Montgomery County moves toward first 10-year transportation plan

Montgomery County took a formal step toward its first countywide transportation roadmap on Jan. 15, as commissioners discussed a new mobility study designed to shape road planning and project delivery over the next decade.

County Judge Mark Keough said the effort will be the first comprehensive, 10-year plan to address transportation needs across the entire county. The study, he said, is expected to take 12 to 18 months and will set the stage for a future update of the county’s thoroughfare plan.

“This is a really good thing,” Keough said, calling the study “a big deal” for both the county and state transportation partners.

The project began with the county securing federal funds in October 2024, followed by a formal request in December. In April 2025, the study was added to the Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Unified Planning Work Program, a federally required document that outlines and budgets regional transportation planning work. The county issued a request for proposals in September 2025 and awarded the contract to engineering firm Freese and Nichols in December.

Keough said the full cost of the study has been reimbursed by the Houston-Galveston Area Council and its state and federal partners, reducing the financial burden on local taxpayers.

Deputy Chief of Staff Jason Smith told commissioners that staff will begin meeting with precinct teams this month to launch the process and keep the work on a 12-month delivery schedule.

“We want to get the ball rolling,” Smith said.

Public input will be a central part of the study. Smith said the county plans to hold two public meetings in each precinct, “a grand total of eight public meetings across the county,” with dates and locations to be coordinated through each commissioner’s office.

The study will examine major corridors throughout Montgomery County and develop a framework for how the county can “program and deliver future projects” over the next 10 years, Smith said.

Keough said the effort could also change how transportation projects are handled at the state level. He said the Texas Department of Transportation has often addressed projects on a case-by-case basis, and the county’s plan could help move planning away from “piecemeal” decisions toward a coordinated, long-range approach.

Once the mobility study is completed, county officials plan to begin updating the county’s thoroughfare plan, using the findings to prioritize projects and guide development as the county continues to grow.

Commissioners did not set a firm completion date but said they expect initial public meetings to begin later this year, with a final plan targeted for 2026.

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