Pearland shows road‑repair plans and cites federal delays for Smith Ranch widening
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Summary
Mayor Mary Cole reviewed the city’s road‑repair maps and said a $3 million package is active while the city anticipates spending roughly $25 million on repairs over several years. She said Smith Ranch Road widening relies on federal HGAC funding and environmental reviews have caused lengthy delays.
Pearland’s mayor used the city’s online condition index to walk viewers through forthcoming road‑repair packages and related projects, and to respond to resident questions about specific corridors and timing.
Mayor Mary Cole showed viewers how to filter the condition index and pointed to a street rehabilitation package she said is currently being worked. She cited a recent road package in the neighborhood of $3 million and said the city has layered projects — including cooperative packages with the county — where county road crews perform work and county funding supplements materials the city provides.
"We'll probably spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $25,000,000 on road repair," Cole said, describing a multi‑year program that will roll out work as funds and capacity allow.
On the Smith Ranch Road widening, she said much of the cost is borne by federal dollars through the Houston‑Galveston Area Council (HGAC) and that the project requires environmental review from federal authorities, which has slowed delivery. She suggested the idea of a mandated review 'shot clock' for federal reviewers to reduce administrative delay while noting environmental review remains important.
Cole and staff also addressed resident requests about expanding street lighting; she explained many lights are maintained by the utility CenterPoint and replacement or upgrades can take months. The city said it will explore a two‑step approach to remove damaged poles more quickly and check annual allocations through CenterPoint for additional fixtures.
No formal council action occurred during the program; officials invited residents to follow project pages on the engineering division’s website and to report locations where they want follow‑up.