New information re: Grand Parkway, Segment F-2!
Senator Jon Lindsay holds private meeting with local developers re: alignment of Segment F-2!
One person's notes from the meeting:
There were about fifty people present.
Lindsay called the meeting with the developers and Harris County Toll Road Authority in order to reach a consensus regarding the alignment of Segment F-2. David Gornet and Robin Sterry were not informed of the meeting.
Some of the developers called friends who happened to be directors of both Bridgestone and Northampton Municipal Utility Districts (MUD).
According to one account, a show of hands indicated that all persons present were in favor of the Grand Parkway being built in this area.
No one from Bridgestone or Northampton apparently voiced any dissent of any kind to any alignment.
Senator Jon Lindsay may not care what the MUD's want anyway because he did not invite them, only developers.
Senator Jon Lindsay is also the head of the North Houston Association also. That group recently came out with their Strategic Mobility Plan. In it, they are working very hard to push the Grand Parkway project.
Developers all preferred routes close to, but not through their properties.
Bob Jones of Jones and Carter presented a new map with "WHITE" and "BLUE" routes.
No one at the meeting could even tell how these new lines matched up, IF AT ALL, with the already proposed Alignments A, B, C, D, E, F-1, F-2, or G.
Harris County Toll Road Authority has now been charged with getting new aerial maps of the area in question (Segment F-2) with all the developers areas clearly marked so everyone can see how everyone is affected. (This is something that United To Save Our Spring has been pushing for for over four years now, and apparently, even at this late stage of the game, even the developers can't tell where the Segment F-2 is in relationship to their properties!)
Lindsay made it very clear that his goal there was to satisfy the developers. His statement was, "Sometimes you just have to run over people to get things done!"
Even though the traffic studies have not been finalized or released from the Wilbur Smith consulting firm, apparently HCTRA is interested in building E, F-1, F-2, and G. Even though the traffic counts from all segments except Segment F-2 are small, they want to build the entire 53 mile stretch.
There is a possibility that the Texas Turnpike Authority may also be interested in building this project. They are currently embroiled in the Tomball Tollroad nightmare. They may want to take over the design and build phase of the Grand Parkway, because if Texas Turnpike Authority is in charge of it, they money will go into state coffers. If HCTRA is in charge of the project, all monies generated from the revenue will go into only the counties coffers.
The Grand Parkway Association/TxDOT are supposedly continuing their supplemental studies even as HCTRA is announcing that they are interested in taking over the project NOW!
Since the traffic studies have not been completed, and Montgomery County is now working on a "Pass-Through" toll system, there is a possibility that Montgomery County may assemble their own Mobility Authority and put the Grand Parkway up in Montgomery County. The traffic studies for that particular area far exceed any traffic congestion problems to the immediate south in Spring.
When Wilbur Smith is finished with the traffic studies, that is not the end of their work. Then Wilbur Smith has to "certify" that the revenue projections that they came up in its' initial feasibility study are actually valid. If that is the case, then Wilbur Smith will try to find companies out in the market to sell bonds to in order to finance this project.
There will be NO GUARANTEES from Harris County if the Grand Parkway falls short of its' supposed revenue. They will have to make that up from somewhere else.
This project may have been "on the books" for over thirty years but everything that has happened out here since that time precludes any sensible human being from even considering destroying this area with a brand new roadway. Using existing projects that have stalled on the books, such as the widening projects for F.M. 242 and F.M. 1488 in the Woodlands area that Montgomery County is financing makes far more sense financially.
When asked about the possibility of getting sound walls, the response from HCTRA was "if the project encroaches upon any developed are, they will CONSIDER the POSSIBILITY of sound walls." (Same song, different singer. We've heard the same from the Grand Parkway Association for years, and they have yet to construct any sound walls anywhere.)
Statement from State Representative Debbie Riddle
District 150
281-537-5252
"I am aware that the voices of my constituents are being circumvented and ignored by those who propose to go through Commissioners Court to have the Toll Road Authority build the Grand Parkway directly through our neighborhoods, with total disregard to environmental or other studies.
I believe that we need to continue, and persist in finding a solution for the location of the Grand Parkway and increased mobility without continued disregard for those who would be negatively affected. It is imperative to make Commissioners Court aware of the true feelings of the majority of our community.
Again, I am not opposed to the Grand Parkway, but I am opposed to the location that is proposed and I am vehemently opposed to building the Grand Parkway and ignore the necessity of continued environmental studies. The health, welfare, and well being of my constituents, including the elderly and children are my highest priorities. I encourage everyone to become involved and knowledgeable regarding this issue. I look forward to working with my constituents and I would certainly hope that all of our elected officials will work together for a good solution."
Another update:
According to sources, TxDOT is continuing with the approximately million dollar supplemental studies. Harris County Toll Road Authority has made it clear that they are not interested in pursuing any further supplemental studies. They had already put in $1.5 million six years ago, and have not seen a recoup on this investment and do not like where they supplemental studies are heading.
TxDOT is currently studying routes located to the north of the study area in Montgomery County. Montgomery County, who had previously given their unconditional support for any alignment of Segment F-2, has shown to have even greater possibility for the generation of toll road revenues based upon their greater traffic congestion numbers. This is being studied very closely by TxDOT who will be making their final recommendations based upon these numbers.
Senator Jon Lindsay no doubt knows about all this and is running scared. He has made endless promises as the self-proclaimed "Father of the Toll Road", and now may be seeing his pet project leaving Harris County boundaries.
Montgomery County, having already received permission from TxDOT to do "pass-thru" tolls, is only steps away from forming their own Mobility Authority, as Brazoria County and Fort Bend County, have both already done.
Montgomery County, as the design-build county of choice, would stand to reap all the revenues generated by the project since out of all the alignments, only F-2 shows any possibility of generating revenue. Segments E, F-1, and G are shown as necessary elements but not money-makers.
Harris County Toll Road Authority, Senator Jon Lindsay, Commissioner Jerry Eversole, and Judge Bob Eckels are all very aware of this and do not want Montgomery County taking control of the project as this will take money out of Harris County toll road coffers, and give them to Montgomery County. Are you listening, Montgomery County???
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