South Montgomery County officials identify projects for transportation study

County Judge Alan Sadler also suggested studying the feasibility of toll roads, particularly one connecting the proposed Grand Parkway to Hwy 242, which could expand further north to Hwy 105. Sadler said another potential toll road could stretch northwest into Montgomery, and he believes toll roads could provide funding for transportation projects which will be difficult to obtain from bond referendums, tax increases and the Texas Department of Transportation.

"This is about money; this is about big money," Sadler said. "We had a $300 million road bond issue which failed because of a tax increase and I'm not sure that's going to change any time soon."

Individual entities also expressed interest in specific projects. The Woodlands Township Director Mike Bass said rights of way are already planned for several major thoroughfares in The Woodlands, but he would like to see improved access to the Grand Parkway from Gosling Road and Kuykendahl Road, as well as connectivity to Springwoods Village from those thoroughfares.

Shenandoah City Administrator Greg Smith said the study needs to address the area of Grogan's Mill Road north of Research Forest Drive, as well as the intersection of Tamina Road and I-45, a northbound extension of David Memorial Drive to Hwy 242 and possibly a new westbound corridor from I-45 to The Woodlands. Oak Ridge North Mayor Jim Kuykendall was concerned mostly with the traffic in his city along Robinson Road, particularly at the intersection of Hanna Road.

"It just paralyzes the community at different times of day," Kuykendall said. "People cannot get out of the community."

Bicycle lanes, I-45, the expansion of FM 2978 and its noise concerns, and other projects were also discussed as possible areas of study.

Alan Clark, metropolitan planning organization director for H-GAC's transportation department, said the group will meet again in April to refine the vision of the mobility scope and beginning creating agreements with local participants. Clark said there is no timetable yet for when requests for consultants may be sent out, although he anticipates the study should be completed by spring of 2014 in time to be included in the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan.