With South Montgomery County entities and the Houston-Galveston Area Council awaiting proposals from consultants on the South County mobility plan, Montgomery County commissioners are considering a countywide plan of their own.

 

Montgomery County Judge Alan Sadler brought the idea to Commissioners Court July 1, because he was familiar with South Montgomery County's plan and said he believes a similar study could be done countywide to update the county's transportation plans. Precinct 2 Commissioner Craig Doyal also said he would like to see a study prepared for the entire county, suggesting the commissioners could hold a workshop to discuss such a plan.

 

“I'd like to see something on the west side of the county,” Doyal said.

 

Alan Clark, director of transportation planning for H-GAC, said H-GAC is currently advertising for a consultant for the South County plan, which includes The Woodlands, Shenandoah, Oak Ridge North and unincorporated portions of the region. Clark said the plan will examine current and future transportation concerns, take about a year and could cost upwards of $400,000 with The Woodlands Township and county funding $50,000 apiece, Shenandoah and Oak Ridge North funding $25,000 apiece and H-GAC funding the remainder.

 

Although he did not know how much a study would cost for the entirety of the county, Clark estimated the costs could double. However, Clark said the South County study would provide some data on the rest of the county which could benefit the whole area.

 

“We will already be doing quite a bit of work which will impact the entire county,” he said.

 

Commissioners opted to defer the decision for two weeks until the July 15 meeting.