What you need to know
Montgomery County commissioners agreed Feb. 11 to put a $480 million road bond referendum before voters in the May 3 election. Funds will be divided among the four commissioner precincts, meaning each commissioner will receive $120 million to complete projects within their precincts.
The referendum will be the first bond sent to the voters by the county in 10 years. The last bond election was held in 2015 for $280 million, and it went before voters in both the May and November elections that year before being passed.
John Robuck, managing partner at BOK Financials, the county’s bond counsel, said the bond initiative should not result in a property tax increase if it is approved by voters. Robuck said this is because the county lowered its debt service over the last several years to allow for the issuance of $120 million a year in debt using the county’s current funding collections.
The details
Across the county, commissioners have identified 76 projects which will be funded through the road bond if approved by voters. There is no individual cost estimate available as of press time for the projects.
Precinct 1: 13 projects
The Precinct 1 project list includes:
- Reconstructing a four-lane roadway on Calvary Road
- Reconstructing a four-lane roadway on Cude Cemetary Road
- Widening and rehabilitating roads including Old Dobbin Plantersville Road and Johnson Road
- Widening and rehabilitating Lone Star Parkway in Montgomery
- Conduct study for new southwestern segment of Lone Star Parkway
- Conduct study to extend Seven Coves Road from FM 2432 to County Line Road
The Precinct 2 project list includes the total reconstruction of:
- Hardin Store Road
- Dobbin Huffsmith Road
- Goodson Loop
- River Plantation Drive
- Honea Egypt Road
- Kuykendahl Road
- Woodtrace Boulevard (also extending to FM 2978)
In Precinct 3, shoulder replacements will be done on multiple thoroughfares including:
- Woodlands Parkway
- Grogans Mill Road
- Kuykendahl Road
- Research Forest Drive
- Lake Woodlands Drive
- Four-lane extension of Townsen Boulevard
- Widening Robinson Road east of Hanna Road from the Oak Ridge North city boundary to Imperial Oaks Drive
- Turn lane improvements along Grand Parkway and Birnham Woods Drive
The Precinct 4 project list includes:
- Widening Sorters Road and Ford Road
- Complete David Memorial Drive extension to Hwy. 242
- Bridge replacements along Albert Moorhead Drive and Gene Campbell Road.
- Engineering and environmental studies to widen Galaxy Boulevard
- Engineering and environmental studies to widen Old Houston Road
- Engineering and environmental studies to widen Gene Campbell Road
According to the Montgomery County Attorney's Office, commissioners are legally not able to advocate for or against the bond referendum once called. However, a website and email address–[email protected]–has been set up by the county for residents to direct questions to prevent violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Early voting for the May election starts on April 22, while election day is May 3.
