News Archive

April, 2011 | In This Edition   Greater West Houston Landmark Winners! Texas Medical Center West Campus Wins Landmark Award Newland Communities' Cinco Ranch Wins Landmark Award   Grand Parkway Segment E Commission Vote Set for April 28th   Mayor Annise Parker to Speak to West Houston Association May 12th   Texas Medical Center West Campus Wins 2011 Landmark Award The new Texas Medical Center West Campus consisting of Texas Children's Hospital West Campus and The Methodist West Houston Hospital, has won the Landmark Award for medical real estate projects.  The Landmark Award is a recognition presented by the Houston Business Journal after a nomination and selection process evaluating competing major projects throughout the Houston region. In making the award, the panel noted the Texas Medical Center West Campus at 170 acres is approximately the same size as its parent, the Texas Medical Center, and will offer "world-class medical care to a growing suburban population" of more than 1 million.  The project includes nearly 1.2 million square feet of healthcare facilities. Texas Children's Hospital West Campus is the area's only dedicated suburban pediatric hospital, as well as the only dedicated pediatric emergency service in Greater West Houston.  The project includes a 294,000 square foot inpatient hospital and a five story, 221,000 square foot outpatient clinic. The Methodist Hospital System's Texas Medical Center West Campus first phase development  includes a 478,500 square foot hospital with 193 patient beds, 15 operating suites and 26 labor and delivery suites, 28 emergency room beds, two radiation therapy facilities, and three cardiac catheterization labs.  It also includes a six story, 221,000 square foot medical office building. The Texas Medical Center West Campus and its current institutions are well located to serve Energy Corridor companies and the rapidly increasing population and employment growth in Greater West Houston and beyond. Newland Communities' Cinco Ranch Continues Winning Streak with its 2011 Landmark Award On the heals of nation leading home sales, Cinco Ranch, the Greater West Houston master planned development has won the Landmark Award for Residential Development. The Landmark Award is a recognition presented by the Houston Business Journal after a nomination and selection process evaluating competing major projects throughout the Houston region. Cinco Ranch, opened in 1991 with 5,000 acres, is continuing its expansion to stay apace with demand for new homes in Greater West Houston.  Its most recent expansion is the addition of nearly 500 acres last year for the 1,200 new home sites. Cinco Ranch has grown to encompass a towncenter, LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch with national retailers and plans for Class A office space on its 34 acre site owned and developed separately by Vista Companies. Cinco Ranch has included significant amenities that attract discerning home buyers to the Katy ISD located development.  These include extensive trails, recreational sites and dedicated preserves along area bayous. The Texas Transportation Commission Decides Segment E Funding April 28th At their April 28th meeting, the Texas Transportation Commission will vote to approve $350 million for Segment E.  This will tee up the project for a contract letting in July, 2011.  Construction would include the main decks of the Grand Parkway over Interstate 10 W, two new direct connections with I-10 W, and the main toll lanes of the Parkway north to US 290.  A wetlands permit is expected from the Corps of Engineers. Previously we reported:  After decades of planning and study, the Grand Parkway from I-10 to US 290 appears close to construction.  The West Houston Association has led efforts at the local and state levels to gather support for a series of actions initiated by the Texas Transportation Commission.  Ned Holmes, Transportation Commission, has been singularly focused on getting the entire Grand Parkway underway in the shortest time possible--starting with an allocation of $350 million from TxDOT to Segment E construction.  Ted Nelson, Newland Communities, and member of the WHA Executive Committee, was in Austin testifying about the need for the Grand Parkway before the March Transportation Commission meeting.  Mark Kilkenny, Mischer Investments, and member of the WHA Executive Committee, led a group to Austin to testify in favor of the Segment E funding.  Roger Hord, president of the WHA, testified before the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee in favor of public-private-partnership authority on the Grand Parkway for TxDOT in the event that continued development of Segments F1, F2, and G are unable to progress under the standard municipal-toll revenue model. TxDOT's latest funding initiative on Segment E followed Harris County's decision to rescind its primacy of the Grand Parkway segments within its boundaries.  As of this writing, Segment E is likely to go to construction contract in July of this year.  Mayor Annise Parker to Address West Houston Association Members May 12th In her first address to West Houston Association members, Mayor Annise Parker will be our keynote speaker at our May 12th Issues Forum at the Westin Hotel-Memorial City.  The Mayor is expected to address the recently passed Proposition 1 ordinance and its implementation as well as other infrastructure and fiscal issues. Join these WHA member firms in sponsoring this Issues Forum: Pate Engineers Jones & Carter, Inc. Newland Communities Brown & Gay Engineers Michael Baker, Jr. Houston Community College Bridgeland Entech Civil Engineers Delta Troy Interests Mischer Investments CH2MHill R.G. Miller Engineers   January, 2011  |  In This Edition   ReBuild Houston Ordinance Passes   Grand Parkway Segment E Advances   TxDOT District Engineer Delvin Dennis to Speak April 12th  Mayor Annise Parker to Speak May 12th   ReBuild Houston Passes Houston City Council The Houston ordinance implementing the voter-approved Proposition 1 Drainage and Street Program passed City Council in a 12-3 vote April 7th.   The ordinance contains exemptions for current church and school owned property as well as non-revenue producing Harris County owned property.  The drainage fee is expected to raise $125 million per year and will go into effect this summer.  Proceeds from the fee will be paid into a dedicated fund that will pay for rebuilding Houston's 4,600 miles of streets and drainage systems. The West Houston Association was strongly supportive of the dedicated fee.   Grand Parkway Segment E Moves Toward July, 2011 Contract Letting After decades of planning and study, the Grand Parkway from I-10 to US 290 appears close to construction.  The West Houston Association has led efforts at the local and state levels to gather support for a series of actions initiated by the Texas Transportation Commission.  Ned Holmes, Transportation Commission, has been singularly focused on getting the entire Grand Parkway underway in the shortest time possible--starting with an allocation of $350 million from TxDOT to Segment E construction.  Ted Nelson, Newland Communities, and member of the WHA Executive Committee, was in Austin testifying about the need for the Grand Parkway before the March Transportation Commission meeting.  Mark Kilkenny, Mischer Investments, and member of the WHA Executive Committee, led a group to Austin to testify in favor of the Segment E funding.  Roger Hord, president of the WHA, testified before the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee in favor of public-private-partnership authority on the Grand Parkway for TxDOT in the event that continued development of Segments F1, F2, and G are unable to progress under the standard municipal-toll revenue model. TxDOT's latest funding initiative on Segment E followed Harris County's decision to rescind its primacy of the Grand Parkway segments within its boundaries.  As of this writing, Segment E is likely to go to construction contract in July of this year.  TxDOT Houston District Engineer Delvin Dennis to Address Issues Forum April 12th Delvin Dennis will address TxDOT transportation issues at the West Houston Association Issues Forum, Tuesday, April 12th at the Westchase Marriott.   He will address new projects on US 290, Westpark and the Grand Parkway among other issues.  Sign up at this link. Forum Sponsors Mischer Investments Parkside Capital LJA Engineering Newland Communities Bridgeland Dannenbaum Engineering Michael Baker., Jr. MetroNational Costello, Inc. HDR | Claunch & Miller   Mayor Annise Parker to Address West Houston Association Members May 12th In her first address to West Houston Association members, Mayor Annise Parker will be our keynote speaker at our May 12th Issues Forum at the Westin Hotel-Memorial City.  The Mayor is expected to address the recently passed Proposition 1 ordinance and its implementation as well as other infrastructure and fiscal issues. Join these WHA member firms sponsoring this Issues Forum: Pate Engineers Jones & Carter, Inc. Newland Communities Brown & Gay Engineers Michael Baker, Jr. Houston Community College   January, 2011   |  In This Edition   WHA Supports Ending Harris County Primacy on Grand Parkway   2011 Board & Officers Announced   WHA On Prop 1/ReNew Houston  2011 Work Plan Set   New Members:  Parkside Capital  |  Aliana Development Company WHA Supports Grand Parkway Transfer from Harris County to TxDOT The West Houston has supported the transfer of Grand Parkway segments in Harris County to TxDOT with the indications that TxDOT is prepared to begin construction of Segment E in fiscal 2011.  Read the Association's letter to Harris County Commissioners at this link (PDF). 2011 West Houston Association Board of Directors, Officers & Committee Chairs Announced The West Houston Association announces David Hightower of Wolff Companies has been elected by the Board of Directors to serve as Chairman of the Board in 2011.  This will be David's third one year term.  Other officers elected are:  Joel Marshall of Trendmaker Development as Vice Chairman; Peter Houghton of Bridgeland/Howard Hughes Corporation as Secretary;  Steven Moskowitz of ConocoPhillips as Treasurer; Ted Nelson of Newland Communities and Mark Kilkenny of Mischer Investments are At-Large members of the Executive Committee. New WHA Board Members are Fred Caldwell of Caldwell Companies and Michelle Riley-Brown of Texas Children's Hospital West Campus. Board Members elected to new 2 year terms concluding December 2012 are: Chuck Cervas  |  BP Americas Dick Phillips  |  University of Houston Cinco Ranch David Hightower  |  Wolff Companies Roger Hord  |  President, WHA Dr. David Anthony  |  Cy-Fair ISD Steve Moskowitz  |  ConocoPhillips Peter Houghton  |  Howard Hughes Corporation Troy Maxwell  |  Woodcreek Development Fred Caldwell  |  Caldwell Companies Michelle Riley-Brown  |  Texas Children's Hospital West Campus WHA Board Members continuing a two year term concluding December 2011 are: Joe B. Allen  |  Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP Joel Marshall  |  Trendmaker Development Nick Bell  |  Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc. Mark Kilkenny  |  Mischer Investments Pat Maddox  |  Maddox Investments Ted Nelson  |  Newland Communities Brad Freels  |  Midway Companies Karl Willmann  |  The Willmann Company Ed Knight  |  Harrison Interests Jeff Ross  |  Pate Engineers   WHA Presses No Property Exemptions and Dedicated Fee in Wake of Prop 1 Passage After passage of Proposition 1, the ReNew Houston charter change election, representatives of WHA visited with Mayor Parker and Councilmember Costello concerning our thoughts that all properties in the City be subject to the drainage fee in a fair and equitable manner with no exemptions.  Any exemptions would increase the resulting fee burden on the remaining non-exempt properties such as single family and commercial properties. In addition, WHA stressed that the fund must be dedicated solely to drainage and street construction as voted on by the voters and that there should be no diversions from that fund for any other purposes.  WHA will communicate our views to members of City Council and will report regularly to its members as the ordinance to implement the fee is discussed and presented to council.   The 2011 WHA Work Plan The Board of Directors has reviewed and will vote at its January meeting to adopt the Association's 2011 Work Plan.  The Plan includes the following projects: Greater West Houston Demographic & Economic Profile: a document that discusses the demographic, employment, residential and commercial development data that defines Greater West Houston. Greater West Houston Capital Infrastructure Register:  The Association will prepare and distribute to its member firms only current and future capital projects by agency. 2012 Greater West Houston Development Map:  The Association will begin preparation in 2011 for distribution in 1Q of 2012 a new Development Map and associated maps similar to the current 9 maps produced in 2010 Greater West Houston Transportation Study:  The Association will sponsor along with the Energy Corridor, Westchase and Memorial City an evaluation of the current and future transportation needs of Greater West Houston's "Downtown core". Public Policies: The Association will monitor the 82nd Legislative Session for issues affecting development and growth in Greater West Houston; participate in critical City and County ordinance and regulatory actions; and monitor population forecasting of HGAC New Member:  Parkside Capital Parkside Capital has joined the Association as a developer/landowner.  Parkside's primary property investment target is Houston and they own several parcels in Greater West Houston including West Ten on I-10W in Katy.  John S. Moody is President of Parkside Capital. New Member:  Aliana Development Company Aliana Development Company has joined the Association as a developer of Aliana, a 2,000 acre masterplanned mixed use residential and commercial community in northern Fort Bend between the Grand Parkway and FM 1464.  E. Travis Stone is President of Aliana.       Fall 2010 |  In This Edition                                   WHA Endorses City of Houston Prop 1   TxDOT Funding Resolution Calls for More Funding   RoundTable:  Wastewater Regionalization Reviewed   8th Annual TRI-COUNTY Issues Forum Set for Nov 15th   West Houston Plan 2050 Update 2010 Available   WHA Endorses City Houston's Prop 1 to Begin Restoration of Houston's Aging Drainage Systems and Roadways The West Houston Association Board of Directors has endorsed the November 2nd City of Houston Charter Amendment Election to create a dedicated fund for drainage and street improvements within the city limits. The Association has advised the Mayor and Council of its support and is requesting participation in the process of developing the implementing ordinances for the drainage user fee and the development impact fee that Council will have to implement if voters approve the measure.  The complete resolution is available at this link (PDF). Only with passage of this proposition will Houston begin to address its massive backlog of aging drainage systems and poor streets.  The deficit is estimated to be in excess of $10 billion.  This proposal will establish a dedicated fund that cannot be used for other purposes and will be supported by a drainage fee on all existing properties and an impact fee on new developments within the city limits.   WHA Endorses Increase in Statewide & Local Fees to Restore Eliminated Roadway Projects in the Houston Area. Numerous roadway capacity increase projects are facing elimination or major delays because of greatly reduced funding from the State of Texas and federal government.  TxDOT has notified the Houston region's Transportation Policy Council (TPC) that only $60 million per year will be available for new capacity projects over the next ten years.  (Click for latest Comparison from the TPC of original and current Regional Transportation Plan funding levels PDF) What does this mean for the Houston area?  Alan Clark, director of transportation for HGAC says, "...the reduction in available funding has forced the Transportation Policy Council to update the long-range plan...by scaling back, delaying and cancelling billions of dollars worth of projects." In response to this crisis, the West Houston Association is calling upon legislators to increase state motor fuels and vehicle registration fees; provide for a local option for these fees; and end non-education diversions.  The goal of these increases would be to assure the Houston District an annual $1.2 billion in funding for maintenance, safety, rehabilitation and expansion of the roadway system.  Read the West Houston Association policy at this link.  This document discusses how much each of the proposed fee increases would mean to the state and the Houston area.   Harris County Advances Wastewater Regionalization Appearing at a recent West Houston Association RoundTable, John Blount,  Harris County director of Architecture and Engineering, addressed the issue of wastewater regionalization and summarized the County's responsibilities and plans.  The County is preparing a policy that may be adopted later this year that sets a County review of all new wastewater treatment facilities and more frequent testing of existing facilities.  Those facilities that routinely violate their discharge permits would be compelled to regionalize.  The Association's Water & Wastewater Regionalization Committee chaired by Jack Miller of R.G. Miller Engineers is reviewing and monitoring this proposal.   8th Annual TRI-COUNTY REGION Issues Forum Set for Noon, Monday, November 15th County Judges Ed Emmett, Robert Hebert and Owen Ralston, will address members of the West Houston Association at a luncheon on November 15th.  This is the 8th annual Tri-County forum sponsored by the Association where the Harris, Fort Bend and Waller county judges discuss their achievements and issues for the coming year.   The 2010 Update to the West Houston Plan 2050 & 2050 Land Use Scenario Map Are Available Mid-century Greater West Houston will have population approaching 2.4 million or approximately 22% of the Houston region's forecasted population and employment nearing 1 million.  The 2010 Update focuses on this growth and infrastructure progress and challenges remaining.  In addition, the Association presents its 2050 Land Use Scenario Map- a  peek at how the region may look at mid-century.  The report is being mailed to all member firms and is available to non-members as well.  The 2050 Land Use Map is also available at this link.   This map joins the growing stable of maps currently available from the West Houston Association.  In addition to the 2010 Development Map mailed to every Association member and all public officials serving Greater West Houston, we urge you to take a look at the very unique Specialty Maps with color shaded areas depicting limits and ETJs of area municipalities; county commissioner districts; state representative and senator districts; school districts; and congressional distri

Summer  2010 Edition                                 

Texas Transportation Funding Crisis: A Summary of Presentations to WHA's Issues Forum Panel on Transportation Funding

Transportation funding is in crisis—congestion is on the rise; revenue shortfalls are relegating TxDOT to a highway maintenance organization; and badly needed transportation projects are being eliminated from Houston long range plans.
To help focus the community on possible solutions to this crisis, the West Houston Association hosted a timely Transportation Issues Forum featuring a panel of:

• State Senator Glenn Hegar,
• Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and
• Texas Transportation Commissioner Ned Holmes.

Association Board member Joe B. Allen of Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP acted as moderator.

Senator Hegar said he believed the Texas Legislature would not act to increase the motor fuels tax or other related fees in the next legislative session. He cited the shortfall in the state budget, projected to be as much as $18 billion, and other legislative priorities such as redistricting and public education. On the matter of local option fees it will be a hard sell to members. He mentioned that in previous sessions that addressed local options, legislators have been asked to vote for taxing authority without getting of the benefit because their districts lay outside metropolitan areas.

Overall, the Trans-Texas Corridor project “poisoned the well” among the public and the Legislature. Although attitudes are improving, TxDOT has a long way to go to restore confidence. As a result of the soured attitude, further public-private partnerships, a hallmark of the Trans-Texas Corridor effort, will be allowed only on a “case by case” basis

On TxDOT Sunset, the Senator discussed the current management audit and its recommendations which if implemented would affect many of the items cited by the Sunset Commission in its last evaluation of Transportation Department. Because of this the Senator as chairman of the Sunset Advisory Committee will wait until late 2010 to schedule additional Sunset hearings on TxDOT.

Judge Ed Emmett discussed Harris County’s toll road projects—completing Beltway 8 East and the Hardy Toll Road Connector to the CBD—which are state highway projects over which the county exercised primacy with the intent of completing expansion via toll financing. He also said the county was progressing on design of Grand Parkway Segments F1 & F2. However other projects—SH 288, Hempstead Toll Road—are advancing more slowly. Judge Emmett said that progress on these projects would require a form of public-private partnership.

The Judge said the US 290/Hempstead Tollroad is a very complex project. The Hempstead Tollroad is an extremely costly project and the reduced congestion benefit for the corridor would be more inexpensively achieved by providing relievers to US 290 such as Segment E of the Grand Parkway and the 290 Commuter Rail.  Judge Emmett added that the county was willing to consider giving up primacy on the Hempstead Toll Road (and possibly others) particularly if there is a commitment to use local engineers and contractors.

Transportation Commissioner Ned Holmes acknowledged the problems caused by the Trans-Texas Corridor program. He said that project was devised as a new way of developing transportation projects for the future of Texas. It did have problems and poisoned the relationship between TxDOT, the public and the Legislature. However, he said that program was initiated by the Transportation Commission and that they deserved the blame for its failures, not TxDOT staff.

Commissioner Holmes stated that the current TxDOT funding forecasts and state allocations result in the Houston District scheduled to receive new capacity project funding of only $589 million for 10 years, or about $60 million per year. This contrasts sharply with the recent years when the Houston District had annual funding well over $800 million for ‘03, ‘04 and ‘05 and averaged $653 million from 2001 to 2010.

The Commissioner added that to overcome this crisis will require a new funding formula and new, stable sources of revenue. We will overcome the challenge but “when” is the question? We are in real trouble and the business community will need to help give the Legislature “political cover” to step up and make the votes needed to overcome the funding problems.

June 2010 In This Edition

• Caldwell Companies Joins West Houston Association

• CityCentre Best of Breed and a "Must Experience" Project

• Coming to Greater West Houston: Texas Medical Center West Campus

• Newland Communities' Cinco Ranch is Number 1 in USA

• Houston Number 2 in Population Growth in 2009; Regional & Greater West Houston Population Forecasts for 2020

• 2010 West Houston Maps Now Available

Caldwell Companies Joins West Houston Association

Caldwell Companies, a real estate services and development firm has become the latest major developer to join the West Houston Association. Caldwell Companies, headquartered in Greater West Houston, is a fully-integrated real estate company providing commercial and residential development, office, industrial, retail and land brokerage, and property management. The firm is committed to the practice of doing business with a true sense of purpose and has a well demonstrated tract record of helping to build our community.

Caldwell Companies has provided office, industrial, retail, land brokerage and property management facilities and services since its inception in 1990. The company has been included in the Houston Business Journal's "Best Places to Work". Major Greater West Houston projects include, Towne Lake a 2,400 acre mixed-use master planned community south of US 290 on Barker Cypress Road; various office properties totaling 2 million square feet; multi-family; and retail properties.

Caldwell Companies focuses on creating communities that foster a lifestyle that is active and integrated with nature and neighbors. Every Caldwell Companies community offers more than a list of amenities, they believe it's the spirit of the people in our neighborhoods that brings our communities to life. Most visibly, this concept translates into a higher degree of service, both in dealing with builder partners in the sale and construction of homes and in working to promote the development and maintenance of the neighborhood infrastructure long after closing.

CityCentre Winner of Best Mixed-Use, Best Retail, Best New Project Makes it a "Must Experience" for Houstonians and Visitors

CityCentre, the one year old $500 million mixed use district, swept top honors at the Houston Business Journal 2010 Landmark Awards.  CityCentre won as Best Mixed-Use Project with its 1.8 million square feet of retail, entertainment and Class A office space, various residential living options nearing 700 units, and the  Sorella Hotel.  CityCentre occupies 37 acres at the intersection of I-10 West and Sam Houston Parkway in the middle of Greater West Houston's Urban Core.

CityCentre also accepted the honor of SIOR Landmark of the Year, a best-in show award from numerous categories highlighting new and redevelopment properties.  CityCentre was singled out for its overall quality, impact on the community and the diversity of uses and services available to residents, visitors and people from surrounding businesses and neighborhoods. 

CityCentre's Sorella Hotel with its 244-rooms was a finalist in the hospitality project category.  The Sorella is the flagship for a new brand of hotels from Houston-based  Valencia Group.

Start your CityCentre visit at their website http://www.citycentrehouston.com/

Coming to Greater West Houston:

Texas Medical Center West Campus

With two new major hospital facilities under construction in the Energy Corridor, the Texas Medical Center announced its first ever extension of its icon brand to the rapidly growing Greater West Houston area. The Texas Medical Center West Campus, located at I-10 and Barker Cypress Road, is home to the first phase 479,000 square-foot Methodist West Houston Hospital and the 515,000 square foot Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. Signage in the Texas Medical Center West Campus will be identical to the Center’s home campus.

David Wolff, quoted in the Houston Business Journal, says the addition of Medical Center institutions shows the area has grown to the point where it can support its own major health care facilities. Wolff Companies has been working with the institutions to establish the uniform signage plan for the campus. Wolff sold Texas Children’s 45 acres and donated 10 acres to help establish the new medical center, and still has 23.2 acres in the campus.

Both Methodist West Houston and Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus are members of the West Houston Association.
 

Newland Communities’ Cinco Ranch # 1 in USA

Greater West Houston’s Cinco Ranch topped the national best-selling charts in 2009. Newland Communities, developer of Cinco Ranch and Quality Growth Partner of the West Houston Association, sold more new homes in 2009 in Cinco than any other master planned community in the United States.

According to the annual RCLCO study, Cinco Ranch new home sales hit 887 in 2009 up 14% from 2008 when Cinco Ranch was number two in the country.

Ted Nelson, Central Region President of Newland Communities, notes “that in the past few months, Houston has ranked very high in studies ranging from the nation’s healthiest housing markets to cities where the recession is easing. Overall, the Houston communities on the top 10 list represented 2250 hew-homes sales, more than double those of the second ranked metro, Las Vegas.”

Another Newland Communities MPC in Greater West Houston, Telfair, ranked fourth in new-home sales with 450, a 9% increase from 2008. The Woodlands ranked second with 633 new-home sales and Sienna Plantation ranked 10 with 280 new-home sales.

Houston # 2 in Population Growth in 2009

Metropolitan Houston added 140,784 residents from July 2008 to July 2009, ranking it second in the country behind Texas neighbor, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington. Fort Bend County, a portion of which constitutes Greater West Houston ranked one of the 30 fastest growing counties in the US in 2009.

In related news, Barton Smith of the University of Houston Institute for Regional Forecasting forecasts Houston area 2020 population will reach 7.4 million, a 2.3 million increase over the estimated 2010 population of 5.1 million.  Using these figures, the West Houston Association calculates the 2020 population in Greater West Houston will reach 1.63 million in 2020 from an estimated 1.1 million in 2010.

According to Dr. Smith, employment  for the Houston region will reach 3.2 million in 2020 from 2.5 million in 2010.  Similarly,  we calculate Greater West Houston employment will reach 656,000 in 2020, up from 512,000 in 2010.

2010 West Houston Development Map Now Available

Grand Parkway Segment E Teed Up by Harris County Commissioners Court for Design & Early Construction.

Commissioner Radack and Judge Emmett Show Leadership--Commissioners Approve Agreement with TxDOT

Harris County has authorized commencement of work on Segment E from US 290 to I-10.  The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club has filed to stop the project on the grounds of "arbitrary and capricious actions by a group of government agencies".  Read the filing at this link as well as the WHA response.  The West Houston Association, a longtime supporter of the development of the Grand Parkway Segment E, is gratified to see that once again Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack and Judge Ed Emmett have broken the log jam on Segment E and championed its design and construction as a Harris County initiative to add greater mobility for citizens in northwest and western Harris County.

The Commissioners approved on February 24, 2009 an advance funding agreement with TxDOT that would hold Harris County whole an buy them out if another entity is chosen to undertake the entire 185 mile Grand Parkway loop around Houston.

On February 26, 2009 the Texas Transportation Commission approved the agreement as well.  In addition, it has been announced that Segment E would receive $196 million through TxDOT as part of the recently passed Stimulus package.  These funds would be blended with toll revenue funds to build this project for Greater West Houston.

Harris County will vote to initiate design activities at their March 10, 2009 meeting.  Construction could start this year or early 2010.

After years of environmental and design studies, this initiative of Harris County will kick start the Grand Parkway between Interstate 10 and US 290, a distance of approximately 15 miles.

Segment E will provide motorists traveling to and from major employment centers on Interstate 10 a greatly improved alternative to existing congested major thoroughfares and the highly congested US 290.

In addition, the Grand Parkway will be an urban planning instrument for Greater West Houston, providing quality access to major new residential and commercial developments designed to accommodate the significant growth expected in this area between now and 2035 and beyond.

Forecasts by the West Houston Association indicate that by 2050, Greater West Houston will experience a population growth of 1 million and an employment growth of 500,000.

Much of this new growth will center in the area around the new segment of the Grand Parkway, making the current initiative even more important to assure future sustainable quality development in Greater West Houston. 

Current and future mobility solutions are critical for access to I-10's Energy Corridor with a current employment base of 73,000 expected to grow to 90,000 by 2025.

Alternatives such as State Highway 6 are currently congested and have no capacity improvements scheduled.

David Hightower Elected Chairman of the Board of Directors

Officers and New Board Members Elected

The West Houston Association Board of Directors announces the election to chairman of the board, Wolff Companies Executive Vice President, David Hightower.  He succeeds Mark Kilkenny who served as chairman since 2006.  Mr. Hightower has served as Vice Chairman.  Joining him as officers of the Board are:

• Karl Willmann, Vice Chairman.  Betz Companies Brokerage

• Steve Moskowitz, Treasurer. ConocoPhillips

• Joel Marshall, Secretary.  Trendmaker Development Company

• Mark Kilkenny, Executive Committee At-Large & Past Chairman of the Board. Mischer Investments Inc.

• Ted Nelson, Executive Committee At-Large & Past Chairman of the Board.  Newland Communities.

• Roger Hord, President & CEO, West Houston Association

Newly elected to positions on the Board of Directors are:

• David Anthony, Superintendent, Cy-Fair Independent School District

• Peter Houghton, Bridgeland

• Troy Maxwell, Woodcreek Development Company

They join the following elected to a new two year Board of Directors term:

• Chuck Cervas, BP America

• Richard Phillips, University of Houston System Sugar Land and Cinco Ranch

Board members serving two year terms ending December 2009 are:

• Joe B. Allen, ABHR LLP

• Deborah Johnson, Shell Oil

• Patricia Maddox, Maddox Investments

• Bradley Freels, Midway Companies

• Ed Knight, Harrison Interests

• Jeff Ross, Pate Engineers

Ex Officio Members of the Board of Directors serving as Committee Chairs are:

• Bob Jones, Jones & Carter Engineers

• Kerry Gilbert, Kerry Gilbert Associates

• Ronnie Mullinax, Brown & Gay Engineers

• Jack Miller, R.G. Miller Engineers

Can US 290 be the "Next Interstate 10 Reconstruction Project?"

Do You Want US 290 Completed before 2023?

As commuters and residents along Interstate 10 West begin enjoying the benefits of a massive reconstruction of that heavily used freeway, we can not help but wonder when the same reconstruction will be begin on the new "beast," US 290.

There can be no doubt that US 290 has now taken that very unwelcome moniker away from Interstate 10 West.  And there can be no doubt that US 290 deserves the same attention to funding of design and construction that Interstate 10 received.  The big question is how do we get US 290 reconstruction, Hempstead Tollway and commuter and light rail funded.

US 290 must be made the regional priority project.  There is no more critical construction need in the region.  Population growth in the corridor will be 41% by 2025 making it one of the fastest growing sections of the region.  The freeway already functions at level of service F throughout much of the day.  Its outdated design makes it an unreliable and unsafe roadway by modern, urban design standards.

US 290 also is Houston's link to the "central Texas triangle" where the majority of Texas' growth will occur.  A reliable transportation link from the Houston region is a necessity.

State and Local agencies and elected officials must work together on the US 290 corridor.  We have a long history of cooperative roadway projects in Harris County.  This cooperation has led to more projects done sooner for our citizens.  The county and state have reached joint funding agreements that facilitate construction as was demonstrated on Interstate 10 and Beltway 8.

Without some significant and forceful leadership and action, the US 290 corridor faces delay that will only cost taxpayers more in wasted commute times and increased fuel usage.  The current TxDOT funding crisis has resulted in this priority corridor being removed from the  funding schedule effectively meaning that it will not begin construction by its projected start date of 2011.  Even if construction started in 2011, it would not be completed until 2023 (using a 12 year construction schedule similar to that established for Interstate 10 before TxDOT and Harris County compressed the it to 6 years by using cooperative and innovative financing.

Do you want US 290 completed before 2023?

Call for Early Action on Segment E of Grand Parkway--Harris County Responds

Update:  Harris County Commissioners have contracted with a number of engineering firms to begin design of Segment E of the Grand Parkway.  The next step is to obtain an agreement with TxDOT on the county's acceleration of design and construction in advance of an arrangement on the entire Grand Parkway loop.

The I-10 W to US 290 portion of the Grand Parkway known as "Segment E" can be ready for construction in 2009 according the Harris County Commissioner Steve Radack in comments before the West Houston Association in May.  This means plans drawn and right of way acquired in 2008.  Construction could take 12 to 18 months.  This means Segment E could be ready to travel on in early to mid 2010.

As a potential reliever for some traffic currently using the US 290 corridor and with major development decisions waiting on this segment, the West Houston Association fully supports this aggressive initiative  by Harris County.

To help assure this initiative succeeds, the Association has been meeting with TxDOT and Harris County officials and has developed the following policy.

The West Houston Association encourages TxDOT and Harris County to:

1. Reach an agreement in advance of current efforts under SB 792 for the entire 185 mile loop
2. Allow Harris County to design, acquire right of way and construct Segment E of the Grand Parkway with flexibility to buy Harris County out of the project if and when another developer contracts with TxDOT for development of the full Grand Parkway.

Advantages

1. Early implementation of the 15 mile strategic I-10 to US 290 element of future Grand Parkway loop.  Estimates of total cost for this section are $412 million plus $100 million for direct connections at US 290[i] approximately 9.5% of the total GP loop cost of $5.354 billion.
2.  Alternative route for Northwest Corridor commuters to Energy Corridor, Westchase, Uptown and CBD.  Northwest Freeway and Hempstead Toll Roads will ultimately relieve traffic congestion but high costs make the toll road non-toll viable and unavailable state and federal funding are pushing construction of US 290 many years beyond its original target date.  Intersecting  US 290, Segment E will provide some current suburban commuters and many future residents in new subdivisions, a viable alternative to the US 290 congestion and congestion on the few current north-south arterials between US 290 and I-10.
3. Ultimate Grand Parkway Developer may benefit from acquiring a completed, traffic generating segment “on day one” thus enhancing the development of the remainder of the 184 mile loop.

Houston Housing Market Differs from Nation's

This is the conclusion of the Federal Reserve Bank--Houston Branch in a recent report on the Houston economy.  The report notes the "significant headwind" that the ongoing housing downturn has provided the U.S. economy but highlights that Houston's story is quite different primarily because land use is not as restricted in Houston as it is in higher costs regions.  In other words, the laws of supply and demand work and work well in Houston.

Read this article at this link.  (PDF)

Debating Land Use in Houston:  Two Different Approaches

Should land use in Houston be more restrictive than it currently is?  Two perspectives on this and related issues will be discussed at a special meeting on February 26th sponsored by Houstonians for Responsible Growth, Blueprint Houston and the Gulf Coast Institute. 

On one side: David Crossley, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Institute and Arthur Nelson, Professor of Planning and Urban Affairs at Virginia Tech University

On the other side: former Mayor Bob Lanier and public policy expert Wendell Cox of Demographia.

FEBRUARY 26, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Admission is free

Registration begins at 5:00pm

Please go to www.houstongrowth.org/rsvp
to RSVP and reserve your tickets.

Parking available in Convention Center/ Hotel garage on Polk/Avenida de Las Americas.
 

For Harris County Bonds & Constitutional Amendment 12

The West Houston Association has endorsed the 2007 Harris County Bond Propositions 1 through 6 that will be presented to voters of Harris County on November 6, 2007.  We urge members of the Association to become familiar with and support the propositions because of their crucial importance to the future of county.  Members are encouraged to communicate their support of the proposals to their employees.

The Association is supporting these propositions as a means of expanding and improving critical infrastructure not only in Greater West Houston but throughout the county.  These proposals will improve the quality of life for all Harris County citizens.

For Constitutional Amendment Proposition 12--Highway Bonds

The West Houston Association has endorsed Texas Constitutional Amendment Proposition 12 which authorizes the issuance of up to $5 billion in Texas state general obligation bonds for highways in Texas.  We urge members of the Association to familiarize themselves with this important statewide matter and express their support for the proposition.  A vote on this measure is on the statewide ballot November 6.

This proposition will allow the next session of the State Legislature to authorize bonds for highway improvements in the state.  Although the state highway program is mostly funded by dedicated tax revenue, the traditional sources which the Legislature has chosen not to increase, have not kept up with the growing demands of the system.  The bonds proposed will be repaid from general revenue on which a constitutionally imposed limit of 5% of uncommitted revenue.  The current state debt is below 2%.

WEst houston plan 2050 Symposium on the future of greater west houston

presentations available

Presentations by Symposium speakers are available at www.WestHouston.org.  Click on the link to the Symposium at our home page.  A DVD is of the Symposium is also available.  Order form here.

aSSOCIATION BOARD WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS FOR 2007

Wilbur Smith Associates |  Moody National Bank  |  Simon Property Group  |  Brown and Caldwell

McDade, Smith, Gould, Johnston, Mason + Company  |  HEB Grocery Company

Legislature Wins Some, Loses Some on Toll Roads

List of Potential TxDOT/Harris County Projects included in Plan      

Map of Projects included in Plan

The 80th State Legislature passed Senate Bill 792 (Copy of Fiscal Note to 792) dealing in part with the construction of toll roads around the state.  While the target of 792 seemed to be comprehensive development agreements (CDAs) between TxDOT and private sector entities, some potential Harris County Toll Roads got caught in the crossfire.

In this legislation several Harris County roadways were exempted or grandfathered from the provisions in 792 that placed a two-year moratorium on toll road projects around the state:

• extension into downtown of Hardy Toll Road, HUS 290 corridor toll lanes,

• SH 288, Fairmont Parkway,

• South Post Oak Extension;

• Westpark Toll Road extension to FM 1623,

• Fort Bend Parkway SH 6 to the Brazos River, and

• Beltway 8 East

The state moratorium is lifted on September 1, 2009.

The hottest projects in Harris County were grandfathered, with the exemption of the hottest of all, the Grand Parkway. 

In a deal only some of our elected officials in Austin could conjure up, the Grand Parkway could sit in limbo, or in a "market valuation" study phase for up to four years.  During this period the study and agreement on "terms and conditions" by TxDOT, Local County and the MPO (the Transportation Policy Council) is required.  The MPO is involved in this process until August 31, 2009.  TxDOT and the Local County have another 2 years to reach agreement on terms and conditions.  A copy of SB 792 is available at this link.

An Earlier Story on The TxDOT-Harris County Toll Deal

Gary Trietsch briefed the West Houston Association Board of Directors March 27th on the newly developed agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and Harris County which may likely lead to the development of $21 billion in new tolled and non-tolled roadways in the Houston region.

Gary Trietsch announced details of the agreement between TxDOT and Harris County for $21 billion in toll and non-tolled roadway projects to be implemented over the next 20 to 30 years, mentioning that Transportation Commissioner Ned Holmes would like to have the projects done in ten years.

This agreement is a new approach for TxDOT and is not duplicated anywhere else in the state according to Gary Trietsch.  It precludes TxDOT from contracting with a private sector firm through a CDA and preempts the creation of a so called regional mobility authority.  In essence, local control is retained.

He said the agreement, which will require further review, was preliminarily agreed upon by local and state authorities and should be finalized within one year.  It calls upon TxDOT to undertake all planning and environmental work and for Harris County Toll Authority to handle all right-of-way, construction, operations and maintenance. 

Legislation to facilitate this agreement will be considered in this session of the Texas Legislature.

Many of the projects are located outside of Harris County and other local government partners such as Fort Bend and Montgomery County will be brought into the agreement now or as the projects come on line.

The estimated total cost of the 56 projects covered by this agreement is $21 billion.  Toll revenue projects will account for $14.6 billion and non-toll revenue projects will account for $6.4 billion.  The revenue potential for all of the projects is unknown at this time.  Essentially, the latter number reflects the payment or concession to TxDOT which, in turn, will be used within the region on the non-tolled projects listed in the agreement.  This amount will be paid out over time as the non-tolled projects are planned and constructed and will not be an upfront payment.

All funding for these projects is over and above current and future TxDOT funding for projects in the Houston District.  Harris County Toll Authority is said to have an approximate $700 million per year funding capability.   The agreement will enable Harris County to undertake the projects directly through the Toll Authority or in partnership with other local governments or the private sector.

Several projects in West Houston included in the agreement are: the Grand Parkway; US 290 and Hempstead Toll Road; the extension of the managed use lanes on I-10 from SH 6 west to Sealy.

WHA Encourages Local Government Intervention in to Houston SIP Lawsuit in the 5th Circuit

Read Issue & Background Paper at this Link

NEW Harris County and Fort Bend County Commissioners Courts have voted to authorize intervention in the suit to halt Houston's SIP.

The West Houston Association is joining with other organizations in the greater Houston area to  request that local governments consider filing a motion to intervene in a very important lawsuit recently filed in the Federal Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit . The lawsuit seeks to overturn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the Houston area’s current federal 1-hour ozone air quality state implementation plan.

If the suit is successful, all federal funding for road, highway and mass transportation projects may be suspended or diverted to other regions of Texas until such time as a replacement plan is approved by EPA. A steady stream of federal funding is critically important to local efforts to address acute mobility problems. If the flow of federal funds is cut off or disrupted, the citizens of Harris County will suffer costly and needless delays in our area’s roadway and transit capacity projects, in addition to having to deal with other unnecessary restrictions to their mobility.

The lawsuit was filed by an environmental organization against EPA, and no local governmental entity is a party. If no local governmental entity intervenes, the residents of this region would potentially be faced with dictates from a settlement agreement between a federal government agency and a single environmental organization without any local or state government involved in the process.

If a government decides to file a motion to intervene, it would be best to do so prior to January 6 (within 60 days of the date on which the lawsuit was filed). If the intervention is granted, entities will likely be invited to participate in mediation talks that are expected on the matter.

This is not, in our view, a matter of clean air versus pollution. The West Houston Association and its members support clean air and responsible environmental policies. We believe we can achieve both growth and reduced emissions. In fact, data indicate that the Houston area is reducing ozone forming emissions from motor vehicles and will continue to rapidly reduce emissions from motor vehicles as newer vehicles work into the system.

West Houston Association Participates in Opportunity Houston

The Executive Committee of the West Houston Association has pledged $5,000 to the region's economic development and marketing program, Opportunity Houston.  The Association will become a strategic partner in promoting the Greater Houston region.  This project of the Greater Houston Partnership is a 10 year, $40 million campaign to help create 600,000 jobs; promote capital investment of $60 billion; and increase foreign trade to $225 billion.

WHA Endorses November 7 City of Houston Bond and Proposition Election

The West Houston Association Executive Committee has endorsed the City of Houston November 7th $625 million bond election and Propositions G and H.  Members of the Association are urged to carefully review the proposed measures and express their support in this critical election.

The bond election, the first since 2001, will not require a tax increase and will finance capital improvements through 2013.  If approved by voters, the bonds will be used in the following areas:

Proposition G provides that "enterprise fund expenditures" or City expenditures supported directly by user fees such as the airport fund will have no preset revenue limitations resulting from the passage of the cap on expenditures.  We feel expenditures supported by user fees result from the direct use of a particular City activity.  These revenues reflect demand for that service or system and allow for capital and operation investments to expand the systems and improve efficiency.  Fees levied upon that use is the fairest form of public funding--only those that use the service pay for it.  It is inconsistent to place arbitrary limitations on expenditures designed to support that demand.  Visit http://www.voteforpropg.com/facts for additional information on this proposition

Proposition H allows for the expenditure of up to $90 million above the revenue cap for public safety matters such a police and fire protection. 

The Association is directly supporting Citizens to Keep Houston Strong, a group supporting passage of the propositions.

West Houston Association Participates in Opportunity Houston

The Executive Committee of the West Houston Association has pledged $5,000 to the region's economic development and marketing program, Opportunity Houston.  The Association will become a strategic partner in promoting the Greater Houston region.  This project of the Greater Houston Partnership is a 10 year, $40 million campaign to help create 600,000 jobs; promote capital investment of $60 billion; and increase foreign trade to $225 billion.

Stormwater Management Study

The Association represented on the Urban Stormwater Management Study Stakeholders Committee as it advises on the new study being financed by Harris County Flood Control, Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Houston.  The Study goals are to:

• increase understanding of flooding and drainage issues
• improve stormwater management in the entire watershed
• develop better public projects
• improve public understanding and confidence

The Association heavily encouraged the HCFCD to undertake the study when it was in its formative stages after District Director Mike Talbot announced his initiative to look for local partners in the study.

Roger Hord, president of the Association, will represent the Association on this committee.

Roger Hord, president of the West Houston Association, has been appointed by the Texas Transportation Commission to the Trans-Texas Corridor Citizens Advisory Committee.  Hord was one of 21 appointments made by the Commission from the State of Texas.  The Committee will assist in developing major transportation and utility corridors the state plans to build in coming decades.