Project Profile
Five-Year Mobility Enhancement Program
South Montgomery County, Texas
Client: Montgomery County
Project Summary: The Five-Year Mobility Program identified projects that would improve overall mobility within South Montgomery County.
Project Highlights
Between the years of 1993 and 1997, projects were identified and completed including eliminating key bottlenecks, improving and expanding roadway facilities, increasing public transportation, and developing mobility enhancements. These projects were proposed to reduce the vehicle-miles traveled (VMT), as well as pollution and fuel consumption for the South Montgomery County area. The program was divided into three major improvement areas — corridor improvements, public transportation improvements, and general enhancements. The corridor improvements were designed to reduce congestion along the various corridors in the county. Public transportation improvements were oriented toward reducing the number of vehicles on the road through accommodating more public transit trips between South Montgomery County and major destinations within the Houston region. Enhancements were proposed for a Hike-and-Bike Trail and a Transportation Center.
Funding
Provisions contained within the recently enacted Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991, provided several new funding avenues for projects linking mobility improvements with Clean Air Act objectives, particularly within nonattainment areas in states. ISTEA provided new categories of funding through which this project directly related to mitigation of congestion and reduction of pollutants could draw on funds previously unavailable through the traditional Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding resources. The South Montgomery County Five-Year Mobility Enhancement Program requested funds for improvements supported through several provisions contained within ISTEA.