Sugar Land Mobility Master Plan Targets Microtransit, Connectivity

Sugar Land, Texas,is adopting a new Mobility Master Plan aimed at aligning the goals and proposals in prior mobility, roadway, and bike and pedestrian plans and improving mobility for all types of road users in the sprawling, heavily car-oriented city southwest of Houston.

An article in the Fort Bend Independent quotes the master plan, which states: 

For decades Sugar Land has successfully invested in mobility, primarily by building new streets and trails and increasing vehicular capacity. 

To complement these investments, the community has asked the City to expand safe, healthy, and active transportation choices for all users, and continue to deploy mobility technology and update design treatments to optimize the space on existing streets.

The plan highlights the interconnectedness of transportation and land use policies, noting that “City staff should integrate public health considerations into all facets of transportation decision-making. This includes expanding greenspace for healthy activities, improving air quality, and ensuring that everyone can access their day-to-day destinations without a car.”

According to the plan, “the City must strategically re-imagine existing street corridors, build on innovative Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) investments, and adapt existing programs and policies to meet the evolving needs of the community.”

The plan establishes six ‘mobility metrics’ and a framework for tracking progress. “This plan identifies focus corridors for investment in a connected Transformative Mobility Network (TMN). Alongside this network, targeted Strategies & Action Items detail the projects, programs, and policies for the City to pursue over the next decade.”

The plan adds, “This Strategy supports further investment in the existing demand response and park & ride services within Fort Bend County while also exploring other options, including microtransit, that support connectivity and access for Sugar Land residents, businesses, and commuters.” As part of the city’s goal to provide more transportation options, in May, the city applied for a grant from the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to establish an on-demand microtransit pilot program.