The gist
At a Feb. 18 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved submitting an application for the Texas Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside grant program for a multimodal bridge across the Brazos River.
The 10-foot suspension bridge would serve as alternative transportation for both pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the river, city officials said in an email. The bridge aims to connect Greatwood neighborhood residents to several city amenities, including Brazos River Park, Crown Festival Park and the University of Houston at Sugar Land campus.
The cost
The project design and construction is expected to cost $12.5 million, according to agenda documents. The city could receive $10 million in funding with a local $2.5 million match by the city.
If awarded, city officials are considering using funds from an anticipated 2026 Fort Bend County mobility bond for the local match, according to agenda documents.
Community Impact reached out to Fort Bend County to learn more about the potential mobility bond, but the information wasn’t returned by press time.
What else?
Council also approved submitting a secondary application for its Americans with Disabilities Act self-evaluation and transition plan, which is a requirement for cities with populations over 50,000, city officials said. The finalized plan will include prioritized improvements and implementation plans to guide city projects in the coming years.
Officials said the city completed an ADA compliance plan last year to serve as a blueprint for the transition plan for approximately:
- 99 facilities
- 90 signaled intersections
- 846 miles of sidewalk
- 27 parks, plus amenities
Going forward
Preliminary applications for the both projects must be submitted to TxDOT by Feb. 21, with a detailed project deadline of June 20. Award announcements will be made in October, city officials said.
