SH 99 Grand Parkway Expansion Proposed

Expansion of SH 99 (the Grand Parkway) through New Territory may start as early as 2010 with a new proposal by TxDot to fund the project through toll revenues collected at various electronic gantries (not booths).
The project , which consists of constructing 4 lanes (two lanes in each direction) and 12 overpasses from Franz Road to U.S. 59 in Sugar Land, is roughly estimated to cost $200 million.
“Without tolling, construction would be delayed considerably while we wait for state funds,” said a TxDot spokesperson. “Traffic demands have outpaced traditional finance mechanisms.”
The Grand Parkway was planned as a means to provide an additional evacuation route, an alternative route around the city, and to accommodate traffic increases and growth, said the spokesperson. It was originally designed for six lanes in 1987 when they conducted a traffic study of the area, and although Tx Dot plans to build four lanes in this next phase, they may build two more lanes (one in each direction) if warranted in the future, they said. TxDot completed construction of the existing frontage roads in 1995.
According to a preliminary schedule, TxDot may complete their environmental assessment next year, finalize their design in 2009, begin construction in 2010, and complete the project in 2014.
Most of the existing lanes will serve as frontage roads or ramps onto the new main lanes. Only the new main lanes and overpasses will have tolls and motorists will be able to travel the frontage roads at no cost, said the spokesperson. There will be overpasses at West River Park Drive, New Territory Blvd. and a very long one for Sandhill, US 90-A, and FM 1464. The overpasses will be built one level higher than grade level, so the one at 90-A will go over the railroad track.
TxDot will do a noise analysis as part of their environmental assessment. Sound walls may not be warranted or feasible, they said.
TxDot is receiving public input on the proposal until June 8. Please send your comments to hou-piowebmail@dot.state.tx.us

New Territory Annexation Negotiations with City of Sugar Land in Question

It’s been one step forward and two steps back for the New Territory MUDs in their recent attempts to negotiate an annexation agreement with the City of Sugar Land.
The MUDs received three drafts from the City between April 9 and May 7, 2007 but only the first one presented terms previously negotiated by the MUDs. The last two drafts, mailed to the MUDs just a week apart, conflicted with the first draft and rescinded many of the terms. Those two drafts are similar except the second one attaches a preliminary groundwater reduction plan never before released by the City.
MUD attorneys were not able to explain why the City came up with new terms as they had met twice with City representatives in recent months and thought the parties were very close to reaching a final annexation agreement.
The MUD 112 attorney has asked for another meeting with City staff to discuss the surprise drafts.
The City and the MUDs face a January 1, 2008 deadline by the Fort Bend Subsidence District to submit a plan that shows how they will reduce groundwater usage to 70% of total water usage by 2013 and to 40% of total water usage by 2025. This is due to ground subsidence in Fort Bend County which could lead to flooding and other problems if groundwater usage is not reduced. A significant reason to enter into a strategic partnership agreement for annexation is to join the City of Sugar Land’s Groundwater Reduction Plan and avoid other, costly means of meeting the mandates.
The MUD 112 attorney advised the boards that they could possibly seek an extension to the January 1, 2008 deadline from the Subsidence District or that they could approach another water authority to join their groundwater reduction plan. Some directors also discussed approaching Sugar Land City Council about a proposed strategic partnership agreement instead of continuing communications with the staff.
MUD 67 Director David Gornet said that the New Territory MUDs could satisfy the 70% mandate by reducing community irrigation (with an updated system that uses rain gauges) and by using effluent from the wastewater treatment plant to fill the amenity lakes (see related story on page 3). “We can meet this first threshold ourselves, internally, and put together a GRP plan very quickly...They (the city) don’t have us over a barrel,” he said.
Another significant issue in the strategic partnership agreement is for fire protection service for New Territory. According to the current contract, the City can terminate fire protection service to New Territory with one year’s notice.
The MUDs, as part of their due diligence in studying the City’s proposed strategic partnership agreement, have already explored the possibility of leaving the City of Sugar Land’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and providing residents with the necessary services.
“This has been a long process and we are four years down the road,” commented the MUD 112 attorney. “You’ve spent a lot of money studying this—through attorney fees and other consultants,” he said. “But we are no further today than we were four years ago. We (the attorneys) have made the recommendations and hammered out an agreement ….now we are at the brink of walking away. I can’t believe that is what the city wants.”
“I think you should meet with them one more time and if things don’t work out, we should go it alone,” a MUD 68 director responded.
Pending the outcome of that meeting, the MUD directors will set a course of action.

Police Chase Ends in New Territory

A father from River Park who was apparently distraught after accidentally smothering his 4-week-old baby in a lounge chair. After threatening to kill himself with a knife, police were called by his relatives in Louisianna. Authorities arrived at his home in River Park and tried to take the suicidal man into custody. He refused and then led police on a chase which ended in the Morningside subdivision of New Territory.
Here's a link to the story which aired on abc13 Tuesday April 24th.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=5239177

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.

Swans Return to Lake Clayton

The mysterious arrival of three swans on Lake Clayton this week surprised neighbors who bid farewell to six such visitors in early April. Claytons Bend Neighborhood Representative Robin Rettew said that she spotted two swans on the lake a few days ago and then a third appeared the next morning. "They seem pretty happy, people are feeding them as usual," she said. The birds' origin is unknown.

NTRCA Community Manager Dwayne Lowry had previously reported that the six swans were seen flying south off the lake in early April and that the Association had not removed them.

Stephen F. Austin HS - 10th ranked Houston Area High School

CHILDREN AT RISK UNVEILS HOUSTON'S TOP TEN HIGH SCHOOLS
At a press conference held on Monday, April 2, 2007, CHILDREN AT RISK awarded the Top 5 High Schools in the Greater Houston Area with a certificate commending their schools' performance. Hosted at the #1 high school, HISD's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, five proud Principals accepted the honor and praised the hard work of their staff, parents, and students.Below are the 2007 top 10 High Schools:
1 High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Houston ISD)
2 YES College Prep (State Charter)
3 Cinco Ranch High School (Katy ISD)
4 DeBakey High School for Health Professions (Houston ISD)
5 Memorial High School (Spring Branch ISD)
6 Clements High School (Fort Bend ISD)
7 Taylor High School (Katy ISD)
8 Friendswood High School (Friendswood ISD)
9 Clear Lake High School (Clear Creek ISD)
10 Stephen F Austin High School (Fort Bend ISD)

other FBISD High School noteables:

12 Elkins High School
17 Kempner
21 Dulles
43 Bush
67 Hightower
81 Willowridge
The study was based on a methodology developed from several interviews with Houston-area researchers and educators. CHILDREN AT RISK evaluated variables such as graduation rates, SAT and Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test scores, percentage of students who took and met passing criteria for advanced-placement courses, percentage of students who completed the Texas Recommended High School Plan, and the percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Last year, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions was recognized as the number one high school in the Greater Houston Area.
Please find CHILDREN AT RISK's methodology http://www.childrenatrisk.org//cmsFiles/Files/2007%20Methodology.pdf & a complete list of the 97 High Schools http://www.childrenatrisk.org//cmsFiles/Files/2007%20H.S.%20Rankings.pdf . You can also find a list of high schools that were excluded from this year's study and the explanation as to why. http://www.childrenatrisk.org//cmsFiles/Files/H.S.%20Omit%20List.pdf

Lisa Rickert Seeks Second Term on FBISD Board

New Territory resident Lisa Rickert will seek a second term on the FBISD board May 12 in order to continue working towards goals that will improve the quality of education for students in the district. “I have seen much progress in the past three years within Fort Bend ISD, but there is still much to be done,” said Rickert.
New Territory voters turned out in record numbers in 2003 to help elect Rickert, the first New Territory resident to hold a political office in Fort Bend. Rickert, who served as board president in 2006, has taken a strong stance on issues of fiscal and administrative efficiency, long range planning, and professional leadership. As an at-large representative and a newcomer to the board, she examined existing practices carefully and challenged them when necessary.
“Ms. Rickert began to shake things up for the better. Eventually, a majority of Board members (who also live outside the sacred First Colony/ Commonwealth cloister) have come around to the same viewpoint — FBISD has languished for too long in nostalgia about “the good old days” when Ft. Bend was a sleepy suburban district. Reality has long left that picture in the dust but the District is having to catch up with it. An exploding population is only part of the problem….It’s been a painful change in some respects and the fight to get some change going was not pretty. Those entrenched in the ‘old ways’ fought hard to keep change from coming….” wrote an anonymous blogger in a March 6 post on Fort Bend Now.
Rickert continues to challenge “status quo” thinking but is also pleased to note that the board has worked as a team on important projects such as rezoning and hiring new Superintendent Dr. Timothy Jenney. “Dr. Jenney is a tremendous asset bringing in personnel with higher level management skills and experience that will help increase the overall efficiency of the district on all levels,” she said. Rickert was also instrumental in improving the student-teacher ratio so that there are more teachers in the classroom and smaller average class sizes. She supported internal audits that revealed areas in which the district could improve efficiency of operations.
And perhaps most significantly, Rickert has and will continue to work towards implementing innovative policies and programs to improve academic achievement for all students in the district. “No learning takes place without good teachers. As a board member, I will help ensure we have policies in place that allow us to hire and recruit quality teachers and improve the retention rate of our experienced teachers. I will support programs to encourage our best teachers to seek administrative education, promote from within the organization, and improve employee morale,” she said.
Classroom safety and discipline is another issue that will soon receive the district’s attention as Dr. Jenney’s new Chief Academic Officer John Frossard heads up a commission to recommend new policies. Rickert said she will “look to ensure rules are enforced in a fair and consistent manner with consideration for “common sense”, not zero tolerance.
Rickert aims to continue working on ways to reduce overcrowding in the growing district. She supports ideas that will make efficient use of existing campuses and facilities, as well as the construction of new schools in high-growth areas.
Rickert will be at the NTRCA candidate forum on April 19. The forum is at 7:30 p.m. at the Club.
Rickert and her husband, Bill, have lived in New Territory for 15 years and have daughters attending Sartartia Middle School and Austin High School. She has previously served on the NTRCA board, the MUD 111 board, The Brazos Bend PTO, and has been a Girl Scout leader for nine years.

NEW TERRITORY RESIDENT REACHING OUT TO SOLDIERS

When Mary Scantlin’s neighbor’s 19-year-old son was called to serve in Iraq last year, she was shocked to hear that the U.S. Marines suggested he bring his pillow.
She was struck by the irony of the request—realizing that soldiers are missing basic supplies but also the warmth and comfort of home.
Scantlin, a New Territory resident, was instantly moved to create an outreach Program called “Good News for Soldiers” which consists of sending care packages with personal notes or letters to specific soldiers.
“It’s a little box of love from home. Regardless of the contents, it holds the good news that there are people at home that care about them,” she said of her care packages. Each one includes a note from Scantlin (signed by a “Grandma in Texas”), volunteers, or local children. “The marines wrote me that they are especially touched by the letters they receive from children,” she said. The flat-rate boxes (provided by the Post Office for free) are carefully and efficiently packed with magazines, books, personal hygiene items, cough drops, aspirin, Tylenol, and pocket-sized snack packs. She fits as much into them as possible as the post office charges $8.10 regardless of weight or destination.
One sergeant with a medical police unit out of Boston suggested sending pre-packed backpacks with wash cloths, personal hygiene items, Bibles and other inspiring literature, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pajamas and home-made afghans. One very popular request is for baby wipes in the small, packable packages. Scantlin says she likes to send snack items that the soldiers can carry in their pockets because they sometimes go on 12 hour-long missions .
Although she sends out packages regularly, she hits the holidays hard. Her next mass mailing is scheduled for Easter, a season that “speaks of new life and hope,” she said.
Scantlin sent out 270 packages last year and wants to send out hundreds more this year. She needs volunteers, though. “People in New Territory don’t even know there is an outreach right here,” she said. Scantlin has a room set aside in her Pointe Royale' house for sorting and packaging. Donations of money and supplies are also welcome although she is still waiting for approval of her application for tax-exempt status. The packages cost $8.10 each to mail, and that doesn’t include their contents. And of course, she could use letter-writers too to bring “Good News to Soldiers”!
“Whatever your views on the war, we need to support our military. I am very patriotic,” she said.
To volunteer your time or resources, contact Mary Scantlin at spgndy@yahoo.com and write “GNFS” in the subject line.

NEW TERRITORY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS REZONING PLAN

BRAZOS BEND AND WALKER STATION REZONING PLAN TO BALANCE STUDENT POPULATION

As expected, FBISD approved a zoning plan for 2007-2008 in their February 26 meeting that includes sending Telfair children to Sartartia Middle School instead of First Colony Middle School and officially shifting four New Territory neighborhoods from Brazos Bend Elementary to Walker Station Elementary. In a surprise move, however, the board also decided to re-zone the Broadstone Apartments on New Territory Blvd. to Walker Station as well. Doing so will likely result in about 100 less students for Brazos Bend next year, said
Associate Superintendent of Facilities and Planning, Lee Petros. Brazos Bend, with a design capacity for 795 students and a functional capacity for 716 students, has about 952 students this year. Walker Station, with a slightly larger design capacity (908), is better equipped to handle the students from the apartments because of its size, lesser students, and “greying” population. Walker Station Principal Chris Morgan said enrollment numbers are projected to decline over the next several years as kids get older and move on to middle and high schools and as fewer families with young children move into the community. “We have fewer and fewer kindergartners each year,” he noted.
Morgan also expressed no concern with the increased numbers for next year. With the rezoning, Walker Station will go from 804 to about 900 students. “We’ll be fine. Our teachers are excellent and will provide the same level as education no matter what. This is not going to change things for us.” He also said he does not think they will need an extra portable as they have one vacant one on site.
Brazos Bend Principal Beverly Croucher expressed the same confidence as Morgan. “We manage very well over here and will continue to do the same for our kids as we’ve always done,” she said. The rezoning will provide some relief, she said, but they will still require portables. There are 8 portables, or 16 classes, on campus now. This is the entire fourth and fifth grades.
The rezoning results in both schools being equally overcrowded so that Brazos Bend is not overly burdened, said Petros. “It just evens the population and makes it more evenly distributed,” he said.

FBISD approves calendar "B" for 2007-2008

The FBISD school board has approved calendar "B" for the 2007-2008 school year, a schedule that includes longer holiday vacations but a June 4 end date. Both calendars considered by the school board and presented to the public for input had an August 27 start-date due to changes in state law which no longer allow districts to start school earlier with an approved waiver. According to FBISD officials, 2545 out of 3011 respondents favored calendar B over calendar A (84.5%) in their website survey. The main differences between the two proposed calendars were that Calendar A showed two days off at Thanksgiving instead of 5, 8 days off at Winter Break instead of 10, a May 28 end-date, and a slightly longer first semester.

District personnel stated that the shortened Thanksgiving break in 2006 resulted in 4083 student absences on Monday, November 20 and 6757 on Tuesday, November 21. The absenteeism on those two days cost the district $164,000. For this reason, the district supported a full week off for Thanksgiving break.

Although many students, parents, and staff members expressed their preference to take semester exams before the Winter Break, the Calendar Committee determined the grading periods would be too unbalanced in that arrangement, district personnel said. Students will have ten days after returning from Winter Break before the first semester ends when they take final exams.

Many parents also suggested through the survey that they would support eliminating Fort Bend County Fair Day, a holiday on the fourth Friday of September. The district said they would consider this for the 2008-2009 calendar.

Another parent proposal was to consider moving Spring Break to another week so that Good Friday stands alone as a holiday. "The proposed schedule for Spring Break is consistent with the time other districts in the area are scheduling Spring Break. It was a coincidence that Good Friday fell during this week for 2008. This will not be a consistent issue, as Good Friday falls on different dates each year," said the district.

Dates for 2007-2008 Calendar

August 27 - school starts
September 3 - Labor Day holiday
September 28 - Fort Bend County Fair Day holiday
November 9 - staff development
November 19 - 13 - Thanksgiving break
December 20 - January 2 - Winter Break
February 29 - staff development
March 17 - 21 - Spring Break
May 2 - staff development
May 26 - Memorial Day holiday
June 5 - last day of school
June 6, 7 - graduation