TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Sugar Land boosts EV charging network
COMPILED BY ASIA ARMOUR & JOE EDWARDS
ONGOING PROJECTS
IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE
TEXAS HERITAGE PKWY.
The city identified five potential sites to install electric vehicle charging stations.
Sugar Land City Council unani- mously approved a grant application for new electric vehicle charging stations during a City Council meeting July 18. Some context City management formed an interdepartmental team in spring 2022 to explore suitable locations for EV charging stations on public properties. The initiative for more charging stations aims to promote electric vehicle usage and improve charging infrastructure in the city, according to a city presentation. By the numbers “We have a number of citizens driving [electric vehicles] and understand the commitment to that; 723 electric vehicles were recorded within the three ZIP codes in Sugar Land as of last year,” Assistant Direc- tor of Aviation Ken Durbin said. Eleven vendors expressed inter- est in response to the request for
statements of interest released by the city in July 2022. Seven vendors submitted statements of interest by the September deadline. The cost To minimize costs and risks, the city opted for a zero capital investment strategy, leveraging public property access, Durbin said. Motivated by savings from a free CenterPoint Energy infrastructure installation, Argent Company took the initiative to assist with a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Year 2023 Charging and Fueling Infrastructure, or CFI, Grant Program. The CFI grant program offers $500,000 for EV charging station installation, with a $100,000 sponsor share. Argent recognized the unfunded nature of the city’s initiative and assumed the burden of the sponsor share, resulting in a successful grant application before the June 13 deadline.
1093
BELLAIRE BLVD.
electric vehicles recorded in Sugar Land ZIP codes 723
vendors expressed interest in providing stations 11
723
359
N
Sugar Land Regional Airport Gillingham Public Works Facility
Sugar Land Memorial Park Brazos River Park Imperial Park Recreation Center
Westpark Tollway extension design The Westpark Tollway, a major east- west thoroughfare in the southwest Katy area that leads into FM 1093, is being extended from FM 723 to the Texas Heritage Parkway by the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority. Designing the extension will cost $7 million, engineer Phillip Smith said. A project cost estimate and timeline have not been made yet. Timeline: design completes at end of summer Cost: $7 million for design Funding source : Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority
1
3
4
2
5
2
JIM DAVIDSON DR.
1
3
MATLAGE WAY
90
6
SWEETWATER BLVD.
69
4
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JULY 26. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SLMNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
5
N
SOURCE: CITY OF SUGAR LAND/COMMUNITY IMPACT
9
SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • AUGUST 2023
Powered by FlippingBook