Public comment sought on traffic plan

After The Woodlands Township put the brakes on the Texas Department of Transportation’s plan to widen Texas 242 to six lanes in September, the state is seeking public comment on its scaled-back plan to address traffic congestion on the roadway between FM 1488 and Interstate 45.

According to information from the state, the project will not add additional lanes to the roadway for more capacity but will make improvements to intersections, drainage and shoulders along the road from FM 1488 to I-45.

The cost of the modified project was not available.

TxDOT will host a public meeting to receive comments on the project at 7:30 p.m. March 9 in the cafeteria of College Park High School, 3701 College Park Drive.

A virtual meeting will also be available from 5 p.m. March 7 to noon March 24 where the public can submit comments.

The original $40 million plan to widen Texas 242 sparked concerns from residents who urged the township to get the project nixed.

Board member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who spearheaded the effort with TxDOT to get the widening stopped along with state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, and Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley, said while residents are pleased with the outcome, some are still concerned about the state’s plan to add detention ponds.

According to TxDOT, the state will need 10.74 acres of right of way for three proposed stormwater detention ponds.

“Many residents have expressed concerns about the construction of these detention ponds, not only because they will cause the loss of many mature trees but also they will likely be dry holes during periods of drought,” Sekula-Gibbs said. “Lack of adequate landscaping and enclosing the ponds with chain link fencing could compound the aesthetic challenges.”

Sekula-Gibbs said Township Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes is working with TxDOT officials about how to make the detention ponds more attractive and compatible with the other 68 ponds in The Woodlands.

For more information on the public meeting, visit TxDOT’s website.