MCTX infrastructure projects remain a priority citywide and are critical to improving and maintaining transportation systems—including roadways, sidewalks and trails—throughout the community.
To upgrade mobility flow for residents, first responders, stakeholders and visitors, City Council Members voted at their Jan. 21 Regular Meeting to approve the purchase of two new leading-edge software programs: The Centracs Advanced Transportation Management System and The Glance Preemption & Priority System from Applied Information.
The Centracs system and associated services are being purchased through the BuyBoard municipal cooperative for $189,650. The software will be purchased with the City’s METRO funds and will allow staff to meet the specific needs unique to daily traffic patterns.
“Centracs will essentially allow traffic management staff to visualize the whole entire city network of traffic signals in real-time from the traffic management center and to make real-time adjustments to those signals as necessary. The software is integrated into the traffic signal cabinets and it communicates back to the center and monitors detection signals, notifying staff when traffic is starting to pick up or get more congested,” Assistant Director of Public Works Cliff Brouhard explained to Council. “This powerful software can also tell when pedestrians are using the intersections in large numbers and will send that information back to staff, enabling us to make further adjustments in-house and ensuring that traffic can move more efficiently.”
The City is also purchasing a signal preemption system for emergency vehicles through the BuyBoard municipal cooperative for $409,650 and it will also be paid for with METRO funds. The Glance Preemption & Priority System from Applied Information utilizes web and cloud based computing to seamlessly combine cellular, radio transmission and GPS technology into one solution, allowing for faster emergency response times with the ability of clearing traffic in advance of police and fire vehicles approaching transit signals.
City Manager Anthony J. Snipes commended staff “for identifying these software systems that will help ease travel for residents, motorists, and emergency response vehicles.” He added that the new technologies are vital given that the “City receives a high volume of calls related to traffic, traffic lights, and the navigation of roadways throughout the area. Our team has really been working hard to raise standards as it relates to transportation tools and I am confident that these new applications will go a long way toward helping us to mitigate any congestion challenges.”
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Other MCTX mobility projects under way that will improve transportation connectivity include:
- Pike Road: Starting today (February 3) through Wednesday (February 5), there will be one lane open and crews will be using a flagger to direct traffic through the area. The road will be usable in both directions but traffic may be delayed through the work zone.
- Independence Boulevard Segment 2: This project consists of reconstructing the existing 2-lane concrete roadway into a 4-lane divided concrete curb and gutter roadway, utilizing the existing closed conduit storm system from Moore Road to South Revolution Way. Council has authorized CP&Y for the design. The project is scheduled to be complete by summer 2020. The total estimated project cost is $2.5 million, and the Fort Bend County Mobility Bond Program will fund 50 percent of this project.
- Waterfall Drive: The entire street will be reconstructed from Independence Boulevard to Long Rock Drive. The project is in the final design phase, and RG Miller, Inc. is responsible for the design. The project is expected to go out to bid in the spring of 2020 and construction is projected to be complete by summer 2021. The total cost is $2.4 million, and the City is funding the repair.
- Glenn Lakes Bridge: The Glenn Lakes Lane overpass near Highland Lakes Drive began construction in July 2019 and is expected to finish in July 2020. The bridge is closed to all traffic during construction. GC Engineering was selected for the design, and the total project cost is $1.8 million. The Fort Bend County Mobility Bond Program is funding 50 percent of the project.
- Knight Road: This project will connect the existing segments so that it extends from the Fort Bend Toll Road to McKeever Road. The cost of the project is $8 million, and the City is partnering with the Fort Bend County Mobility Bond Program for funding. The project is set to begin in late fall 2020 and will take approximately one year to complete.
- Corridor Enhancements and Beautification: The first phase of this three-part project will include enhancements on Texas Parkway going southbound to Turtle Creek, and on Cartwright Road from Murphy Road to Texas Parkway. The cost of the first phase is $1 million, which the Texas Department of Transportation is funding through grants. This phase is expected to begin this month (February 2020). Phase two will include reader signs and monuments at key entry and exit points in the City. Phase three focuses on City Hall and will feature landscape improvements around the complex. Phases two and three, along with design services for all three phases, will cost the City approximately $2.5 million.
- American Legion Park: This project will improve the overall quality of the park. Construction began in January 2020 and will take approximately six months to complete. During this time, park access is restricted and vehicular access is not available.
- LED Lights Conversion: As part of the City’s Energy Saving’s initiative project, NORESCO has completed retrofitting street lights citywide for the conversion from traditional High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lighting fixtures to LED fixtures. Although the installation of LED lights in all City neighborhoods is complete, staff is working with CenterPoint to assure no locations were missed.
- Veterans Memorial: The City, in partnership with the Missouri City Parks Foundation, hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for the MCTX Veterans Memorial on Monday, Nov. 11. Learn more about the project on the City website here: http://bit.ly/2PZh1fp.
In addition to the initiatives above, the City’s contractors also made street repairs at the intersection of Bright Meadows Drive and Walnut Ridge Drive last month. Also, sidewalk repairs are under way citywide and are being scheduled based on priority. To report a sidewalk concern in your community, please call 281.403.8577.
Learn about other Missouri City construction projects here: http://bit.ly/2M9vKiB.
For more information about Missouri City, please watch the City website: www.missouricitytx.gov, like us on Facebook—fb/MissouriCityTX, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat—@MissouriCityTX, watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse) or download the MCTX Mobile app (available for free in Google Play and the Apple app store).