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Stafford council backs HGAC transit study route support; resolution non-binding
Summary
Council voted 4–3 to approve a resolution expressing Stafford's interest in a transit alignment that would serve the city as part of the Houston‑Galveston Area Council study; council members warned the resolution is non‑binding and future costs would require separate approvals.
The Stafford City Council on May 21 approved a resolution asking the Houston‑Galveston Area Council (HGAC) to consider transit alignments that would serve Stafford in its ongoing US‑90/98 corridor study. The motion passed 4–3.
Councilmember Garrett, who introduced the item, told colleagues the study is nearing completion and that a resolution would let Stafford register formal support for an alignment that could include stations accessible to town residents and employees. "This is not a…this is going to happen automatically," he said, describing the vote as an expression of interest rather than a commitment to construction or future obligations.
Garrett and other supporters argued the route under consideration could increase access to downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center and create future transit choices for Stafford residents. He highlighted three alternative corridors in the study: a US‑90 alignment across the Brazos toward Rosenberg; a route that follows Hillcroft and the Fort Bend Tollway toward Sienna; and a corridor following I‑69/US‑59 through Sugar Land. Supporters said the Fort Bend Tollway alternative is attractive because construction there could be less costly and the corridor has dense mixed land use.
Opponents worried the resolution could have political or competitive consequences with neighboring jurisdictions. Several council members noted Missouri City passed its own resolution May 5 favoring the Fort Bend Tollway alternative, and they raised concern that paying members of regional agencies can exercise greater influence. "We're going to be competing against Missouri City," one council member said, noting Missouri City already participates financially in Metro and may have more leverage. Other concerns included where park‑and‑ride parking would be sited and limited developable land in Stafford to support a station and its parking needs.
Public commenter Cliff Cowperthwaite said his wife works at the medical center and he would welcome a commuting option, but he urged the council to begin planning for parking and station location if the city wants to participate.
City staff and council members emphasized the resolution imposes no financial obligation; future steps — including alignment selection, detailed engineering, funding commitments and possible tax or membership decisions — would come later and require separate council action. The vote recorded four in favor and three opposed.
