Seiya-
I have been looking at it and I think you are better off taking 71 to I-10. 290 goes through a lot of small towns and has a generally lower speed limit, as well as more cramped roads (at least in my experience). Looking at it on different mapping sites suggests it is at least a 20 minute longer drive and an additional 8 miles or so.
If you are leaving from the Campus area, I would suggest taking MLK out to 183 then merging onto 71 by the airport.
MBTB actually looks to be further south in Houston closer to where 71 hits than 290. If you are on West Campus, I would suggest Mopac to 360/Ben White, and that will eventually become 71, if you want to avoid crossing the middle of town.
Forgive me if you know all of this, but I have been driving in this town for 14 years, and in my experience it takes a good half hour longer going 290 than 71.
Plus, in little crappy towns like Elgin, they have cops posted up right at speed limit reduction signs and so they get you in the middle of decelerating. It is very annoying. Happened to me a couple of times, why i started taking 71 in the first place.
