Members of Bellaire City Council unanimously approved a budget amendment July 6 that would increase funding to the METRO Fund by $500,000. The requested amount is intended to be used to address significant pavement deficiencies throughout the city to ensure the timely restoration of roadways impacted by underground utility repairs.
The setup
The funds will allow the city to address larger-scale pavement failures and deteriorated roadway segments through targeted rehabilitation efforts such as concrete panel removal, asphalt overlay and curb and gutter replacement, according to the agenda item.
"A lot of this funding is going to help us finish the year strong," Public Works Director Mark Velasquez said. "Anytime there's a main break, lateral line issues, or anytime we have to go into our infrastructure, whether it's water or wastewater, we actually have the restoration that comes out of pavement and maintenance."
As of July 6, Velasquez said the department has had 31 jobs in 2026 where workers have had to refill and restore all the pavement after a project is completed.
Zooming in
The $500,000 additional funding will go toward specific projects for the remainder of 2026, Velasquez said. An example is the South Rice Asphalt Repair project.
According to the city's website, the project involves replacing the asphalt surface along South Rice Avenue to improve roadway conditions and provide a "smoother driving experience." Repairs will occur at eight locations along South Rice Avenue:
- Evergreen Street
- Maple Street to Mimosa Street
- Holly Street
- Holly Street to Church of Christ
- Holt Street (two repair areas)
- Huisache Street (two repair areas)
The roughly $67,000 project will start in mid-July and is estimated to take approximately one week to complete, weather permitting. Work will be done at one intersection and completed before moving to the next stop, city officials said.
Related highlights
City Manager Sharon Citino also gave an update on a waterline project replacement that is anticipated to start next week at South Rice Avenue and Pine Street. The project is not related to the METRO Fund project listed above.
The project, which involves replacing aging and undersized water distribution mains to improve reliability and water quality, includes replacing waterlines, valves, service connections and pavement restoration. The $5 million Capital Improvement Project is estimated to start in July and last through August 2027.
