TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES
COMPILED BY MORGAN SLUTZKY
ONGOING PROJECT
roadway to accommodate anticipated tra ffi c growth, according to Pearland’s website. Timeline: 2020-June 2021 Cost: $7.46 million Funding sources: Houston-Galveston Area Council, TxDOT
the city and county, and the project is still awaiting regulatory approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. This project will widen Friendswood Lakes Boulevard from two to four lanes before connecting to West Boulevard in League City. The scope of the project has been adjusted to in- clude water and sewer utilities along the road as well as modi fi cations to the area’s drainage. Timeline: TBD Cost: $5.5 million Funding sources: city of Friendswood, developers, Galveston County
EDENVALE ST.
FRIENDSWOOD LINK RD.
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Blackhawk Boulevard reconstruction The city of Friendswood is 97% fi nished with construction on the northbound side of Blackhawk Boulevard. Some inspection dates for the project have been pushed back by COVID-19 concerns. Sta ff projects the construction will be complet- ed in May. The project consists of improvements from Friendswood Link Road to Edenvale Street, including the replacement of over 6,000 feet of concrete paving, replacement of curbs and gutters, and evaluations of existing utilities. Timeline: June 2018-May 2020 Cost: $4.58 million Funding source: 2013 city of Friendswood bond FUTURE PROJECTS
Tra ffi c declines, but roadway fatalities remain the same
528
BRIAR CREEK DR.
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Greenbriar Drive maintenance The city is doing concrete repairs on Greenbriar Drive between Briar Creek Drive and Wilderness Trail as part of its larger street repairs plan. This project is funded by the street main- tenance sales tax approved by voters in the May 2016 election. The street repairs and maintenance sales tax has generated over $3 million of revenue over the last two fi scal years and is up for reapproval in the November 2020 election. Timeline: TBD Cost: $3 million Funding source: city of Friendswood
BY AMY DENNEY
Tra ffi c fatalities on roads throughout Texas have continued at roughly the same pace in 2020 despite major Texas metros seeing a drop in the number of reported crashes and tra ffi c volumes. Between Jan. 1 and April 15, the num- ber of tra ffi c crashes dropped between 11% and 15% in 2020 compared to the same time period in 2019 in the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston metros, according to an April 21 analysis of Texas Department of Transportation data by Community Impact Newspaper. Howev- er, data from TxDOT shows the number of tra ffi c fatalities has only dropped by 3.35% in the same time period in 2020 compared to 2019. TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System denotes the number of tra ffi c fatalities between Jan. 1 and April 15 only declined from 865 deaths in 2019 to 836 during the same time period in 2020. Veronica Beyer, director of media rela- tions for TxDOT, said the agency reported 12 fatalities Feb. 22 and 11 fatalities on March 22 when the state was under stay- at-home orders. “We’ve always believed that ending the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways is achievable,” she said. “Unfortunately, we’re not there yet. Despite the drop in tra ffi c and despite the drop in crashes in certain areas across the state we are still seeing tra ffi c deaths.”
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF MAY 7. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT PLFNEWS @ COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Funding sources: Federally funded Transportation Improvement Pro- gram, Brazoria County, 2019 bond Bailey Road expansion The city of Pearland is in the design phase of the Bailey Road expansion, which will change the section from Veterans Drive to Hwy. 35 from a two-lane asphalt road to a four-lane concrete road. The design process usually takes about a year, but it is being slowed slightly due to the sequestering of consultant personnel and concerns over the coronavirus, a city o ffi cial said. The topographic sur- vey for the project has been complet- ed, and the city is working with the county to address drainage issues. Timeline: October 2021-October 2023 Cost: $18 million
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528
FRIENDSWOOD DR.
518
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Smith Ranch Road widening Pearland City Council voted to autho- rize a new Advanced Funding Agree- ment with the Texas Department of Transportation for the Smith Ranch Road widening project in the amount of $5.17 million on Feb. 17. The project will change the road from a two-lane asphalt road to a four-lane con- crete road. Changes are intended to improve the mobility of the existing
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Friendswood Lakes Boulevard construction The city of Friendswood and Galves- ton County are fi nished with the de- sign phase of the Friendswood Lakes Boulevard construction project. De- signs are undergoing fi nal review by
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PEARLAND - FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • MAY 2020
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