Proposed Roadway Projects to Benefit New Territory

Pct. 4 Commissioner James Patterson, in the NTRCA’s April meeting, presented information about a proposed, $156 million mobility bond referendum that includes several projects that would benefit New Territory commuters. The bond referendum goes before voters on May 12.
New Territory resident Alicja Siwek, a member of citizen advocacy group, “Keep Fort Bend Moving,” told residents that the bond referendum would result in a maximum, two-cent increase on the County’s current $0.51674 rate. “For the owner of a $200,000 house, that’s about $40 a year,” she said. “You might save this much in your gasoline costs by reducing traffic jams.”
Siwek said that the tax increase will likely be less than two-cents as the County will sell the bonds gradually—over the span of the five-year projects. “The last of the bonds approved in 2000 were only sold a few weeks ago,” she said.
Of interest to New Territory motorists are projects relating to the extension of University Blvd. and Lexington Blvd. as they would provide non-freeway access to and from Sugar Land. Both projects are sponsored by the City of Sugar Land so will be partially funded by the City. Newland Communities, the developer of Telfair, will fund the extension of University Blvd. through Telfair to Hwy. 6 and the County and City will fund the extension across Ditch H to 90-A at Nalco, said Patterson. Newland will also fund the extension of Lexington Blvd. from University Blvd. near the University of Houston to Oxbow Drive near Crescent Lakes subdivision as it is in their Tract 5. But the City and County will kick in funds to bring it across Ditch H and tie into the existing Lexington Blvd.
Patterson said that City and Developer contributions bring the total to nearly $500 million in road projects throughout Fort Bend.
Not included in the 2007 bond referendum but “earmarked” for future consideration by TxDot is a $41 million overpass from FM 1464 to Sandhill Blvd. off the Grand Parkway. This overpass would carry traffic over Sandhill, 90-A, and to the FM 1464 intersection. Preliminary engineering plans and schematics have been completed so if and when the project is approved, the overpass could be completed in 28 months, he said. If the project is not approved for state funding, the County is considering building the overpass as a toll bridge, he said.
A short-term, proposed improvement to FM 1464 mobility is the addition of turn lanes at and near the 90-A and 99 intersection. TxDot has tentatively approved this project and it will begin as soon as money becomes available, said Patterson. It includes:
- Adding a right turn lane for traffic going North on 99 (Grand Pkwy.) onto FM 1464 (from New Territory going to Austin High School)
- Adding a right turn lane for west-bound traffic on 90-A to turn north on 99. Widening 90-A to create the extra right-turn lane onto 99 North will also enable TxDot to create another left-turn lane for west-bound traffic on 90-A to enter 99 South ( and go into New Territory).
- Adding a right-turn lane on 99 South going to 90A West. Currently, traffic slows down and bottlenecks on 99 at the 90A intersection because the traffic light cannot accommodate the number of cars waiting to turn. “We’ve adjusted the timing on that signal as much as we can and there isn’t anything more we can do that will help,” he commented.
Patterson said traffic on 90-A will move much faster once the Hwy. 6 overpass is completed in September or October. “The lack of movement on 90 at Ellis Creek Blvd. is related to the slow down of traffic turning right onto Hwy 6,” he said. The commute on 90A will be much improved when the overpass opens, he predicted.