The Citizen Satisfaction Survey identified traffic flow and congestion management as top priorities for Sugar Land residents. In response, the City has developed plans to address these transportation concerns, with a key focus on improvements to University Boulevard, one of the City’s most congested and heavily traveled roads. While segments of University Boulevard from SH 6 through Riverstone were initially designed to accommodate future growth, the section between New Territory Boulevard and Lexington Boulevard has experienced significant increases in traffic in recent years. The intersection with US 59 has become a critical point for mobility in this corridor, as surrounding areas continue to expand, including the University of Houston-Sugar Land campus, Smart Financial Center, Brazos River Park, Crown Festival Park, and commercial developments on both sides of US 59.
In November 2019, Sugar Land voters approved four General Obligation (GO) Bond propositions totaling $90.76 million. Included in the 2019 GO Bond was Proposition C, which allocated $10.26 million for street projects aimed at improving mobility and reinvesting in the City’s transportation network. This included $1.7 million specifically for the design and construction of University Boulevard widening. Furthermore, the University Blvd Widening project was incorporated into the voter-approved Fort Bend County Mobility Bond for the years 2013, 2017, and 2020. Through this partnership, Fort Bend County has allocated 50% of the construction cost, or a maximum of $1,610,000. The funding breakdown includes $500,000 from 2013, $950,000 from 2017, and $160,000 from 2020, collectively bringing the total Fort Bend County contribution to $1,610,000.
An Interlocal Agreement (ILA) formalizing this partnership was approved by the Sugar Land City Council on April 19, 2022, and by the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court on May 10, 2022. On May 7, 2024 the City Council approved a construction contract valued at $3,207,109 with the low bidder Environmental Allies, LLC. for the University Blvd Widening project. This contract includes adding one lane in each direction to the existing concrete boulevard roadway from north of Wentworth Avenue to New Territory Boulevard, as well as making intersection improvements at New Territory Boulevard, Branford Place, Telfair/Wescott Avenue, Lexington Boulevard, and Wentworth Avenue.
This construction contract represents the first phase of the broader University Blvd Widening initiative. To maximize the benefits of the expansion and improve both traffic flow and safety, it is necessary to upgrade the existing traffic signals along the University Blvd corridor within the project area to accommodate the roadway widening. To facilitate this, the City Council also approved a professional services contract with Alliance Transportation Group, LLC. for the design of the Intersection Signals Improvement project, valued at $107,625.00.
The design for the Intersection Signals Improvement project is now complete, and the City is currently seeking bids on the project, with construction set to begin in May 2025. To fund the signal improvements, Amendment No. 1 of the Interlocal Agreement has been proposed by the City to Fort Bend County, requesting the transfer of $2,000,000.00 from previously identified but deferred projects: Scenic Rivers Project No. 13404 ($600,000) and Industrial Blvd Project No. 17309 ($1,400,000). By reallocating these funds, the City ensures that there are sufficient financial resources to complete the Intersection Signals Improvement project as part of the broader University Blvd Widening initiative.
The Engineering Department recommends that the City Council approve Amendment No. 1 of the Interlocal Agreement with Fort Bend County in the amount of $2,000,000, and approve a budget amendment in the amount as stated in Amendment No 1 to the ILA. This will bring the total maximum funding from Fort Bend County for the CIP projects CST2102 and CST2203 to $3,610,000.