The Planning and Development Department (P&D) recommends City Council approve the amendments to the 2021 Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan (MTFP) and authorize publication of the 2022 MTFP map.
P&D is responsible for administering an annual public review process for amending the MTFP, which includes multiple opportunities for soliciting and incorporating public comments. This year, P&D reviewed 11 proposed amendments. Planning Commission considered 10 of the amendments; one amendment was withdrawn by the applicant. All amendments were submitted by private sector applicants. The amendments and Planning Commission recommendations are listed below:
A. Budde Road/Pruitt Road: The Planning Commission approved the applicant’s request to delete the proposed Major Collector Budde Road/Pruitt Road, from IH-45 to Rayford Road. The proposed Major Collector is located in Montgomery County and the City of Houston’s extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The deletion request is supported by Montgomery County. The Montgomery County Thoroughfare Plan adopted in August 2021 reflects the deletion of the corridor.
B. Fulton Street/San Jacinto Street: The Planning Commission approved the staff recommendation to reclassify a section of the proposed Major Thoroughfare Fulton Street/San Jacinto Street, from IH-10 to Burnett Street, to a Major Collector with two lanes and 60’ right-of-way (ROW). The alternative to reclassify the corridor is supported by City staff, TxDOT, and METRO. The applicant’s initial request was to delete the Major Thoroughfare, however, staff’s proposed alternative to keep the proposed alignment, reduce the number of lanes, and reclassify the corridor, matches the existing cross-section north of Burnett Street. The staff alternative is supported by the various agencies, as this proposal addresses the concern of the community, and maintains a viable street network.
C. South Wayside Drive: This proposed amendment was withdrawn by the applicant.
D. Fondren Road: The Planning Commission approved the applicant’s request to realign proposed Major Thoroughfare Fondren Road from Maczali Drive to McHard Road (FM 2234). The proposed corridor is located in Fort Bend County, in the City of Houston’s ETJ. City Council District K. Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex-Tatum and TxDOT provided letters of no objection to the proposed alignment.
E. Madden Road: The Planning Commission approved the applicant’s request to delete a section of the proposed Major Collector Madden Road from its existing segment to Harlem Road, and to realign Madden Road to follow its existing paving west to Westmoor Drive. The proposed Major Collector is located in Fort Bend County and the City of Houston’s ETJ. The deletion request is supported by Fort Bend County and is already reflected in their recently adopted Thoroughfare map.
F. West Airport Boulevard/Allum Road: The Planning Commission approved the staff recommendation to realign and reclassify proposed Principal Thoroughfare West Airport Boulevard/Allum Road, from East Stone Drive to South Post Oak Road, as a Major Collector with four lanes and 80’ ROW. West Airport Boulevard/Allum Road is located in Harris County, within the City of Houston’s jurisdiction. The staff alternative is supported by Harris County, as it offers a feasible option for the corridor and maintains east/west connectivity.
G. Fairview Street/Unnamed Thoroughfare: The Planning Commission approved the applicant’s request to reclassify proposed Major Thoroughfare Fairview Street/Unnamed Thoroughfare to a Major Collector, from Rayford Road to the City of Houston’s ETJ border. The proposed corridor is located in Montgomery County and the City of Houston’s ETJ. The reclassification request is supported by Montgomery County and is already reflected in their recently adopted Thoroughfare map.
H. Northpark Drive: The Planning Commission approved the applicant’s request to delete the proposed Principal Thoroughfare Northpark Drive/Unnamed Thoroughfare, from Sorters McLellan Road to Townsen Road. The proposed Principal Thoroughfare is located in Montgomery County and the City of Houston’s ETJ. The deletion request is supported by Montgomery County and is already reflected in their recently adopted Thoroughfare map .
I. West Road (Pinafore Lane): The Planning Commission approved the staff recommendation to reclassify proposed Major Thoroughfare West Road (Pinafore Lane), from Hardy Toll Road to Luthe Road, as a Minor Collector; add Luethe Road, from existing West Road (Pinafore Lane) to Aldine Bender Road, as a Minor Collector; delete a segment of the proposed Major Thoroughfare, from Luthe Road to Reeveston Road; and reclassify proposed Major Thoroughfare West Road (Pinafore Lane), from Reeveston Road to Aldine Westfield Road, as a Minor Collector. The proposed corridor is located in Harris County and the City of Houston’s ETJ. The staff proposed alternative is supported by Harris County, as the addition of the Minor Collectors in the area helps to maintain a viable street network, preserves mobility, and enhances circulation.
J. Louetta Road: The Planning Commission approved the applicant’s request to delete the proposed Major Thoroughfare and Major Collector Louetta Road, from U.S.290 to Jack Road. The proposed corridor is located in Harris County and the City of Houston’s ETJ. The deletion request is supported by Harris County, as there is significant connectivity which provides ample traffic circulation for the area.
K1-K4 Kingwood: This amendment proposal was presented in four segments. The Planning Commission approved all of the requests, with K1 being a two-part request (K1a and K1b). These proposed amendments are located in Harris County, and the City of Houston’s ETJ. The Planning Commission approved the applicants request to delete and realign the proposed Major Thoroughfare Kingwood Drive, from Huffman Cleveland Road (FM 2100) to Miller Wilson Road. The Planning Commission approved the applicant’s request to create the proposed Major Thoroughfare Kingwood Drive, from Miller Wilson Road to the Grand Parkway (TX-99). The Planning Commission approved the applicant’s request to delete proposed Major Thoroughfare Miller Wilson Road, between the old and new segments of Kingwood Drive. The Planning Commission approved the deletion of proposed Major Collector Magnolia Lane, from Miller Wilson Road to Wolf Trot. The Planning Commission approved the deletion and realignment of proposed Major Thoroughfare Wolf Trot, from the new addition of Kingwood Drive to a point south of the current Kingwood Drive alignment.
The 2022 MTFP annual amendment review process included the following:
- A pre-application meeting with applicants (January 4, 2022 – February 25, 2022).
- A workshop with the Planning Commission for preliminary review and discussion about the applications (May 12, 2022).
- A thorough review of the applications by P&D staff, and coordination with agency stakeholders, including Houston Public Works, Harris County Flood Control District, Harris County Engineering Department, CenterPoint Entergy, METRO, and TxDOT (June 7, 14, 15, 16, and August 9, 17, 2022).
- A public open house held virtually (June 15, 2022).
- A public hearing before the Planning Commission (July 21, 2022).
- A Planning Commission discussion and vote on the ten amendments (September 1, 2022).
Background
The City of Houston MTFP identifies transportation corridor alignments and establishes the required rights-of-way for major roadways in the City and its ETJ. Chapter 33, Article IX (Section 33-374) of the Code of Ordinances requires that the Planning Commission prepare and submit the MTFP annually to City Council. In developing the annual amendments to the MTFP, the Commission may consider deleting, realigning, and reclassifying streets designated on the plan. The Commission may also consider adding one or more streets to the plan. An amendment approved by the Planning Commission is not effective until the MTFP is approved by City Council.
The MTFP was initially adopted in 1942, as a way to plan for and preserve a long-term transportation network that would support the rapidly growing city. In 1966, the plan was expanded to include the ETJ. Today, the MTFP uses street classifications identifying the preferred (ROW) width dimensions, as well as the rules governing development along the ROW. Classifications include Freeways/Tollways, Major Thoroughfares, Transit Corridor Streets, Collector Streets (Major Collectors and Minor Collectors), and Local Streets.
The MTFP is important for several reasons:
- It identifies long-term roadway needs for Houston and the ETJ;
- It ensures that development and re-development activities dedicate adequate roadway ROW to maintain a well-connected street network as the area grows;
- It helps govern development that takes place along each specific classification on the map;
- It provides a coordinated plan that is used by public agencies when making decisions related to transportation within the City of Houston and its ETJ;
- MTFP classifications are used within HPW’s Infrastructure Design Manual to define how roads will be designed and constructed; and
- It provides officials and the general public useful information when making land acquisition decisions.
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Margaret Wallace Brown, AICP, CNU-A
Director
Planning and Development Department