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Council hears regional growth forecast and warns Friendswood will feel neighboring developments' traffic impacts
Summary
Houston-Galveston Area Council projections and nearby master-planned developments prompted council discussion about infrastructure, FM 518 study and TxDOT timelines for turn-lane improvements at 528/518.
Council member Sally Branson and City Manager Murad Kabiri presented an overview of a Houston-Galveston Area Council regional growth forecast June 2 that projects population growth across the region and noted nearby large residential developments that could increase commuter traffic through Friendswood.
"We were at 7,000,000 [in 2020]. The guesstimation is that in 2050, we will be at 10,700,000," Council member Sally Branson said, summarizing the HGAC forecast.
Branson and Murad Kabiri described multiple large projects just outside Friendswood's borders, including a "legacy" League City project of about 1,700 homes and a Webster/League City residential project of about 2,800 homes. For scale, Branson noted Friendswood issues roughly 50 new home permits per year; the single League City project would be roughly 10 times that level.
The council also discussed transportation studies and TxDOT projects that could affect Friendswood. Branson summarized an FM 518 corridor study (led by HGAC) that contemplates widening FM 518 to six lanes in parts of Pearland, which would eventually transition to four lanes in downtown Friendswood. Murad Kabiri characterized the FM 518 work as a study at this stage intended to secure federal funds.
Council members asked about the status of specific projects. Kabiri said turn-lane improvements at the FM 518/FM 528 intersection are under design with TxDOT and are on pace to be completed before an August 2026 deadline. He told the council that widening projects are listed in regional plans but may not move forward until traffic thresholds justify state action.
Why this matters: Large, out-of-city developments can increase traffic, wear on regional roads and demand for local services. Council members emphasized the need to monitor neighboring growth so the city can coordinate with TxDOT and county partners on mitigation and capacity.
Ending: Branson emphasized that Friendswood must watch neighboring cities' projects because the city is "sandwiched between two of the largest cities in this area," and that decisions outside the city will affect local traffic and infrastructure needs.
