Improving FM 1488 FROM MILL CREEK ROAD TO FM
KEY
The Texas Department of Transportation is studying the FM 1488 corridor between FM 149 and I-45 to determine how to improve mobility and safety along the corridor. A preliminary list of proposed improvements, including traffic signals and I-45 intersection changes, was released in October.
Proposed traffic signal Potential flashing signal
Dual left turn lanes added Traffic signal warrant analysis
MILL CREEK RD.
Widen to six lanes from FM 2978 to Mill Creek Road: $2.65million
SENDERA DR.
LAGO DR.
Install five flashing signals: $1.5million
1488
THOUSAND OAKS BLVD.
Perform six traffic signal studies: $216,000
Add raised median in study area: $5.04million
TAMINA RD.
149
2978
N
PROPOSED NEW I INTERCHANGE
FROM FM TO I
LAKE LAMOND RD.
CARRIAGE HILLS BLVD.
Estimated project cost: $1.16million
45
Widen to six lanes from FM 2978 to I-45: $2.65million
45
1488
1488
242
SWEETGUM LN.
KUYKENDAHL RD.
2978
N
N
SOURCE:TEXASDEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER
TRANSPORTATION
need for increased capacity,” said Bruce Berger, chief of sta for Montgomery County Precinct . “The TxDOT study addressed the current and future growth along the FM corridor by expanding lanes and controlling trac safety concerns.” Berger said Precinct has been involved in TxDOT’s planning from the FM study’s onset and that county projects along the corridor were designed to be minimally impacted by any future state construction. PROPOSING CHANGES Short-range proposed improvements total . million and include adding a raised median throughout the study area, realigning the I- interchange and adding trac lights, and performing studies to see if a trac signal is justied at Mill Creek and Superior roads; Manor, Sendera and Lago drives; Thousand Oaks Boulevard; and I- , according to TxDOT information. Black said TxDOT has received million in safety funds to install raised medians on FM . Additional short-range improvements include adding dual le-turn lanes at Hwy. , FM , Old Conroe Road, Kuykendahl Road, Carriage Hills Boulevard and I- , according to meeting information. “Access management treatments like a raised median will alter the way people move through a corridor and will change the way people interact with adjacent properties,” Black said.
“But given the safety concerns in the corridor and the current and future development and associated trac growth, we are compelled to make the roadway user’s travel experience a better and safer one.” Black said while short-range improvements reside within the state’s right of way and could be done quickly, medium-range improvements—such as widening FM to six lanes between I- and FM —would require coordination with other entities. Long-range improvements—such as widening FM to six lanes between FM and Mill Creek Road—would require further study. Medium- and long- range improvements total more than million, according to TxDOT information. TxDOT anticipates short-range improvements will decrease total crashes by % and reduce travel time by %, providing an estimated savings of . million per year from safety improvements and . million per year from mobility improvements. Additionally, these mobility improvements would save each roadway user hours of time per year, according to TxDOT information presented during the Oct. meeting. “The taxpayers will realize the safety and mobility savings in terms of reduced crashes and more time doing the things they want to be doing instead of sitting in trac,” Black said.
TxDOT outlines proposed improvements for FM 1488 corridor from FM 149 to I-45
“Enhancing the FM corridor potentially improves mobility for vehicles traversing from Magnolia in Montgomery County to I- and beyond to [the] city of Houston to the south, which [provides] employment opportunities, education and medical facilities for people within the region,” said Alan Clark, the director of transportation planning for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, a metropolitan planning organization, in an email. TxDOT crash data shows vehicle crashes occurred between FM and I- in , having doubled from . The high number of crashes paired with upcoming development along the FM corridor prompted TxDOT to begin an access management study from FM to I- this January, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. An access management study looks at how to reduce crashes and improve mobility by limiting conict points and planning how vehicles move through a corridor, according to TxDOT information. “With there being only two east- west corridors in our county, our growth has triggered an immediate
An access management study of the FM corridor between I- and FM outlining proposed safety and mobility improvements is anticipated to be complete in December, according BY ANNA LOTZ AND BEN THOMPSON
to information from the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT held a second public
meeting Oct. in The Woodlands to gather public input on proposed improvements outlined in the access management study, which aims to identify low-cost, high-impact improvements for reducing crashes and improving mobility throughout the -mile stretch of FM , TxDOT Public Information Ocer Emily Black said in an email. “The study goals for this project are to reduce crashes, [improve] mobility, enhance multimodal connectivity, support current and future demand, and support economic growth,” Black said in an email. Proposed corridor improvements include installing raised medians, retiming and coordinating trac signals, improving intersection turn lanes, adding bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, installing advanced street name signs, and reconguring the I- interchange.
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The Woodlands edition • December 2019
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