As the Greater Houston area continues to rank as one of fastest-growing metros in the country, the importance of investing in infrastructure has never been more urgent. With more single-family homes built in the 12-county Houston region last year than in any other part of the United States, the pace of growth is reshaping communities and testing the limits of existing systems.

According to Cody Miller, Director of Government Affairs at the Greater Houston Builders Association, this expansion is both a sign of opportunity and action.

“Infrastructure investment is so critical because these counties and cities are facing challenges that they’ve never had to face before,” Miller said. “These were traditionally more rural areas that didn’t anticipate this kind of growth.”

Greater Houston infrastructure concerns

Road infrastructure and water resources remain among the region’s most pressing needs as Houston continues to experience rapid population growth and urban development.

This population increase means existing roadways are struggling to handle increased vehicle volumes, leading to longer commute times, higher accident rates and growing frustration among residents. Without significant investment, local infrastructure would fall further behind, putting economic development and quality of life at risk.

In Montgomery County, voters recently approved a $480 million road bond to support 76 projects across all four precincts. These projects are aimed at easing congestion, improving safety and accommodating the county’s rapid growth.

Meanwhile, water infrastructure is equally critical to the region’s future. Houston Public Works is moving forward with a $4.2 billion plan to modernize and expand the aging East Water Purification Plant, which has served the region for over 70 years.

The City of Houston’s water system delivers clean, reliable drinking water to millions of residents across the region.However, the facility is operating near capacity and relies on outdated systems that are increasingly expensive and difficult to maintain.

As the region continues to grow and infrastructure ages, the need for dependable and high-capacity water treatment becomes more urgent. The planned upgrades will increase capacity, improve water quality and replace aging components with modern, energy-efficient technology. To fund this work, the city will implement gradual increases in water bills over several years, a necessary step to ensure long-term reliability and service continuity.

Why infrastructure gaps matter

As the Greater Houston area grows, the consequences of insufficient infrastructure become more visible and more urgent. Roads that were once adequate now struggle to handle daily traffic, leading to congestion, longer commute times and increased safety risks. Similarly, aging water systems stretch beyond their intended capacity, threatening both public health and reliability.

Without proactive investment, infrastructure gaps can delay or prevent new development, limit economic growth and reduce quality of life for residents. When essential services like roads, water and wastewater systems aren’t in place, new housing projects can’t move forward.

This slows the addition of a much-needed housing supply, creating upward pressure on prices and making it harder for families to find affordable homes in the communities where they work and live. As demand continues to outpace supply, affordability worsens.

“There’s a lot of planning that goes into creating new communities, such as working with engineers, elected officials, city and county leaders to make sure everything is viable,” Miller said. “There are intentional conversations happening long before construction ever starts. These conversations around infrastructure need to happen now for a better future.”

One of the largest barriers to progress, Miller adds, is funding. This is due to both the availability of it and the political will to secure it.

“We understand that it’s hard for elected officials to ask voters to raise taxes to fund infrastructure projects,” Miller said. “But if we want to keep up with growth, we have to be willing to invest in the systems that support it.”

Join the Greater Houston Builders Association

Joining the Greater Houston Builders Association connects people with a network of industry professionals, offering resources, advocacy and opportunities for growth. Members benefit from training, industry insights and a platform to influence policy decisions that shape the future of Greater Houston.

"The home building industry has a voice at the Greater Houston Builders Association,” Miller said. “We want to be your advocate and invite you to be a part of our community."

To apply, fill out the membership application here.

To learn more about Greater Houston Builders Association, visit https://ghba.org.

The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.