Traffic change coming to Lone Star Parkway, Buffalo Springs Drive in Montgomery

A change in traffic flow will occur at the intersection of Lone Star Parkway and Buffalo Springs Drive, Montgomery Mayor Sara Countryman said. The intersection is a four-way stop, but Countryman said the city is considering constructing a turn lane, a roundabout or a traffic signal.

Although there is no timeline, Countryman said she has been working with Montgomery County Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Walker and the Texas Department of Transportation to put a plan in place. While TxDOT Public Information Officer Emily Black said in an email the agency is not working with the city on the project, Walker’s office did confirm it is working with the city on the change.

“Growth is happening, and we need to ensure our infrastructure can handle it and gets ahead of that growth,” Countryman said.

After receiving complaints from residents and witnessing long lines of cars at the intersection, Countryman said she asked Walker to conduct a traffic study. The study, which was completed in May, showed that nearly 15,000 cars went through the intersection daily, Countryman said.

Countryman said she believes the high volume of traffic at Lone Star Parkway and Buffalo Springs Drive is a result of drivers trying to avoid downtown Montgomery to reach Hwy. 105. She said the city needs to consider the future of the area, including whether the roads will remain two lanes or grow to four lanes.

“It’s not just for the 15,000 cars that are going through there today. It’s [for] the future when it becomes 20,000 and 25,000 and 30,000 [vehicles],” Countryman said.

Countryman said although Lone Star Parkway is a county road, the city is willing to help financially with the traffic change, but she could not provide a cost estimate as of press time. Countryman said the need for traffic mitigation speaks to the growth the city and the surrounding area is seeing.

“We’re desirable,” Countryman said. “We have that hometown charm that the folks from bigger cities or out of state [seek]. When they come here they just feel safe; they feel at home.”