05/01/2008
Chamber Urges Residents to Vote "YES" in Lone Star College Bond Election
The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce leadership is solidly backing the Lone Star College System’s proposed $420 million bond plan, and is urging its membership – and all college district residents – to vote in favor of the bond referendum at the polls in the May 10 general election.
The Lone Star College System’s rapid – and projected - growth has created a need for new facilities throughout the college district to house students who come to them for a post-graduate education. For that reason, the college district’ board of trustees voted to call the bond election, which will not increase the college district’s already low 11.44-cent property tax rate.
“Our board passed a resolution in support of the bond referendum – it is very important to the vitality of our area,” said Reginald Lillie, the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce’s Board Chairman. “We have formed a PAC (Political Action Committee) to promote the bond issue, and we encourage everyone to get out and vote and support this very important bond election.”
The Chamber recognizes the Lone Star College System’s need for bond funds for projects, which includes new construction and renovations for campuses in the college system, parking and safety improvements, new performing arts facilities and a second University Center .
The Lone Star College System operates five colleges and six satellite centers. Enrollment system-wide is currently about 50,000 students. Lone Star College-CyFair has the largest enrollment with over 11,000 students.
Dr. Earl Campa , Vice President of Student Success at Lone Star College- CyFair , said the proposed bond package includes about $95.5 million for projects at the Cy-Fair campus. That college was constructed in 2003 with the tremendous help from the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber and community.
Those projects include a 170,000-square-foot classroom addition, which would cost $39.2 million; a $19.7 million satellite campus, similar to Lone Star College–CyFair’s Fairbanks satellite campus, which could be located further out along Highway 290; $16.3 million to purchase the Fairbanks Center satellite building; a 30,000-square-foot student services building at $9.5 million; $6.6 million for additional parking facilities; $2.1 million for new satellite traffic infrastructure; and $2.1 million for science lab renovations.
Campa said Cy-Fair College is at 135 percent utilization of existing buildings and has five portable buildings on site to keep up with growth at that college site. The college’s nursing and emergency medical services programs have waiting lists.
“We don’t want to put a cap on enrollment and say we can no longer serve additional students, but if we run out of space we may have to consider that,” Campa said. “We are already getting creative with our courses, and offer online courses, distance learning and weekend classes.”
Registered voters in the Lone Star College System can participate in the general election on May 10. For more information, go to www.lonestar.edu/bond2008 or www.voteforlonestar.org.
05/01/2008
Chamber voices strong support for three Grand Parkway road segments
On May 1, Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Rowden said the Chamber fully supports the construction of three segments of the proposed Grand Parkway that will run through the Cy-Fair community.
Rowden presented David Gornet, executive director of the Grand Parkway Association, with a resolution passed by the Chamber’s board of directors on April 18. He said the board believes the construction of Grand Parkway segments E, F-1 and F-2 will improve east-west transportation mobility and economic development in the Cy-Fair area and the region.
Gornet, who spoke at the Chamber’s May transportation committee meeting, said the Grand Parkway project is moving forward, but at a “glacial pace.”
He said the Federal Highway Administration has not yet given the green light – or “record of decision” – for segments E, F-1 and F-2. The two entities that could build those three road segments – the Texas Department of Transportation or the Harris County Toll Road Authority - must wait for that decision before moving forward with final design, land acquisition and construction.
The Grand Parkway Association is a non-profit state transportation corporation formed in 1984 to implement studies and construction on the 182-mile Grand Parkway loop around Houston . In the past three years, the Texas Department of Transportation has been negotiating with the Harris County Toll Road Authority to help construct part of the roadway from Interstate 10 to U.S. 59.
The Grand Parkway ’s “E” segment, which runs from Interstate 10 through the Bridgeland master-planned community to Highway 290, is the next in line for construction, Gornet said. The Grand Parkway Association could get approval of the final environmental impact statement from the Federal Highway Administration in about a month.
Gornet said the Federal Highway Administration has approved the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Grand Parkway ’s “F-1” segment, which runs from Highway 290 adjacent to Fairfield to Texas 249. That document will be available for public comment by the end of May, he said, and that comment period would probably run through July. A record of decision is about six months behind that.
The final environmental impact statement for the “F-2” segment – from Texas 249 to Interstate 45 – is still under review, said Gornet.
He said there is concern about whether or not the project will move forward, since it has been on the drawing board for so long, but he is confident it will happen for several reasons.
“Hurricane Rita brought to light the need for alternate routes to get people out of town, because our present road network cannot handle it,” Gornet said. “There are also issues involving the Port (of Houston ). There will be a growth in truck traffic in and out of the port due to the Panama Canal improvements. The Grand Parkway , particularly on the east side of town, can re-route some of that truck traffic out of the center of Houston .”
Gornet said the Grand Parkway ’s I-2 segment – from Interstate 10 to Highway 146 - is already helping to re-route truck traffic in that area.
“That segment was opened as a free road, but the rest will be built as toll roads,” Gornet said. “The ( Grand Parkway ) is not following existing roads, so it will be built without frontage roads, but will have on/off ramps at major intersections.”
“Development will occur along the cross streets and the highway will be more scenic in nature,” he said.
Archived News
04/24/2008 Rock 'N Bowl is Set for May 27
04/15/2008 Dynamo Leader Divulges Team's Stadium Goals
04/03/2008 Sprint Presents Salute to Law Enforcement
04/03/2008 Highway 290's Communter Rail Future Remains Bright
04/03/2008 Chamber Urges Residents to Vote "YES" in Lone Star College Bond Election
02/29/2008 2nd Annual Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Spring Swing Golf Tournament
02/29/2008 Partnership with Lone Star College-Cy-Fair is a Success
02/29/2008 Salute to Law Enforcement Renamed in Honor of Underwriter
02/21/2008 Annual Sprint presents salute to law enforcement on Saturday, May 3 at Willowbrook Mall
02/21/2008 Lone Star College System's Growth Equals Need for College Expansion Projects
02/21/2008 Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Annual Spring Swing Golf Tournament
02/14/2008 Another record year for the Chamber Herd “Trail Riders”!!!!
02/14/2008 BIG Academy offers credits for attendance
01/04/2008 Chamber ceremony ushers in New Year, new leadership
01/04/2008 Board forms Chamber’s backbone
01/04/2008 Chamber awarded top honor in state competition
01/04/2008 Leaders foresee active 2008 Chamber year
01/04/2008 Four chamber members named “Business of the Year” finalists
01/04/2008 Attorney takes on leading role on fire department board
01/04/2008 Volunteer heart beats strong in Cy-Fair fire department