Here are the three major mobility items that were discussed during last night’s workshop:

1. Woodlands Parkway overpass project

Oak Ridge North City Council approved a motion to allow city staff to move forward in discussions with Montgomery County Precinct 3 regarding the Woodlands Parkway overpass project. City Manager Vicky Rudy said the county project will reach the intersection of Patsy Lane and Robinson Road.

"They are going to improve that intersection but that portion [in Oak Ridge North] is still our responsibility," Rudy said. "It also creates a loop to the future hotel site. So we need to begin conversations with the county. So we were approved to move forward."

2. Robinson Road funding option

City Council members approved a $334,000 contract with RPS Klotz Associates for Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP, funding assistance and preliminary engineering. The Houston-Galveston Area Council’s call for TIP projects is anticipated to start in the third quarter of 2017 and is an opportunity for local governments and transportation agencies to compete for federal transportation project funding.

The scope of work by RPS Klotz Associates includes engineering and support for the city to complete an application for H-GAC's call for TIP projects. Rudy said the city anticipates applying for funding for Robinson Road improvements.

"The process takes about a year and a half to get through but the process should begin this fall," Rudy said. "We anticipate applying for funding for Robinson Road through this and are contracting with RPS Klotz to prepare for that."

3. Robinson Road turn lane 

City Council authorized city staff to submit a $140,000 proposal to the Economic Development Corporation for intersection improvements, which include a turn lane from Robinson Road into the Oak Ridge North Commerce Park east of the railroad tracks.

"We pulled that project out of the TIP program because we need to do it sooner rather than later," Rudy said. "It's been such a problem getting out of the business park. The proposal will go to the EDC in July."