Lake Houston - Humble - Kingwood Edition | April 2024

DESIGN DETAILS The Northpark Drive overpass project will expand Northpark Drive from four to six lanes between Hwy. 59 and Russell Palmer Road and add an overpass over the Union Pacic Corp. railroad tracks and Loop 494. Overpass Main lanes 10-foot multiuse path Landscaping

Northpark Drive in Kingwood was ranked 114th in the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s 2022 Most Congested Roadways in Texas report, making it one of the most congested roadways out of the more than 1,800 roads analyzed. CONSISTENT DELAYS

NORTHPARK DR.

Congestion ranking: 114th worst

Segment length: 5.46 miles

Proposed amenity pond

UNION PACIFIC CORP. RAILROAD

494

Annual hours in trac: 561,105

Daily trac volume: 31,447 cars

RUSSELL PALMER RD.

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Westbound peak delays: 5,526 hours annually at 7:45 a.m. and 14,940 hours annually at 5 p.m.

494

includes Kingwood—said the project aims to allevi- ate congestion, enhance accessibility and increase safety in the Kingwood area. “The biggest complaint we have in Kingwood ... is trac congestion,” Martin said during a February TIRZ 10 board meeting. “We have basically two ways in and out of Kingwood going east and west, and that’s Northpark [Drive] and Kingwood Drive. ... It’s really critical for us to get this thing nailed down and make sure that ... disruption is minimized.” According to the Texas A&M Transportation Insti- tute’s 2022 Most Congested Roadways in Texas report released in April, Northpark Drive ranked as the 114th most-congested roadway out of more than 1,800 roads analyzed in the state. On average, more than 31,000 vehicles traverse the road every day, the report states. While LHRA and city of Houston ocials have maintained the project is necessary to alleviate trac and safety issues on the roadway, some area leaders have expressed concern over the eect the project’s estimated 30-month construction period could have on local businesses. Project benets The Northpark Drive overpass project was initially estimated to cost around $52 million. However, o- cials said that number has since been pushed to roughly $76.2 million due to supply chain issues and ination. The city will contribute roughly $9.5 mil- lion toward the project with TIRZ 10 picking up the remainder of the bill, budget documents show. THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT WE HAVE IN KINGWOOD ... IS TRAFFIC CONGESTION. ... IT’S REALLY CRITICAL FOR US TO GET THIS THING NAILED DOWN AND MAKE SURE THAT ...

NORTHPARK DR.

Economic concerns Stephanie Wiggins, chief economic develop- ment ocer for Partnership Lake Houston, said she believes transportation and roadway improvements are key for economic growth. “In theory, road improvement decreases transpor- tation costs for goods and people, improves access to markets, stimulates competition and oers other wider economic bene¢ts,” she said. However, Wiggins said large-scale transportation projects can also have unintended consequences. “There is always concern of the overall eect of construction on small businesses and retail, which this particular area is mostly composed of,” Wiggins said. “I do believe this construction will temporarily halt new retail or even a small business from locating in this corridor until after construction is complete.” In an April news release, Martin said eorts will be made to minimize any impact construction might have on local businesses. “Two-way trac will be maintained at all times, [and] businesses and residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times,” Martin said. Additionally, De Leon said the planned frontage road lanes along each side of the overpass bridge will ensure residents can easily access businesses near the bridge. Despite her concerns, Wiggins said she believes the project will be worth any short-term issues. “I believe this project’s bene¢ts far outweigh the negative,” Wiggins said. “If the [construction] time- lines are in place and the scope of the project can adequately be delivered, some businesses will not be deterred by the new construction.” PROJECT BENEFITS: Decreased trac delays and travel time Elevates Northpark Drive over the 500-year flood plain Increased drainage capacity Installation of amenity ponds, landscaping improvements, corridor lighting and pedestrian sidewalks SOURCES: CITY OF HOUSTON, TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NO. 10 AND LAKE HOUSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTECOMMUNITY IMPACT

UNION PACIFIC CORP. RAILROAD

more than a dozen residents submitted concerns about the potential for additional ooding result- ing from the project. According to the Harris County Flood Control District, Kingwood received a four-day total of around 30 inches of rain during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which aected several neighborhoods near Northpark Drive. LHRA planning documents for the project show the existing drainage ditch along Northpark Drive will be replaced with a storm sewer system that will be adjusted throughout construction until an opti- mal solution is reached. Additionally, landscaped detention ponds will be constructed on both sides of Northpark Drive near Hwy. 59. “Upon completion, planned stormwater system improvements will not just result in no impact to existing conditions, but [they will] also result in an improvement to existing conditions,” De Leon said, noting the project would elevate Northpark Drive above the 500-year ood plain. De Leon said the planned overpass over the Union Paci¢c Corp. railroad tracks and Loop 494 will also provide an additional evacuation route in the case of a future ooding event. Project timeline Once construction begins, De Leon said the proj- ect is expected to take about 30 months to complete and will be broken up into three phases. The ¢rst two phases include the installation of the drainage infrastructure and the widening of North- park Drive from four to six lanes between Loop 494 and Russell Palmer Road. The third phase—which is expected to begin in February 2025—will construct the overpass bridge and a westbound and eastbound frontage road lane on each side of the overpass. Phase 3 will also widen the remainder of Northpark Drive between the bridge and Hwy. 59.

DISRUPTION IS MINIMIZED. DAVE MARTIN, HOUSTON MAYOR PRO TEM

Ralph De Leon, LHRA and TIRZ 10 administrator, noted several project bene¢ts, including decreased travel times and congestion on the roadway, increased drainage capacity, improved pedestrian walkways, and new irrigation and landscaping. During a February 2020 LHRA public meeting,

LAKE HOUSTON HUMBLE KINGWOOD EDITION • APRIL 2023