FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2018
 
Contact: Jessica Beemer (832) 393-3008
 
Northpark Drive Expansion Project Public Comment Period Open
 
Houston, TX - Houston City Council Member Dave Martin would like to make Kingwood area residents aware that the Houston Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is now accepting public comments on the Northpark Drive Expansion Project. Council Member Martin encourages residents to provide comments on the need for this expansion before the February 28, 2019 deadline. 

Northpark Drive is one of the most heavily traveled roadways in Kingwood. The goal of the project is to improve traffic flow and safety along Northpark Drive. The Northpark Drive Expansion Project would provide Kingwood residents with an all-weather evacuation route, elevating  Northpark Drive above the 500-year flood plain at Ben's Branch. 

The project includes flood mitigation and storm water detention improvements. Additionally, a bridge will be built over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks perpendicular to Northpark Drive addressing traffic delays due to passing trains. To see a simulation of the project's design you can visit this website.

The Lake Houston TIRZ (TIRZ10) submitted an application for $28,362,932 in federal funding through the TIP process managed by H-GAC. On January 16, 2019, at the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting, H-GAC staff presented a draft ranking of the 2018 project applications under consideration for federal funds available through the TIP process.

The City of Houston and TIRZ 10 have collected letters of support from all City of Houston Council Members, City of Houston Mayor Turner, State Representative Dan Huberty,  Harris County Commissioner Jack Cagle,  Congressman Ted Poe,  Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal,  Humble Independent School District,  Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, Bear Branch Trail Association,  Fosters Mill Village Community Association , Kings Mill Subdivision,  Kingwood Area Super Neighborhood Council #43,  Kingwood Service Association,  Lone Star College Kingwood,  Kingwood Medical Center,  Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital, Montgomery County MUD 98,  Northpark Place Community Association , Old Vine Northpark Associates,  Sand Creek Village Community  Association,  Green Tree Village Community Association,  SMA Solutions,   St. Martha's Catholic Church,  Woodridge Baptist Church,  Woodspring Forest Homeowners Association,  Woodstream Community Association,  Kingspoint Community Association, Forest Cove Pro perty Owners Association , and  Kings Manor Homeowners Association. 

The Northpark Expansion Project is currently ranked 29th out of 60 projects. It is  anticipated that approximately 10 projects will be funded. The existing rank for the Northpark Expansion Project as it is today does not meet the ranking requirement for funding. Public comments can greatly impact a project's ranking, which is why the District E Office strongly encourages Lake Houston Area residents to support this project by participating in the public comment period. 

The H-GAC is currently accepting public comments on the draft ranking. The comment period will close Thursday, February 28, 2019 To submit public comments digitally on the Northpark Drive Expansion Project click here . To see a complete list of H-GAC projects accepting public comments click here

Written comments can be mailed to H-GAC, P.O. Box 22777, Houston, TX 77227-2777. Comments from the public are also welcome via telephone calling toll free at 1-855-363-2516. 

For more information, please contact Council Member Dave Martin's office at (832) 393-3008 or [email protected].
 

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