Montgomery County and Houston Rail
Montgomery County is on the map for a future light rail line. But for now, it is only a dotted line marking a potential route beyond 2025. “We are on the map,” said County Judge Alan B. Sadler. “I’m glad to see the major suburbs on the map, not just the inner city or inside the loop. My goal is accomplished by getting on the map for the intermediate future.”
County gets in line for commuter light rail in future;
Not included in the draft Metro plan, but area is finally ‘on the map’
The Houston Chronicle May 08, 2003,
Montgomery County is not included in the draft plan released last week by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County for future transportation options through 2025.
But several of the proposed enhancements will stop at the county’s doorstep and set the stage for future mass transit alternatives for the county.
“Our original goal was to be part of the original plan in some way,” said Barry Carpentar, a member of the Corridor Coalition, an umbrella organization of the chambers of commerce in Montgomery County that address key issues for the future. “We wanted to lay the groundwork for light rail in the future.”
The North-Hardy Corridor, one of major transportation sectors studied in the plan, calls for a new light rail extension to Greenspoint, with a dual high occupancy vehicle lane to just north of FM 1960, near the Montgomery County line.
For east county residents, the existing HOV lane on U.S. 59 would also be converted to a two-way system.
Officials said the benefits of the new HOV system near Montgomery County are twofold: to help today’s commuters and to preserve a right of way for rail in the future.
“In a way, it gives you something right up front,” said Robert Heineman, vice president of planning for The Woodlands Operating Co. “It also eases our ability to get a rail extension in the future.”
Montgomery County is not included in specific projects in the Metro draft plan because it falls outside the jurisdiction of that agency.
Metro is funded through sales tax revenues generated in Harris County, and it would be illegal for them to spend those funds in a neighboring community.
Sadler said he and U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, met with Metro Executive Director Shirley DeLibero four months ago to include them on the plan.
“That request was granted,” Sadler said.
The draft plan will be refined in public hearings in July and is expected to be adopted by the Metro board that same month.
It could go before Harris County voters in November for approval for initial new light rail lines.
To build light rail in the future, Montgomery County would have to come up with a funding mechanism for the project, Heineman said.
Among the potential alternatives being discussed are a bond issue, a statewide gas tax to fund transportation projects, a county gas tax or the creation of a regional mobility authority.
But Heineman said none of the options will be viable unless the plan is approved by Harris County voters first. In addition, he added, Metro would need federal funds to make the projects work.
“If Dallas can do it, why not Houston?” said Heineman. “The communities there are begging to be part of the system. Houston is behind the curve.”
Heineman said rail recently was extended to Plano outside Dallas, a community about 18-20 miles from downtown. He said The Woodlands is only 25 miles from Houston.