1. Cane Island Parkway

This project will build the first half of a two-lane concrete boulevard from FM 1463 to I-10. A traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of FM 1463 and Cane Island Parkway. This project will provide access to I-10 and will lessen traffic congestion.

Timeline: summer 2017-spring 2018 Cost: $9 million Funding sources: Fort Bend County, city of Katy, Ventana Development

2. Gaston Road Project, Phase 1

In order to improve traffic mobility, an existing two-lane asphalt road will be widened to a four-lane concrete boulevard from Katy Flewellen to Greenbusch roads. This project also included the relocation of a 4-inch diameter gas line.

Timeline: summer 2017-spring 2018 Cost: $9 million Funding sources: Fort Bend County, NewQuest Properties

3. Greenbusch Road

The road will be converted from a two-lane asphalt road to a four-lane concrete road from Gaston Road to Westheimer Parkway. The project will also include a bridge along Greenbusch Road. Once completed, the project is expected to alleviate traffic and improve mobility in the area.

Timeline: spring 2018-spring 2019 Cost: $7.8 million Funding sources: Fort Bend County

4. Katy Gaston Road

Katy Gaston Road was converted from a two-lane asphalt roadway into four concrete lanes. The road was improved from Summerset Ridge Lane and realigned to connect with FM 1093 in order to improving traffic congestion in the area.

Timeline: summer 2016-spring 2017 Cost: $1.7 million Funding sources: Fort Bend County

How it works: How does TxDOT prioritize construction?

Although the Texas Department of Transportation funds construction for highways and other major roads in the state right of way, metropolitan planning organizations prioritize project construction.

Texas has 25 metropolitan planning organizations, or MPOs, that create transportation policy, forecast mobility needs, administer regional planning, and channel state and federal funding for area projects. MPOs include the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

MPOs score project proposals on safety, mobility, environmental quality, economic development, and asset management and operations.

Then the MPO determines the funding and shovel-readiness of a project. If no funding is available and the project is far from being construction-ready, then it is shelved and could be revisited.

Once a project is approved by the MPO, then projects are added to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program or TxDOT’s 10-year Unified Transportation Program.