New high-rise buildings and development changed the face of south Montgomery County in 2013. With population and development growth showing no signs of slowing down, The Woodlands, Oak Ridge North and Shenandoah are making plans to account for escalating populations while gearing up for more potential economic prosperity.
The next year will see the completion of the South Montgomery County Mobility Study, a partnership between south county communities and the Houston-Galveston Area Council that will prioritize projects in the region to receive federal mobility funding. While the region collectively experiences a high number of transportation challenges, each community has its own challenges and projects on the horizon.
"We want to maintain the best infrastructure, and we're committed to doing that," Woodlands Township Chairman Bruce Tough said. "The board has allocated capital reserve money, transportation reserve money, economic development reserve money. We're always looking and planning for the next big project for The Woodlands."
The Woodlands Township
In addition to the ongoing mobility study, The Woodlands and H-GAC should receive results from a separate transit study in 2014 that will examine the efficiency of the township's park and ride system, trolleys and Waterway Cruisers, while evaluating solutions, such as an overhead rail or an expanded transit system with a transit center.
The township will take over funding and operations of The Woodlands' park and rides system from the Brazos Transit District in the fall, township President Don Norrell said. Although Norrell said Brazos would likely still operate the buses, The Woodlands will eventually need to determine whether to lease the buses long term or purchase them. Norrell said the township will not need to provide money for the program in 2014, as bus fares and federal funding cover operational costs.
"The board has made it clear that they will continue to look at that revenue structure to make sure that if we get behind, then we need to look at [possibly increasing] fares in the future," Norrell said.
Tough said the township plans to provide $1.4 million in improvements to Fire Station No. 2 on Gosling Road. A bid process is underway and could be completed in the first quarter, with construction expected to take a year, Norrell said.
"The board is committed to the fire department and they continue to improve it, because Fire Station No. 2 does a lot of runs and is under a lot of mutual aid," Tough said.
Renovations will also soon begin on Shadowbend Park, a $1.3 million project. John Powers, assistant general manager of community services, said new playground equipment and enhancements to the pavilion will be added, while the bulk of the changes will be seen at the pool, including a splash pad.
The park should be ready by June 6, in time for the beginning of the pool season.
Construction could also begin on a proposed sports complex on Gosling Road adjacent to the Research Forest Park and Ride, Powers said. The site could provide four to six regulation-sized, multi-use fields and cost $4.5 million to $6 million, depending on the use of natural or all-weather turf.
An agreement between the township and The Woodlands Development Company for the donation of the 26-acre site could be completed in February. Following site analysis, the board could decide on the layout of the fields in March or April. The complex could be completed by spring 2015.
"It will be another quality, signature project to The Woodlands that will help the residents, benefit the businesses and add to the economy," Tough said.
City of Shenandoah
Shenandoah is expecting to see significant residential and hospitality development this year as the community nears build-out.
"We stand the potential in the next 12 months to not be totally built out, but to have all of the projects identified and going through a process for construction," Shenandoah City Administrator Greg Smith said. "I think we'll have a much better look of what's coming to Shenandoah by the end of 2014."
Smith said as many as 150 new homes could be constructed this year on the west side of I-45, including Parkgate Reserve, The Reserve at Grogan's Mill, Marion and Lily. Pelican Homes also recently purchased 10 acres for more than 100 homes off of Vision Park Boulevard.
"Our biggest challenge is going to be getting all these projects completed and on the ground," he said. "Once we get through with those projects coming in, it goes back to providing the same level of service we have today, tomorrow and the next year and the year after that."
Smith said he feels confident the city's infrastructure and planning over the last few years will not be stressed by the increased residential development. The city has several projects planned to meet the needs of residents in 2014, including $1.7 million in renovations to the city's park, the installation of 82 solar-powered streetlights in Shenandoah Valley and continued work on connecting the city's pathway system.
Shenandoah could consider several projects to improve mobility, especially around Research Forest Drive. Smith said the city is considering adding an eastbound-to-southbound turn lane at Research Forest Drive and I-45, while also examining I-45 and Research Forest Drive going northbound.
"The thing we've seen from our perspective is the traffic leaving The Woodlands seems to cause more concerns and issues than the traffic coming into The Woodlands," he said.
City of Oak Ridge North
With the city's comprehensive plan in place, Oak Ridge North can begin taking further steps toward planning its future this year. City Manager Vicky Rudy said $50,000 has been budgeted for a public spaces plan that will examine possibilities and locations for amenities, including parks, pathways, branding features and a possible town center within the city's Plaza District.
"That's a big deal, and it's going to be very detailed," Rudy said. "[The plan will detail] here's where the sidewalks go, here's where the parks are going to be, here's what they're going to basically look like—an outline of all those details of some of those things that are in that comprehensive plan."
The plan could begin in February, with completion estimated sometime in mid-2014, Rudy said. The city could address some of the "low-hanging fruit" from the comprehensive plan in 2014, including a pocket park along Woodson Road, pathways and branding features.
Meanwhile, 2014 will also see infrastructure changes in Oak Ridge North, including the completion of more than $8 million in ongoing projects. Rudy said the $3 million reconstruction of water plant No. 1 is about halfway completed and could be finished in the fall, while the city's lengthy $4.5 million sewer rehabilitation project could be completed in late spring.
Oak Ridge North will begin evaluating all of its streets and compiling a schedule for resurfacing in January, Rudy said. The city has about $1 million in tax notes for the resurfacing of its roads, which have not been re-paved in more than a decade.
The completion of H-GAC's mobility study could help the city identify how best to address Robinson Road and the overpass at Robinson Road and I-45. Although, engineering will need to be completed and funding found for the projects before construction can begin, Rudy said.
"Some of those projects will come down to whether or not the county can pass a bond," she said. "It'll be a massive plan, and we'll be just a couple of projects in the plan."
