TRANSPORTATION UPDATES Traffic signal coming to Lake Olympia, Fort Bend parkways
COMPILED BY JACK DOWLING
UPCOMING PROJECTS
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In an effort to combat traffic concerns at the intersection of Lake Olympia Parkway and Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road, Missouri City City Council unanimously agreed to fund a traffic signal during its Feb. 20 meeting. A traffic impact analysis showed signifi- cant traffic numbers that warranted the signal, city documents show. The Specialty Company, or TSC, was the firm that won out over three competitors during the bid process for a total
construction cost, which equals about 21% of the total cost. Shashi Kumar, Missouri City public works direc- tor, said the amount of funding from MMD No. 2 is based on a prior agree- ment and is proportional to traffic generated. “We did a study on the actual traffic counts,” Kumar said. “Based on that study, about 21% of volume came from MMD No. 2” Construction on the project is expected to begin in either May or June, and
construction is set to be fully completed by October, Kumar said at the Feb. 20 City Council meeting. “Because it will take time for them to order the parts to actually complete the signal, it is likely you won’t see any construction outside of staking for about three months,” he said. Signal materials are on back-order, which has lengthened the timeline of the project, Kumar said. Funding from the
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FIRST COLONY BLVD.
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Intersection improvement project Sugar Land agreed to enter into an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to rework the inter- section at Hwy. 6 and First Colony Bou- levard/Brooks Street. The project will include two left-turn lanes on north- bound First Colony and southbound on Brooks to alleviate traffic congestion and improve the flow of traffic. Cost: $2.46 million Timeline: summer-TBD Funding source: Sugar Land Capital Improvements Fund
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projected construction cost of $738,386. However, the city will not pay for the entire project. Municipal Management District No. 2 will pay $155,064 of the estimated
city comes from the Capital Improvement Projects funds.
MCLAIN BLVD.
GREGORY BLVD.
METRO considering lease agreement for new Missouri City park and ride The Metropolitan Transit Authority
CRAVENS RD.
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FONDREN RD.
Director George Fotinos said at the Joint Development and Land Use Committee meeting Feb. 15. Under Option A, METRO would pay $325,000 in annual property rent with a 5% increase every five years, as well as a lump $51.7 million facility lease buyout, meaning METRO would own the facility but not the land. Option B would see METRO rent the facility for $3.1 million annually and pay the property rent, meaning METRO would not own the facility or land. Fotinos said Option A is the more attractive option, in part because U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, has com- mitted to providing $5 million toward the project. Once approved, it will take approximately 18 months to complete the park and ride parking garage.
WEIGHING OPTIONS
of Harris County is considering a 40-year lease agreement with NewQuest Properties, a real estate developer, to fund a $50 million park and ride facility near Hwy. 6 and Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road. The commuter park and ride will be located in Newquest’s Fort Bend Town Center III development. The item was pulled from METRO’s Feb. 23 meeting, but it may be dis- cussed as early as the March 23 board meeting, METRO Public Information Officer Monica Russo said. If approved, the board will have a three-year window in which to decide whether to move forward with options A or B for financial and funding options, METRO Chief Financial
PINE MEADOW DR.
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Missouri City drainage improvements The Texas General Land Office approved Missouri City for $5 million in funding for eligible projects. The city has identified two sites that require drainage improvements to ensure safety and traffic flow. Those areas include Gregory and McClain boulevards as well as South Cravens Road and Pine Meadow Drive.
METRO has two options for its leasing agreement with Newquest. One allows METRO to buy the facility, while the other pays rent over time.
OWN RENT
Annual cost
$325K $325K
Owning vs. renting facility
$51.7M once Can receive
$3.1M annually
Cost: $5 million Timeline: TBD Funding source: GLO
Grants Cannot receive Vending rights Exclusive to METRO Property lease 40 years
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF FEB. 24. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SLMNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
SOURCE: METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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