Pearland council hears $123 million drainage CIP update; staff recommends waiting on Fite Road until TxDOT completes FM 1128 work

Lorenzo Wingate, Pearland’s director of engineering and public works, opened the March 24 special meeting with the first of two capital improvement program (CIP) update sessions: drainage. He said the five‑year drainage program in the draft FY25–29 CIP totals about $123,000,000 and combines voter‑approved 2023 bond projects, state grants and other funds.

The update matters because the projects aim to improve stormwater conveyance, reduce localized flooding and align maintenance with capital investment. Staff also described an expanded maintenance program, new contracts, and a staffing increase intended to deliver routine inspections and cleaning on a 10‑year cycle.

City staff presented which drainage projects will start in FY25, which remain in design and which are under construction. Assistant director of capital projects Fabiola de Caballero said several anticipated projects — including the Fite Road drainage improvements between Cullen Parkway and Harkey Road — have design funding in FY25 but cannot move to construction until the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) addresses drainage on FM 1128. De Caballero said coordination with TxDOT could reduce Pearland’s project scope and cost once TxDOT completes its work.

"Today's presentation will kick off the first CIP update series for FY or calendar year '25, and we'll start that off with drainage and transportation,"…