County leaders discuss local growth needs as bond election approaches
Ongoing population growth in northwest Harris County has residents pondering whether improvements for county roads and related infrastructure can keep pace.
The Texas Department of Transportation was able to accelerate work being done now to ease congestion on U.S. 290 after the county agreed to chip in on it and other regional highway projects. But what about the roads that feed into the highway from the area’s booming neighborhoods and commercial zones?
Harris County Commissioners Court has authorized a Nov. 3 election on four bond propositions that would provide $700 million for county roads and bridges, $60 million for park projects, $64 million for flood control and $24 million to expand a crowded animal control shelter — $848 million in all.
While he can’t advocate for
the bond issues, Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle admits, “This would give us some breathing room to enhance and invest in the region.”
Cagle’s speech at the Sept. 3 meeting of the CyFair Houston Chamber of Commerce’s transportation and governmental affairs committee aimed “to bring about awareness so you all know what’s coming and can do your own investigation.”
Committee co-chair Debbie Blackshear asked, “What if it doesn’t pass?”
“If it does not pass, we will continue to do little bits in a world that requires major stuff,” Cagle said.
He likened it to having a family of 10 living in a onebedroom apartment.
“You just have to figure out a way to make it happen,” he said.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack believes constituents already recognize the work that is needed to accommodate growth.
“The people who voted for Cy-Fair ISD’s $1.2 billion in school improvements (in May 2014) recognize they set the table for more growth in the area,” Radack said. “Once those improvements are done — if you’ve made that kind of investment and don’t make the same kind of investment in roads and infrastructure, it’s not going to work very well. It’s very important that people recognize you can’t have a bunch of new schools and new students and get them to those facilities without some type of improvements in roads.”
Both Cagle and Radack say the county employs “best practices” and partners with other government agencies and private entities to stretch its infrastructure dollars.
The proposed bonds would be issued over several years. Budget managers expect growth in residential and commercial development will repay the bonds without the need for a tax increase, although the ballot language acknowledges the new debt is taxsupported.
“We have projects that are already engineered that we need adequate funds to provide. I’m out there trying to get money from numerous sources, like (the Metropolitan Transit Authority) or from developers, who are required to do certain things on thoroughfares,” Radack said. “I negotiate to obtain right of way for roads but also to participate in engineering, construction and mitigation of flood issues with onsite detention. Private sector funding makes it possible for the county to go in and get things done.”
Precinct 3 plans to eventually widen Cypress Rose Hill and Mueschke roads to improve mobility from U.S. 290 to FM 2920. About nine projects are envisioned to rebuild two-lane asphalt segments to fourlane concrete boulevards from just south of the Grand Parkway through the intersection with FM 2920. Those would happen sooner rather than later if voters OK the bonds for roads and bridges.
Cagle also wants to see projects on Kuykendahl and Gosling Road move forward and to improve mobility on Telge and North Eldridge.
He noted that $60 million of the road bond proposal is set aside for improvements in aging neighborhoods — projects that often take a back seat to those that further safety and mobility for the entire region when spending tightens.
“Those are enhancements our aging neighborhoods need so they’re not always being pushed to the bottom of the priority list,” he said.
Cagle said 610 plats have been approved in Precinct 4 in the past 18 months — 269 for residential development and 341 for business centers.
“Many of these are what I call ‘cow pasture neighborhoods.’ Now instead of cattle grazing going on, they’re being picked up and houses are being built there,” he said.
More is expected as progress on the Houston region’s outermost loop, the Grand Parkway, continues.
Harris County’s population of 4.5 million, including 1.9 million in unincorporated areas, is expected to double in 15 years, Cagle said. Precinct 4’s population alone is more than that of eight states; adjoining Precinct 3, which also serves the region, could say the same, he said.
Robin Foster is a freelance writer