Regional Mobility – Upcoming Projects

The West Houston Association’s Mobility Plan for 2017 identifies the transportation needs in the West Houston with major projects that are under review or have already begun. With the assistance of our members and Regional Mobility Committee, WHA aims to fulfill the mobility needs over the next years to support the anticipated growth using available resources. Some of the major projects under review are the Clay road, and Farm to Market 1463 projects. The other projects that have already begun are Highway 290, and Westpark Tollway/FM 1093. For the Clay road project, TxDOT has proposed improvements to the SH 6 and Clay Road Intersection, located in Harris County. In WHA’s MasterPlan 2050, we recommend the intersection to be a grade separation to improve the lanes.

TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration proposed widening and improving Farm to Market 1463 with an estimated cost of $81 million to design, acquire rights-of-way, and construct the Project. To solve the congestion issues along Highway 290, TxDOT and METRO have been working together with a $1.3 billion project to widen Hwy. 290 from Loop 610 to the Harris County. WHA recommends to extend the multimodal corridor with the freeway, variably tolled managed use lanes and transit to the city of Waller, well before mid-century. For the extension of Westpark Tollway and FM 1093, a project with an estimated cost of $63.9 million has been proposed by Fort Bend County Assistance District 1, Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, Emergency Services District 100, and TxDOT. FM 1093 will be a two-lane frontage road in each direction on the Westpark Tollway.

WHA supports well-designed and well-implemented pedestrian and bicycle projects to facilitate the population of the region. Westchase Management District has funded two projects to be completed by 2018. The reconstruction project from Kirkwood Drive South to Rockyridge Drive with an estimated cost of $12.9 million and a $576,000 construction project of 10-foot wide hike and bike trail connecting Westheimer Street to Richmond Avenue. TxDOT has funded a $.5 million project to construct an 8-feet wide shared-use path to provide a safe designated route for cyclists and pedestrians from Memorial Drive to Terry Hershey Park to Briar Forest. H-GAC is considering a $14 million project for an alternate mode of transportation to connect bus services, sidewalks, and crosswalks throughout the corridor for bikers and pedestrians from Memorial Drive to San Felipe Street.