H-GAC Earns National Recognition for Preparing Houston-Galveston Area for World Cup Travel

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) received the 2026 Outstanding Overall Achievement – Large MPO Award from the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO), recognizing its regional efforts to prepare employers, commuters and transportation partners for the travel impacts of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and overlapping events. AMPO presented the award during its Annual Conference Awards in Sacramento. It is the association’s highest recognition in the large metropolitan planning organization category.

“I could not be prouder of our team’s efforts and the way the region came together before and during the World Cup to create a positive transportation experience for commuters, residents, and fans,” said Ron Papsdorf, executive director of H-GAC. “Receiving national recognition from our peers at AMPO is a significant honor that reflects the outstanding dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit demonstrated by every individual and organization involved in this regional effort.”

Preparing the Region

Houston hosted seven World Cup matches, a 39-day FIFA Fan Festival and numerous other major events. H-GAC and its partners used advance modeling and forecasting to identify areas likely to experience increased travel demand and coordinated information, real-time conditions and transportation options to help travelers plan. Through its Commute Solutions program, H-GAC provided centralized trip-planning information through Commute Game Plan, including high-traffic day forecasts, a regional Park & Ride map, real-time Houston TranStar information, employer planning materials, multilingual outreach and guidance on transit, carpooling, vanpooling, biking, walking and flexible work schedules. Overall, traffic conditions generally aligned with expectations. While localized congestion occurred around Houston Stadium and key access corridors, overall transportation operations remained manageable.

Measuring the Impact

H-GAC is now surveying commuters and employers to measure the impact of the World Cup transportation effort and learn how travelers and businesses used the information and resources provided. Commuters and employers who experienced World Cup travel impacts are encouraged to complete the survey by September 30 at www.CommuteGamePlan.com. Survey responses, along with traffic, transit, incident-response and traveler-behavior data, will help H-GAC identify successful strategies, opportunities for improvement and lessons for future major-event planning. “The relationships and lessons developed through this effort will continue to benefit the region well beyond the World Cup,” Papsdorf said. For more information about H-GAC’s regional transportation planning and Commute Solutions programs, visit www.yourcommutesolution.org.