The township responded to a request from the city of Conroe to allocate $501,021 in regional participation agreement funds toward the project, which is expected to cost about $8 million. Community Impact previously reported the project will be funded by about $4.8 million from Shenandoah, $2 million from the 2015 Montgomery County road bond and up to $2 million from the city of Conroe. A letter from the city to the township states Conroe's portion is still expected to be about $2 million. The cities of Shenandoah and Conroe, The Woodlands Township and Montgomery County are members of the agreement, which in late 2007 established a regional participation fund for “mutually beneficial projects within the region” and other purposes, according to information from the township’s meeting agenda.
This is the first time Conroe has asked for use of the funds, according to township meeting materials.
The request from Conroe to The Woodlands also includes a stipulation that the city of Shenandoah be the project manager for the project.
Board of directors Chair Gordy Bunch said the project will benefit the region.
“This ... will take pressure off of I-45 and the feeder road ... providing not just another conduit for people to get down to [Hwy.] 242 but also public safety. We collectively as area governmental entities ... all unanimously agree this project has merit,” Bunch said.
Shenandoah officials on Sept. 28 approved $170,000 for initial surface clearing for the project.
