Richmond mobility project a ‘big piece of the puzzle’ for city’s drainage system

Of the two Richmond projects included in Fort Bend County’s proposed mobility bond election slated for November, the Clay Street project is a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to the city’s overall drainage master plan, said Howard Christian, Richmond’s public works director.

“[The project] will impact everything that drains through that drainage basin,” Christian said.

The Clay Street project calls for a two-lane concrete curb and gutter roadway with a storm sewer that would run from Collins Road to Second Street. Christian said this area has low-income housing and is prone to flooding.

The proposed cost for the Clay Street project is $6.6 million, while the bond amount is set at $2.5 million. Christian said this disparity in funding will pose a huge challenge, particularly in how the city will approach the project. Christian said he expects the Clay Street project will have to be done in phases.

“The reason why it was so expensive is the drainage,” Christian said. “[But it’s also] a combination, it’s also street rehab because you’re going to be tearing up part of the street putting in these big storm basins.”

If residents approve the proposed November bond referendum, Christian said the Clay Street project could take up to 18 months to complete.

The second Richmond project would transition the 3–lane concrete roadway on Ransom Road into 4 lanes and would run from Sugar Land city limits to the Grand Parkway. Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales said he considered pulling the project from the list after Sugar Land and the city of Richmond pulled funding support but decided to keep it in design-only.

Hebert said he is adamant the mobility bond must not require a tax increase.

“It cannot impact our tax rate at all,” Hebert said. “If it does, we are not going to put it before the people.”