Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Friendswood Downtown EDC to fund $652,000 Comcast undergrounding; council approves payment
Summary
The Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation approved paying Comcast $652,000 to relocate overhead communication lines underground in downtown; council approved the payment after staff warned delays could increase costs and AT&T and Verizon work remains pending.
The Friendswood Downtown Economic Development Corporation (FDEC) moved forward on a long-standing downtown improvement goal by approving funds to pay Comcast to remove and relocate overhead communication lines. Staff reported the Comcast contractor provided an estimate of approximately $652,000 for design and removal; the FDEC voted to fund the work and council approved that payment.
Council members and staff described the decade-long downtown plan to remove visual clutter from the right-of-way and noted the work will proceed in phases as FDEC accumulates funds and utilities provide designs. Council members who support the measure said the left-hand side of downtown already looks markedly better after prior work, while others cautioned about sequencing—urging coordination with AT&T and Verizon and warning that piecemeal removal could leave visible lines if other carriers delay.
Staff told council the Comcast price is time-limited and that delays risk higher future bids; the council approved the FDEC payment and encouraged continued coordination with AT&T and Verizon on the remainder of the downtown undergrounding effort.
Ending: The Comcast removal contract will proceed; staff and FDEC will continue to coordinate with other carriers on further phases.
