The Woodlands Township extends honors with proclamations, reviews upcoming TxDOT projects and more

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- At its regular meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors recognized several groups with proclamations and accepted a donation from Waste Management to enhance environmental education in the community. In addition, the Board addressed issues related to transportation, security and other matters.

With four proclamations, the Board honored The Woodlands High School UIL State Championship in the FIRST Tech Challenge Contest, The Woodlands Christian Academy's Literary Criticism and Art State Champions, Bike The Woodlands Month including Bike to Work Day and Bike The Woodlands Day, and Monarch Butterfly Day.

On the regular agenda, the Board heard a presentation from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on various thoroughfare projects in The Woodlands area. A project is planned for FM 1488 at the northern boundary of the Township that will add a raised median for the thoroughfare. A separate project on FM 1488 will widen the road from four to six lanes. Impacting the northeastern portion of the Township, TxDOT is preparing to construct the northbound-eastbound direct connector from I-45 to SH 242. This project will also include drainage improvements to the adjacent feeder road.

The briefing from TxDOT focused on a planned project for SH 242 from I-45 to FM 1488. This project will widen the road from four to six lanes, construct a 10-foot wide shared use path on the eastern/northern side of the road, add detention ponds, and potentially include construction of sound walls. The project length is 4.5 miles. The shared use pathway will complete a planned route that was shown in the Township’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. After the SH 242 project receives environmental clearance, a noise workshop will be held on whether or not to construct sound walls. The TxDOT-hosted meetings are anticipated for late June 2022. View the TxDot presentation.

The Board also received a presentation from Waste Management regarding funding to enhance environmental education. The contract with Waste Management for waste collection and recycling services includes an educational component that provides for a defined amount for environmental education programs, services and projects equal to 1% of the amount spent on all services in the previous calendar year. In accordance with the contract, Waste Management provided $72,094 in funding to the Township for 2022 environmental education programs.

Waste Management Customer Service Manager Terry Woodson also complimented The Woodlands Township residents on their 93 percent participation in recycling, one of the best participation rates in the United States.

Other reports and presentations included a quarterly update from the Development Standards Committee, the financial report, and approval of the repair of the Grogan's Forest neighborhood entry sign monument.

Related to transportation, the Board approved the application for Transportation Credits through Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to assist in funding the capital acquisition of replacement Town Center Trolleys, and in separate action, the Board allocated funding for an additional full-time Trolley Driver.

Related to security and safety, the Board extended the Alpha & Omega Mounted Patrol contract until December 31, 2022.

On the Consent Agenda, the Board established a Use, Operation and Maintenance Agreement with Entergy Texas, Inc., for the Windsor Hills pollinator field and approved changes to the 2022 Township employee pay structure.

The Woodlands Township Board Meetings may be attended in person, watched live online or viewed later via recording at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/meetingvideos. The agenda and attachments may be viewed at https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/991/Agendas-Minutes-and-More.

Presentations given during the meeting can be viewed at this link: https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/Archive.aspx?AMID=280.

PHOTO: The Woodlands Township Board of Directors recognized The Woodlands Christian Academy's Literary Criticism and Art State Champions with a proclamation. Pictured above, left to right, Township Director Bruce Rieser, Head of The Woodlands Christian Academy Julie Ambler, Township Director Dr. Shelly Sekula-Gibbs, Literary Criticism State Champion Illiana McIntyre, Art State Champion Riley Bunch, Township Chairman Gordy Bunch, Township Directors Dr. Ann K. Snyder and John Anthony Brown, The Woodlands Christian Academy teachers Heidi Saenz, Renee Crawford and Principal Stephen Clark.

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