Congress to the Juror garage entry immediately after you cross Fannin.

Exit Dallas/Pierce to Jefferson and cross the south side of downtown. Jefferson takes you across downtown to streets with no construction underway going and into the heart of the city. Turn left on Louisiana or san Jacinto (streets that have been completed), or Travis.

To IH 45 North

***Go north on Travis and follow the signs to IH 45 North. For Jurors leaving the Juror garage take Congress to Travis, turn right on Travis and follow the signs to IH 45 North.

Go west on Walker; merge left to IH 45 North. For Jurors take Fannin to Walker and turn right. Follow the signs on Walker to IH 45 North.

Go west on Pease; merge left to IH 45 North.

Go west on St. Joseph Parkway; merge left to IH 45 North.

From 1-45 South

***Exit Scott (Follow signs to Downtown Destinations) to Pease or St. Joseph Parkway. If your destination is Harris County turn right on San Jacinto, left on Congress and the Juror Assembly parking garage is on your right as you cross Fannin. This is also a good route to reach the entertainment area in the historic district.

***Exit Scott to Pease or St. Joseph Parkway. If your destination is the theater district or the core business area turn right on Travis or Louisiana.

Exit Scott to Pease; turn right on Dowling; turn left on Capitol or Congress. Take Congress to the Juror Assembly Parking Garage just after you cross Fannin.

To IH 45 South

Go east on Texas, right on Dowling, left on Jefferson or Pierce and follow the signs to IH 45 South on-ramp.

Go south on LaBranch or Caroline, left on Pierce or Jefferson and follow the signs to IH 45 South.

***For Jurors take Franklin or Texas and turn right on La Branch or Caroline to Pierce or Jefferson. Turn left on Pierce or Jefferson and follow the signs to IH 45 South.

From SH 288

*** Merge to US 59 North, take the new Polk Street exit and turn left at the first traffic signal which is Polk Street taking you past the Convention Center, Hotel and Arena construction sites and continue to the west side of downtown.

*** Merge to US 59 North, take the new Polk Street exit and stay on Chartres. At the top of the ramp you will be on Chartres so do not turn until you reach Capitol. Turn left to Capitol and , go to San Jacinto, turn right and go to Congress. Watch for the Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin.

*** Merge to US 59 North, take the new Polk Street exit and from Chartres turn left on Prairie, go to San Jacinto and turn right, go to Congress and turn left to Juror parking garage on the right after crossing Fannin. Remember:

 

***Route description contains special advice for Jurors.