Katy - Fulshear Edition | May 2025

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Katy Fulshear Edition VOLUME 13, ISSUE 9 MAY 16JUNE 16, 2025

INSIDE 18 5-year FM 1463 widening frustrates community Project pains On April 29, contractors pour concrete on FM 1463, where work on a widening project between I10 and FM 1093 will continue into 2027. Some business owners said the construction reduces access and visibility to their businesses.

Also in this issue

See what’s dierent about the Fogo de Chão’s new Katy eatery Impacts: Page 6 Development: Page 17 Learn about plans for Phase 2 of The Dryer, set to open this summer

KELLY SCHAFLERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Impacts

CLAY RD.

3 Mezze #1 The Middle Eastern eatery’s menu highlights soups and salads, cold and hot mezzes, sandwiches and grill plates. • Opened March 17 • 28432 FM 1093, Ste. G, Fulshear • www.mezze1.com 4 MBody Fitness The hybrid training facility aims to help members discover their physical and mental strength with strength and conditioning classes. • Opened March 24 • 2206 Katy Flewellen Road, Ste. D, Katy • https://mbody.us 5 Taroko Sports The 20,000-square-foot complex oers 12 batting cages with immersive gaming technology, other sports-centric games, an arcade, and food and drinks. • Opened March 28 6 Ultimate Drip Therapy & Wellness II Board-certied providers oer IV hydration therapy and other wellness-focused services, such as health consultations, weight loss programs, testosterone therapy and lab services. • Opened April 5 • 24711 Katy Freeway, Ste. 150, Katy • www.ultimatedriptherapy.com 7 Juicy Joint The mobile eatery serves halal Wagyu burgers and gourmet hot dogs. The food truck, which is set to open after press time, also sells milkshakes with mix-ins. • Opened May 10 • 1050 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy • www.juicy-joint.com • 24539 Katy Freeway, Katy • www.tarokosports.com

MORTON RANCH RD.

ELYSON EXCHANGE WAY

CANNON FIRE DR.

99 TOLL

KATY FORT BEND RD.

99 TOLL

529

FRANZ RD.

SAUMS RD.

FREEMAN RD.

2855

6 5

K I N G S L A N

CANE ISLAND PKWY.

13 KATY MILLS PKWY.

Katy

HIGHLAND KNOLLS DR.

JORDAN CROSSING BLVD.

1463

GEORGE BUSH PARK

S N E R

COMMERCIAL CENTER BLVD.

1463

CROSS CREEK BEND LN.

SKYLINE DR.

99 TOLL

F R Y R D .

3 11

1093

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Fulshear

2 The Little Gym The Katy-area facility provides gymnastics and exercise classes for children between 4 months old and 12 years old. The business also hosts birthday parties, camps, parent-child classes and other events. • Opened March 10 • 22314 FM 529, Ste. 1000, Cypress • www.thelittlegym.com/texas-katy-elyson

Now open

1 BunSlut The late-night eatery is known for its halal

smashburgers, loaded fries and milkshakes. Brandon Gawthorp, founder of Katy-based eatery Urban Bird Hot Chicken, acquired the brand in December. • Opened Feb. 16 • 806 Katy Fort Bend Road, Ste. 200, Katy • www.eatbunslut.com

Coming soon

8 Singas Famous Pizza The New York-based eatery will serve handmade pizzas,

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hats, jeans and accessories for men, women and children. • Opening in the fourth quarter of this year • 25495 Katy Mills Parkway, Katy • www.cavenders.com 14 Black Rock Coee Bar The Oregon-based chain will oer hot and iced coee beverages, teas, smoothies and energy drinks.

pasta dishes and sandwiches. Other menu items include chicken wings, garlic breadsticks, meatballs, spaghetti and some desserts. • Opening in late May • 5830 Westheimer Parkway, Ste. 450, Katy • www.singaspizzas.com 9 Jaggers The fast-casual eatery will oer numerous burgers and sandwiches, salads and milkshakes. The concept is from Texas Roadhouse founder Kent Taylor. • Opening June 2 • 2660 W. Grand Parkway N., Katy • www.eatjaggers.com 10 The Fresh Monkee The healthy shake concept will oer smoothies and shakes that are naturally avored with simple ingredients and made-to-order. Menu options include lower sugar and low-glycemic options, as well as shakes and smoothies with added protein and supplements. • Opening this summer • 29907 Jordan Crossing Blvd., Ste. 750, Katy • www.thefreshmonkee.com 11 Playa Bowls The New Jersey-based franchise will oer various acai bowls with dierent avors and toppings. Guests can also choose from various smoothies, juices, cold brews 12 Scoops The Georgia-based ice cream shop will oer 32 homemade ice cream avors, which can be customized with toppings. Patrons can also indulge in coees, assorted candies, gourmet chocolate by the pound and gift baskets. • Opening this fall • 6601 Skyline Drive, Ste. 200, Fulshear • www.scoopsicecream.com 13 Cavender’s The store will showcase Western wear including boots, or cold-pressed juices. • Opening this summer • 28432 FM 1093, Ste. C, Fulshear • www.playabowls.com

Now open

• Opening by the fourth quarter of 2025 • 1811 W. Grand Parkway N., Ste. 200, Katy • www.br.coffee

15 HTeaO The menu will feature sweet and unsweet avored tea options as well as coee varieties, such as macchiatos, lattes and mochas. • Opening in the second quarter of 2026 • 19832 W. Little York Road, Ste. 4000, Katy • www.hteao.com 16 Sami’s Gyro House The eatery specializes in gyros made with halal meats, or meats that are carefully slaughtered to ensure a humane way of consuming meat, owner Yousaf Mohtsham said. • Opening TBD • 23445 Kingsland Blvd., Katy • https://samisgyrohouse.toast.site 17 Dunkin’ The brand oers coee, doughnuts, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, hashbrowns, teas, refreshers and

19 Fogo de Chão The Brazilian steakhouse serves various seafood and meats grilled in Southern Brazil’s traditional churrasco style, which involves cooking skewered meat over an open ame. The restaurant also features the Next Level Lounge that has craft cocktails, South American wines, and a premium whiskey and bourbon menu. Only ve Fogo de Chão’s oer this space. • Opened April 28 • 222 W. Grand Parkway S., Katy • www.fogodechao.com

• 19636 Saums Road, Houston • www.westlakevfd.com

frozen drinks. • Opening TBD • 136 Cane Island Parkway, Katy • www.dunkindonuts.com

Closings

20 World of Beer The Florida-based franchise closed its LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch location. The eatery featured a wide selection of craft beers and also served various appetizers, sandwiches, soups and salads. Ocials cited a “tough economic environment” as a reason for the closure. • Closed March 9 • 2643 Commercial Center Blvd., Ste. B390, Katy • www.worldofbeer.com

In the news

18 Westlake Fire Department The department celebrated its 50th anniversary in April. In addition to responding to emergencies in the area, Westlake reghters host community events and will host its rst summer camp from July 21-25 this year.

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Government

BY AUBREY VOGEL

Fort Bend County to redraw lines for voter precincts

proposed the second contract with Brazil & Dunn LLP, which totaled $50,000 and didn’t receive support to go to a vote. At the previous March 25 meeting, commissioners voted 3-2—with Prestage and McCoy dissenting—to redistrict voting precincts at a cost of no more than $60,000 to ensure the county was meeting Texas Election Code requirements. The state requires counties with a population of over 100,000 contain no less than 100 registered voters and no more than 5,000 voters in each precinct. The code states counties should review precincts during March or April of each odd-numbered year, Morgan said in his letter. The last time the county redrew voter precincts was in 2021, adopting the new precinct maps Jan. 1, 2022. By the numbers April data from the county’s election administra- tion office shows 38 of 174 voter precincts aren’t in

Fort Bend County officials clashed over legal representation at the April 22 meeting as officials work to correct voter precincts. This came after State Rep. Matt Morgan, R-Richmond, sent a letter to commissioners in February saying 37 of 174 of the county’s voter precincts during the November election didn’t meet state population requirements. What residents need to know At the meeting, commissioners denied two contracts with legal offices to redraw the boundaries of voter precincts in the county. • The first contract, totaling $30,000, was with The Law Offices of Tony McDonald. Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers proposed the contract, but commissioners denied it in a 2-3 vote, with commissioners Grady Prestage, Dexter McCoy and Vincent Morales dissenting. • County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson

Fort Bend County voter precinct compliance Compliant

precincts: 136 Overpopulated precincts: 33 Underpopulated precincts: 5

SOURCE: FORT BEND COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

compliance. Of those, 33 are over the 5,000-voter threshold. Five precincts have less than the state-required minimum of 100 registered voters. Looking ahead County election officials expect to provide a revised map to court before the end of June.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY AUBREY VOGEL

Officials predict 10K growth in water users Fulshear officials predict the city will gain nearly 10,000 additional water and wastewater custom- ers in the next five years as more homes are built in the area, officials said. At an April 15 meeting, Fulshear City Council approved an update for its Water and Wastewater Master Plan, which will provide city officials a roadmap for water-related projects. By the numbers The plan includes a breakdown of all water and wastewater systems in the city as well as growth projections, according to agenda documents. In 2025, the city has 15,254 water connections with an estimated growth to 29,922 customers by 2044. What else? The plan also lays out a 10-year capital improve- ment plan for 20 water and wastewater projects

Fulshear water, wastewater projected growth

2024 2029 2034

FRANZ RD.

4 pickleball courts, turf field coming soon At an April 28 meeting, Katy City Council approved two professional services agree- ments with Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. to manage the Katy City Park project. Per agenda documents, the $1.6 million in changes will include a turf field, pickleball courts, lighting, fencing and drainage. Going forward Construction is anticipated to be com- pleted in summer 2026, city officials said.

Water accounts Wastewater accounts

SOURCE: FULSHEAR/COMMUNITY IMPACT

at a combined cost of nearly $212.42 million, Freese and Nichols officials said. According to agenda documents, some projects that could be prioritized in the next five years include: • Building the McKinnon water plant • Adding new water lines • Rerouting and expanding the Katy-Fulshear lift station

KATY - FULSHEAR EDITION

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Election

BY KELLY SCHAFLER

Election results breakdown

Many races took place across the Katy and Fulshear area on May 3. One race will head to a June 7 runoff.

For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

**WRITE-IN CANDIDATE

SOURCES: KATY ISD, FORT BEND COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE, FORT BEND COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Incumbent

Winner

Headed to runoff

66.16% For 33.84% Against Parks bond, Proposition A 67.01% For 32.99% Against Parks bond, Proposition B

Katy

Katy ISD

Mayor

41.94% Victor Perez 58.06% James Cross Board of trustees, Position 1 21.2% Tammy Reed 75.37% Lance Redmon Board of trustees, Position 2

86.89% William H. "Dusty" Thiele 13.11% Michael Anthony Payne

40.02% Yes 59.98% No Charter Proposition A 36.29% Yes 63.71% No Charter Proposition B 36.62% Yes 63.38% No Charter Proposition C 41.42% Yes 58.58% No Charter Proposition D 28.97% Yes 71.03% No Charter Proposition E

Lamar Consolidated ISD

3.42% Kris Fields**

Board of trustees, District 3

68.68% Vanessa Marsters 31.32% Leslie Menchaca Gracia

Fulshear

City Council, Position 4

18.12% Bisi Ngwolo 62.08% George Arroyos 19.8% Anthony Warren Board of trustees, District 6

24.19% Sunny Adeola 58.48% Richard Russell

17.33% Brice Stanford

City Council, At-Large

0.95% John Bastawrous

15.26% Randy Connor

2.85% Corey Jannise

49.45% E. Brown Otu 49.01% Camron Miller

12.49% Bonnie Tyler Buell

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Education

Katy ISD sees record-high GT, advanced course participation

More Katy ISD students are enrolling in advanced academics, and Gifted and Talented programs, district officials said. Nearly 9% of KISD students participate in the district’s GT and advanced academics programs, and participation and success in programs such as advanced placement and dual credit are at record highs in the ongoing 2024-25 school year, Danielle Sanchez, director of GT/advanced academics, said at the April 22 board meeting. In a nutshell Using state-defined qualitative and quantitative metrics, all students are screened for GT services in kindergarten, Sanchez said. From first to 11th grade, a parent or teacher can request a student be screened once a year in the fall or early spring. In secondary school, screening is often aligned with course selection and planning for advanced academics, as identification may be subject specific, Sanchez said.

Sanchez said students identified for GT services in KISD receive tailored academic support through the following programs: • Elementary students are enrolled in the Challenge program, which offers project-based learning and career exploration weekly. • Secondary students are clustered in Katy Advanced Placement, pre-AP or AP classes with educators who have completed the required 30 hours of GT training and a campus GT facilitator who monitors academic progress and provides workshops. • All grade levels participate in academic competitions. Looking ahead Sanchez said parents have pointed out the elementary school GT program feels more differ- ent from the regular curriculum than it does at the middle and high school levels; however, she said

Katy ISD’s Gifted and Talented enrollment

10K

8,882

6,722

SOURCES: TEXAS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE REPORT, KATY ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

programs can vary depending on who’s leading it at each school. Moving forward, Sanchez said district admin- istration will prioritize professional development for GT educators and continue to offer opportuni- ties for students to showcase their talents.

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BY VALERIA ESCOBAR

Katy ISD to install secure locks in 11K classrooms Before the 2025-26 school year, 11,000 class- rooms in Katy ISD will gain iplocks to provide further safety to teachers and students in case of a campus lockdown. The KISD board of trustees approved a $3.8 million contract with Flip Lok LLC at the March 31 meeting, funded by the 2023 bond. While the district already employs several safety protocols and requires doors to be locked during instructional time, the locks would act as further reassurance, KISD Police Chief David Rider said. How it works Fliplocks will be installed in the door frame with four-inch screws and are activated by swinging the locking mechanism toward the door and allowing it to drop down into a locked mode, according to the company website. It works on both inward and outward swinging

LCISD course to boost career readiness At the April 15 meeting, the Lamar CISD board of trustees unanimously approved the new general employability skills course for seventh and eighth graders ahead of the district’s $189 million career and technical education center opening in fall 2026. Kayse Lazar, executive director of CTE and career readiness, said the biggest change is that the general employability skills course, starting in September, will award students one high school credit upon completion— something the current course oering, career investigations, does not. What else? Additionally, LCISD could receive over $1 million in new CTE revenue for the 2025-26 school year from the state for the middle school career course, Lazar said.

“We were already ahead of the game. We were already doing all these things. This is another example of something

that we’re doing that’s beyond the basic requirement that we have.” REBECCA FOX, KISD TRUSTEE

doors and will egress in one motion away from the door, Rider said. Next steps District operations and Flip Lok teams will work together after school hours and on student holi- days to install the locks on all classrooms where attendance is taken by August, Rider said. “These iplocks would give an added layer of protection and a visible armation to the students and sta,” he said.

Katy ISD to hire fewer sta in 202526 school year Katy ISD trustees approved a plan March 31 to hire 262 additional sta members for the 2025-26 school year, slightly less from last year’s ask for 306.5 additional sta members. District growth Chief Human Resources Ocer Brian Schuss quadrant and special education sta is a bulk of the stang demand.

Katy ISD's student enrollment

+2,118 +4,299

+1,852 +524

100K 90K 80K 0

Additionally, the district will hire less than needed to sta Boundy Elementary School, Cross Elementary School and Freeman High School in the 2025-26 school year, Schuss said. If the Legislature makes a contribution to sta- ing, then district ocials will bring a new stang plan to the board, Schuss said.

said it will be a “low-growth year” with about 524 new students next year. Growth in the northwest

*PROJECTED ENROLLMENT AS OF JANUARY

SOURCE: POPULATION AND SURVEY ANALYSTSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Transportation

BY KELLY SCHAFLER

New homes

Greenbusch Road project resumes after 2-year hiatus

from the $300s to $1M+

Construction on Greenbusch Road began again in mid-February after an almost two-year hiatus. The $8.4 million Fort Bend County project comes after the original Greenbusch Road project stalled out in summer 2023, leaving most of the project incomplete, said Mark Dessens, program manager for the county with engineering firm Schaumburg & Polk Inc. “Obviously, everybody’s anxious to get it done,” he said. The details The Katy-area project will reconstruct the road between Gaston Road and Westheimer Parkway, and add left-turn lanes at all public road intersections, Dessens said. Other project features include: • Replacing asphalt road with concrete and adding curbs • Building underground storm sewers • Widening the Westheimer Parkway intersection • Reconstructing part of Saddlespur Lane • Adding a traffic signal at the Spring Green Boulevard and Pine Mill Ranch Drive

The backstory Construction originally began in March 2022 on the project, which is funded by the county’s 2013 mobility bond. The scope included rebuilding the road and replacing the bridge over Buffalo Bayou, Dessens said. However, contractor RAC Industries terminated the contract in May 2023 after building the bridge, according to information from Precinct 1’s September mobility meeting. By September 2023, county offi- cials reopened the bridge to drivers but had to begin the process of modifying the scope and rebidding the project, Dessens said. What to expect Construction on Greenbusch Road is set to finish in June 2026. New contractor Sequeira Civil Construction started on the portion between Gaston Road and the bridge, reducing traffic to one lane. By early next year, work will move between the bridge and Westheimer Parkway, reducing it to one lane and reopening the previous section to two lanes, Dessens said.

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KATY - FULSHEAR EDITION

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Development

BY KELLY SCHAFLER

The next stage in the historic J.V. Cardi & Sons Rice Dryer’s redevelopment will soon debut in Katy. The rst phase of The Dryer, a 3-acre revitalization project, began with the Katy Beer Garden, an indoor and outdoor venue that opened last June o Hwy. 90. Now, developer Hadi “Andrew” Nurcahya said he is planning a summer opening for the project’s second phase that he hopes will become a community-centric place for families. Nurcahya said Phase 2 of The Dryer will include a miniature train; a playground; black shipping containers with space for 16 food and beverage vendors; a stage and large TV; and green space with articial grass where organizers can host events for free. Phase 2 of The Dryer to open this summer

The details

Looking ahead

Most of Phase 2 is expected to debut by the end of July, but other details— like a quick-service bar in the dryer’s blower room and the second oor of the shipping containers—won’t open right away. Permitting for Phase 3, a three-story building, should begin in 2026, and construction could begin on it in early 2027, Nurcahya said. The building will feature a food court on the rst oor, co-working oce space on the second and a banquet hall on the third. Beyond that, Nurcahya still plans to preserve the dryer’s historical integrity while outtting the inside with a museum and gift shop run by the Katy Heritage Society as well as a future restaurant in the silos. “That’s why people come here, because they want to see the building inside and out,” he said. “So keeping it as original as possible but still keeping safety and comfort in mind is what we’re trying to do.”

The train is a nod to Katy once being the last stop on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, also known as the Katy.

KELLY SCHAFLERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Painted red with The Katy branded on the side, the development’s miniature train is a nod to Katy once being the last stop on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, also known as The Katy, according to the Katy Railroad Historical Society. The miniature train, chugging along at an easy 1 mph, will begin by operating solely on weekends, Nurcahya said. For most likely $3 per ride—$1 supporting the Katy Heritage Society—riders of all ages can book a ride online, wait for pickup at the project’s train depot building and take a few laps on a 900-foot-long track around the historic dryers, Nurcahya said. “You can come here and touch the dryer, because you’ve been looking at it, you’ve been driving by on I-10, and you’re like, ‘What is that?’” he said. “You nally can come over here now ... and see it up close and be able to do things around it.”

Secured tenants include:

The Dryer

E. THIRD ST.

Mama’s Kitchen and Tea

A business serving carnival-style foods

Phase 1 Katy Beer Garden

Phase 3

Phase 2

A lemonade stand

A shop oering juices

A crepe shop

HIGHWAY BLVD.

SOURCE: HADI NURCAHYACOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: KATY GISCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: KATY GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM COMMUNITY IMPACT

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KATY FULSHEAR EDITION

Project pains From the cover

What they’re saying

The gist

Project features: • Raised median • Sidewalks north and southbound along project length

K I N G S L A N To drum up business, Guo is pushing delivery and distributing his menu through post office mailings to local residents. Guo said he hopes the project’s completion will improve business by increasing traffic and visibility. Cheba Hut Manager Chris Bierly said his team has also brainstormed ideas to improve visibility for the franchise location, which opened in “[The neighborhood said they’re] going to keep supporting us through work on 1463. … They really do understand the traffic and the construction really hurt my business.” DAVID GUO, OWNER OF MU LAN JOJO’S CHINA BISTRO November 2023 on FM 1463. Options have either ended up too pricey or violate city regulations, such as promotional flags along the roadway. Perez said business owners can email TxDOT at hou-pio.webmail@txdot.gov with any concerns. Owner David Guo opened Mu Lan JoJo’s China Bistro in January after almost two decades oper- ating the family-owned eatery in East Texas and Louisiana. It’s been a slow start, he said, which he attributes to patrons avoiding FM 1463.

Progress on a five-year, $108.36 million project to expand FM 1463 between Katy and Fulshear is causing some community frustration, business owners and officials said. The Texas Department of Transportation is widening almost 7 miles of the two-lane road to up to six lanes in some areas between I-10 and FM 1093, TxDOT Public Information Officer Danny Perez said. Work began in February 2022 and is set to finish in the second quarter of 2027; substantial completion is estimated for the fourth quarter of 2026. With two years left, some area business owners told Community Impact they’re worried about reduced visibility and access to businesses. TxDOT has also received complaints about slow construction, delays and traffic. TxDOT officials said the project did face right- of-way and utility delays, but both issues have been resolved. Contractors are moving along in phases and making progress, Perez said. “It’s a major project, and so we do understand the concerns of the public. But keeping the project moving is really important, and we’re going to get to a good place,” Perez said. TxDOT officials claim the project was always planned to last five years, but inconsistent completion dates published on TxDOT’s Project Tracker website and in public forums may have raised the public’s concerns, Perez said. Community Impact was unable to verify the project’s initial timeline, as TxDOT officials didn’t provide requested documentation by press time. Despite not funding the project, Fulshear partnered with TxDOT to launch a dedicated webpage in late April to provide project updates, Fulshear Communications Coordinator Mariah Gallegos said.

CANE ISLAND PKWY.

Six lanes from I-10 to Spring Green Boulevard

KINGSLAND BLVD.

Four lanes from Spring Green Boulevard to FM 1093

Katy

1463

FULSHEAR BEND DR.

CINCO RANCH BLVD.

CROSS CREEK BEND LN.

R D .

“There may not be a whole lot we can do, but still bring it to our attention. Then we can look at it together and see if there’s something we can address.” DANNY PEREZ, TXDOT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

1093

SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY KELLY SCHAFLER

The big picture

What else?

Looking ahead

Additionally, real estate developer Hines announced plans in January to build a 2,951-acre community west of FM 1463 and south of FM 1093. The community will offer more than 7,000 single-family homes, with the first homes being completed in 2027. Many Hines residents will likely use the corridor, bringing more traffic to the area, Gallegos said.

Residents can visit Fulshear’s FM 1463 website for updates and road closures. Partnerships with cities can help TxDOT keep the public informed, Perez said. Drivers could expect some temporary closures as the project progresses, Perez said. Traffic switches, where drivers will move to the new lanes while changes are made to the existing road, will also happen.

Widening FM 1463, once a rural roadway, was proposed to meet the needs of the area’s growing population and provide access to the Katy area’s major corridors, Perez said. Average daily vehicle traffic rose up to 128% along the road between 2013-23, according to TxDOT data. This peak was recorded near the FM 1463 and FM 1093 intersection, where the county’s nearly $72 million extension of the Westpark Tollway is also ongoing through fall 2026. Once completed, the widened FM 1463 will meet the needs of future and current master-planned communities in the area, such as the 3,200-acre Cross Creek Ranch, which nears build-out, and the 1,500-acre Tamarron, Gallegos said. “Expanding the FM 1463 road is going to be a tremendous step in the right direction, if you will, for our residents and the surrounding areas who utilize FM 1463 to get from one side to the other,” Gallegos said.

Hines’ future master- planned community

On the website, community members can expect:

1463

1093

Fulshear

Scheduled road closures

Alternative routes

Project updates and history

Safety protocols

359

Visit www.fulsheartexas.gov/about- us/departments-h-z/public-works/ projects for more information

WINNER FOSTER RD.

SOURCE: HINES/COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: FULSHEAR COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR MARIAH GALLEGOS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

WHY LEASE WHEN YOU CAN OWN YOUR OWN OFFICE Stop paying for the landlord's retirement and start paying for yours

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KATY - FULSHEAR EDITION

News

$63.9M grant ended for rail project The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in an April 14 news release that it was canceling a $63.9 million federal grant awarded to Amtrak for a proposed high- speed rail line from Dallas and Houston. Officials cited the ballooning projected cost—now estimated at more than $40 billion—as a key reason for ending the grant, per the release. Diving in deeper The roughly $60 million grant will be redirected to other rail projects deemed more cost-effective, per the release. However, investment group Kleinheinz Capital Partners said in a statement the com- pany has stepped in as the “private sector sponsor” of the “shovel-ready” project.

Campus rating breakdown Here's how campuses in each

Lamar CISD

district scored on the A-F rating. No campuses in the districts received Fs. A B C D

Katy ISD

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

KISD, LCISD earn ‘B’ ratings in TEA scores

Gregorski said he believes the TEA’s approach to standardized testing and accountability don’t reflect the full scope of school performance. LCISD Chief Learning Officer Christi Cottongame also said the ratings don’t reflect the current efforts of teachers or students. What’s next? The TEA remains blocked from issuing ratings for the 2023-24 school year due to a separate lawsuit, which is pending in the state appeals court. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said the TEA intends to release ratings for 2024-25 on Aug. 15, per state law.

Data shows Katy and Lamar Consolidated ISDs earned “B” ratings for the 2022-23 school year, per the Texas Education Agency’s A-F system released April 24. What they’re saying In an April 23 letter, KISD Superintendent Ken

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Real-time transit alerts launch

Fulshear outlines 3 projects set to cost $7M At an April 1 special meeting, Fulshear City Council approved updates to the city’s Parks and Pathways Master Plan, which provides guidance for short- and long-term parks planning. Zooming in The plan outlines nearly $7 million for these three park priorities: • Frances Smart Park , located at 7926 FM 359, will include a veterans memorial, playground, plaza space and parking. • Irene Stern Park , located at 6920 Fulshear Katy Road, will include basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, a pavilion, walking paths, and a playground. • Bessie’s Creek Park , a new 11.5-acre park along Bessie’s Creek, will include a walking trail, outdoor fitness station, boardwalk overlook

Fulshear park priorities

Bessie's Creek Park development $816,547 $2.11 million Frances Smart Park renovations $4.06 million Irene Stern Park renovations

Fort Bend County transit riders can now receive live route updates with a new notification system. The Everbridge system alerts residents via text or email about transit updates, according to an April 23 news release. The details Per the release, notifications include weather delays, route closures or changes, and other critical service notifications.

SOURCE: FULSHEAR/COMMUNITY IMPACT

with a pier and potential parking. The update also outlines plans for Primrose Park Phase 3, which will include an amphitheater, walking trails, an outdoor education pavilion, playground and a food truck court, city officials previously said. What’s next? Officials will need to determine funding through fiscal budgets, capital improvement projects, grants or bonds, per plan documents.

“Communication is key when it comes to public transportation.” PERRI D’ARMOND, TRANSIT DIRECTOR, FORT BEND TRANSIT

MASON ROAD 1640 S Mason Rd (281) 395-6262 KATY MILLS 24417 Katy Fwy (281) 394-5780

FULSHEAR 24940 FM 1093 (281) 391-4008 FALCON LANDING 9722 Gaston Rd (281) 574-3008

CINCO RANCH 3050 W Grand Pkwy (281) 392-5554

State

BY EMILY LINCKE, JESSICA SHORTEN & AUBREY VOGEL CONTRIBUTIONS BY RYAN REYNOLDS

5 legislative updates from Houston-area lawmakers

With less than two months left in the 89th legislative session, several Houston-area bills have made strides on the House and Senate floors. The session is scheduled to end June 2, barring no special sessions are called. Check out some of the bills filed by Houston-area lawmakers this legislative session.

3 Lake Houston district bill moves to next steps with edits A new board-governed maintenance district for Lake Houston is one step closer to being created as lawmakers advance House Bill 1532. HB 1532 would establish the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District, covering 1,748 square miles of the lake in Harris County’s boundaries, according to the Texas Legislature Online. The House passed the bill on April 29, but the Senate has not yet considered it.

2 Bill targeting child welfare system reform making headway House Bill 2216, filed by Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, would extend rights Native Americans receive under the Indian Child Welfare Act to all Texas children. The bill would require strong evidence before removing children from homes and emphasizes placing them with family. This bill was referred by the Senate to its Health & Human Services committee on April 28, according to the Texas Legislature Online. Meanwhile, House Bill 194, filed by Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, was referred to the Human Services committee Feb. 27 but hasn’t moved, per TLO. The bill would allow religious organizations to establish faith-based child care centers for children in the foster care system. “[HB 2216] simply mirrors the Indian Child Welfare Act. [ICWA] is the gold standard for child welfare cases, and all Texas families deserve it.” REP. LACEY HULL, R-HOUSTON 5 New grant program could provide aid to homeowners during storms A new program proposed by Senate Bill 2924 and House Bill 1576 by Sen. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, and Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, respectively, would create a grant program to help fund repairs of single-family homes from hurricanes and windstorms. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, nearly $6.5 billion in claims were paid out in high-risk flood zone areas for single-family homes across Texas in 2024.

1 Legislators refocus on HCTRA funds as revenues near $1B Senate Bill 2722 and companion House Bill 5177 made moves in the House and Senate after being left pending in committees in early April. The bills aim to change how funds collected by the Harris County Toll Road Authority are distributed by having 30%-70% of net revenue paid out to counties with tolls in their boundaries. SB 2722 stalled in the Senate Committee on Transportation before an amendment was approved by the committee April 22. The amendment clarified the bill wouldn’t impact revenue collected by HCTRA for the Austin area after the agency took over TxTAG operations in November. SB 2722 passed the Senate in a 21-8 vote, with two senators not present. The bill will take HB 5177’s place in the House for further consideration.

4 Veterans could qualify for underutilized business category Senate Bill 390, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, could categorize veteran-owned businesses as historically underutilized. These businesses are often considered when choosing businesses for state, city and county contracts. The bill was left pending in committee April 1.

HCTRA annual collections

Hardy Toll Road Sam Houston Tollway Westpark Tollway

Fort Bend Parkway Tomball Tollway

Houston-area days spent in severe weather event

Harris

Montgomery Fort Bend

Brazoria Galveston

80 100

$100M $400M $600M $800M

60 40 20 0

$50M

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

2019

2020 2021

2022

2023

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

MORE STELLAR THAN USUAL!

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MAY 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison

OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts

Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.

KATY - FULSHEAR EDITION

DETOURS

Clods and Monsters

Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.

acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”

The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314

YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”

The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH

OH. —Lauren Larson

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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