The backstory
Pearland City Council on Dec. 11 voted 6 to 1 to enter into two agreements with the H-GAC to conduct a pair of studies, which include a citywide mobility plan and corridor study of FM 518.
The mobility plan will identify congested traffic areas and provide solutions for making Pearland’s traffic safer and more efficient, according to agenda documents. It will also provide updates to the Pearland Thoroughfare Plan.
To fund the study, which is expected to cost $450,000, Pearland will contribute $50,000 and the H-GAC will cover the remaining portion.
The corridor study of FM 518 will survey the roadway from McLean Road to Edgewood Drive and will evaluate the conversion of Walnut Drive and Broadway Street from McLean Road to Barry Rose Road into a one-way pair.
In their own words
While discussing the mobility study, Mayor Kevin Cole asked if it would investigate how many lanes need to be added to corridors that connect to the city’s major thoroughfares, such as Broadway Street and McHard Road.
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“We’ll be able to look at these corridors in our Thoroughfare Plan and look at, ultimately, do they need to have the four lanes, or could some of them do with less,” City Manager Trent Epperson said of the city’s future transportation projects.
One more thing
Both studies will be completed 18 months from their start date, according to agenda documents. Upon completion, Pearland will provide annual updates to the H-GAC on the progress of the study’s recommended projects.
