City officials approved the committee charter to create the Montgomery Transportation Advisory Committee at a July 25 City Council meeting after City Administrator Gary Palmer expressed interest in finding a better way to evaluate, collaborate and plan for future transportation needs.

The setup

According to the agenda packet, the purpose of the Montgomery Transportation Advisory Committee is to help advise City Council and the city administrator on all issues and/or projects related to mobility, including topics such as traffic, pedestrians and mass within city limits.

Here are the parameters of the committee:
  • The committee will consist of five members.
  • At least one appointee will be a council member, and one appointee will be the police chief.
  • When a committee seat is vacant, any City Council member may nominate a candidate for appointment.
  • Committee responsibilities include providing input on transportation projects, using best practices in local government transportation planning and providing recommendations on appointments to the committee.
  • Each term limit is for one year starting June 1.
In their own words

"Not long after I got here, the mayor asked me to put something together to help us as a city work through some of these transportation and mobility issues," Palmer said during a July 11 workshop. "This is to help us reform our relationships with outside agencies and tap into the talent that is in our community to try [and] help move the city forward."


In other news

City officials also discussed the future plans and provisions for a proposed Home Depot. According to prior Community Impact reporting, council members and a representative from Home Depot discussed approving a parking variance with attached conditions July 11. Those conditions included:
  • Installing a traffic signal light at Buffalo Springs Drive and Hwy. 105
  • Reconstructing Buffalo Springs Drive between Eva Street and Lone Star Parkway
  • Screening the rooftop equipment on the building
  • Changing the masonry exterior construction from split-faced concrete to brick or natural stone
The update

However, Home Depot Site Coordinator Jordan Corbitt expressed concern for several of the city's stipulations. During the council meeting July 25, a new agreement was approved that included:
  • Home Depot providing not more than $750,000 to make improvements to Buffalo Springs Drive
  • Entering a partnership to help pressure the Texas Department of Transportation to fund the traffic signal at Hwy. 105 and Buffalo Springs Drive
  • Screening the rooftop using enhanced landscaping
  • Foregoing the 100% brick facade