Conroe Courier October 3, 2023

Montgomery County commissioners have finalized a list of projects to submit to the state to use $58 million in escrow funds from the county’s pass-through toll program with the state for road projects.

After several months of discussion, the court approved the list as part of its consent agenda last week.

According to information from the county, Precinct 1 will use $9.5 million and Precinct 2 will use $16.6 million, followed by Precinct 3 with $19.7 million and Precinct 4 with $13 million.

The list of 12 projects includes a braided ramp at Interstate 45 and the Hardy Toll Road, the widening of FM 2854 from Loop 336 to Texas 105 in Montgomery and intersection improvements at I-45 and Research Forest Drive.

The list also includes several smaller projects, including the realignment of FM 1097 from Bentwater Drive to FM 149, a right turn lane from the Grand Parkway feeder onto Birnham Woods Drive and the on and off ramps from the Grand Parkway at Valley Ranch in New Caney.

ON YOURCONROENEWS.COM: New 1,400-acre development promises over 450 Willis homebuyers bigger lots and a life in the woods

The state created the pass-through toll program about 20 years ago to help get road projects completed by encouraging counties to fund state road projects. The state would then reimburse the counties per vehicle or vehicle mile. The reimbursement rate was 7 cents per vehicle mile.

While the state no longer uses the program, the funds have been in an escrow account for several years. 

According to information from TxDOT, the funds must be used to improve state roads or projects that help improve traffic on state roads.

Since 2016, the commissioners have discussed using the funds several times but never created a list of projects.

Under the pass-through toll agreement, the county has received state and federal reimbursement of more than $150 million and funded projects on FM 1484, FM 1485, FM 1488, FM 1314 and the direct connector from Texas 242 to I-45. 

As part of the program, the county was reimbursed $10.5 million a year for the construction projects with a maximum reimbursement of $17.4 million a year.