6/9/2026 – New Northpark paving now stretches from one end of the project to the other.
We aren’t anywhere close to a ribbon cutting yet. But we did reach a milestone of sorts in the expansion project to create the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. Specifically, newly paved surface lanes now stretch from US59 past Russell-Palmer Road – including across the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks.
You can’t drive on them yet. But you should be able to within a couple weeks after UnionPacific finishes installing crossing gates and the City re-programs traffic lights.
All pictures below were taken on 6/9/2026.
Last Four Feet Paved this Week
In the picture below, note the asphalt strips adjacent to the railroad where newly paved surface lanes cross the tracks.
Once new crossing and traffic signals become active, traffic can be rerouted to new surface lanes.
Not all the concrete work is done yet. A left-turn lane in front of the dry cleaners at Loop 494 still needs to be finished. And some cross-Northpark culverts still need to be installed in the center where the old lanes are now.
Wider shot shows culverts, turn lane and utility work remaining at Northpark/Loop 494/UPRR.
Contractors also still have some work to do on sidewalks/multi-purpose pathways, especially where streetlights are in the way.
Note how path on left stops just beyond tracks.
UnionPacific has scheduled June 23, 2026, to install the crossing gates and co-ordinate traffic signals.
East Abutment Being Paved
Farther east, contractors have started paving the east abutment for the bridge which will eventually cross the tracks and Loop 494.
New paving and rebar being installed on eastern abutment.Contractors were also busy today installing caps for the walls that will hold guardrails for the bridge.
Medians and Entry Ponds Coming Together
Beyond the abutment, a combination of sod and grass has been planted in the median between in/and outbound lanes. Thanks to recent rains, it is already starting to turn take root and green up.
Newly planted grass in medians begins to give you a sense of how project will look when complete.
At US59, excavation of the north entry pond looks complete. However, contractors still have work to do on the south pond.
Looking E from over US59. N on left. S on right.
Heavy rains last week appear to have slowed down work on the ponds. As you can see, the north pond is still holding a significant amount of stormwater.
For More Information
Use the keyword “Northpark” to review more than 200 previous posts about the expansion project. Also consult the LakeHouston Redevelopment Authority project pages.
The Authority will hold a board meeting this Thursday at the Kingwood Community Center on 6/11/26 starting at 8am. The address: 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, Texas 77345.
Harper Brothers Construction projects a completion date for the project of January 7, 2027, just seven months from now. You can expect to see a lot of activity on the bridge in coming weeks and months.
The drainage analysis for the new Regional Detention Basin (Project T-1015) is also nearing completion.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/9/2026
3206 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DJI_20260609131024_0363_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-06-09 19:00:112026-06-09 19:04:36New Northpark Paving Now Stretches from One End of Project to Other
6/8/2026 – In their 6/11/2026 meeting, Harris County Commissioners will revisit the future employment of Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen, PhD, PE. The immediate issue: slippage of 11 CDBG-DR projects that could cost the county $322 million if they miss their deadlines on February 28, 2027.
Roughly 84% of the time for those has elapsed with less than 4% of their budgets expended.
Despite deadlines only a little more than eight months away, the projects typically take 1-2 years to construct.
HCFCD also expects to miss deadlines on 13 of 18 CDBG Mitigation Projects (CDBG-MIT) worth another $362.7 million dollars. But that deadline is 3/31/28.
Predictably, the parties involved are offering their own versions of how we reached this point. Dueling press releases today differed starkly.
The GLO says HCFCD promised it “shovel-ready” projects.
On the other hand, HCFCD calls them “complex, large-scale flood risk reduction projects under strict federal timelines, evolving program requirements, construction market pressures, and funding structures that were not originally designed for this level of accelerated delivery.”
Unusual 5-Part GLO Press Release
The GLO issued a five-part press release, unusual in its detail. There was:
The press release itself
An open letter to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo
Photographs of 11 projects supposedly under construction, only three of which were actually moving dirt.
Timeline of critical events during the life of the CDBG-DR Program (the one with the most pressing deadline).
A list of “Failures” by HCFCD.
The GLO press release summarized the letter to Hidalgo. It quoted GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham as saying Harris County needed “Shovels, Not Scapegoats.”
The press release also said that, “We have grave concerns about Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) not meeting its benchmarks…” It went on to say that if the county didn’t change its business processes…
“…there is likely zero chance of successfully meeting the grant timeline established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.”
Dawn Buckingham, GLO Commissioner
Buckingham stated that the GLO spent more than $5 million of its own grant funding to teach HCFCD about grant requirements and provide technical support with grant applications. The GLO claims its team conducted more than 750 meetings “to provide staff support to Harris County to ensure these projects are completed on time in accordance with the federal deadline, yet there are still too few shovels in the ground.”
Commissioner Buckingham concludes her letter by saying, “It’s time to … finish the job. Shovels, not scapegoats.”
Page 15 of 18 shows that with roughly 84% of time elapsed, HCFCD has spent only about 3.9% of available DR funds.
Page 11 of 18 shows that HCFCD has spent only 4.4% of available MIT funds.
HCFCD Paints Rosy Picture Despite Obstacles
The GLO press release this morning emphasized that in 2023 projects were supposed to have been shovel ready. HCFCD’s press release this afternoon never mentions “shovel ready.” Instead it paints a nightmare picture of impossible complexity before claiming it has, ta da, a “plan” to solve the problem.
HCFCD will unveil its new “plan” to commissioners on Thursday. According to HCFCD, it “protects federal funding, maintains and strengthens our commitment to communities, and ensures residents receive the flood risk reduction benefits these programs were designed to deliver.”
HCFCD had planned a press conference tomorrow to explain the plan to reporters, but cancelled it late today.
Proposed Solution
While details of the plan have not yet been divulged, in principle, GLO and HCFCD agree on the following outline. It involves:
2) Billing everything possible from that giant bucket against the DR budget before the 2/28/27 deadline.
3) Billing the rest against the MIT budget, which has a 3/31/28 deadline.
This approach at least kicks the can down the road past the next election. However, Buckingham cautions that the 2/28/27 deadline is firm. Without taking a position on Petersen’s employment, GLO does warn that HCFCD and the County need to move much faster.
Thursday’s Decision on Petersen
GLO’s list of Harris County “failures” is unambiguous. Ramsey can elaborate on them at length and provide examples. Despite extensive support provided by GLO, they include:
Missed deadlines
Reprioritizing projects repeatedly
Submitting incomplete or inaccurate documentation that failed to adhere to federal grant regulations
Failing to respond to GLO requests regarding federal grant processes
Significant employee turnover and loss of experienced staff capacity
Failure to achieve timely engineering design, environmental clearance, procurement, vendor contracting and construction starts…
HCFCD’s own spending data shows that its slowdown cuts across project phases, types of projects, and funding sources. The graph below shows all 2018 bond spending. You can see that problems go far beyond CDBG, GLO and HUD.
The downturn you see coincides with Petersen’s appointment to manage HCFCD.
HCFCD spending over time. Petersen took over in 2022after Democrats started pushing out the previous management team in 2021.
Changing Horses in Midstream
Petersen supporters argue that it could be dangerous to change horses in midstream, especially now that the immediate crisis seems to be solved with the “one big bucket” plan.
But her opponents argue that staying with the status quo carries the larger risk. They argue that poor performance during a crisis may be a reason for change, not a reason against it.
In my opinion, the real question is not whether you’re midstream, but whether the current horse is still the best one to get you across.
Buckingham answered, “This patient is in the middle of a code and about to die.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/8/2026and updated with Fox link on 6/9/26
3205 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2018-Bond-Spending-by-WS-Incremental.png?fit=2060%2C778&ssl=17782060adminadmin2026-06-08 23:18:502026-06-09 22:30:07Showdown Over Slowdown at HCFCD
6/7/2026 – Much of human history comes down to balancing the rights of individuals vs. those of society as a whole. Said another way, where do we draw the line when considering “Me vs. We?”
The proposed Scarborough Development, backed by the State of Texas General Land Office, in the floodplains of Spring Creek, Cypress Creek, Turkey Creek and the San Jacinto West Fork makes a good example.
Flood-proneScarborough property lies inside the V at the confluence of Spring Creek (l) and San Jacinto West Fork (r).
Should a developer have the ability to build on its own property? Even if altering the floodplain will endanger the lives of future homeowners, first responders, and people in surrounding areas? And what if you, the taxpayer, are asked to mitigate that risk in the future? That’s the Me vs. We debate. What’s good for one isn’t always good for the majority.
Me vs. We in American Life
The Me vs. We debate permeates almost every aspect of American life. For instance, we give up some of our freedom as individuals when we:
Marry and raise a family
Obey laws
Choose to live in a city
Join the Armed Forces
Take a job with a company
Go through airport security
Stop at a red light.
In America, the “Me vs. We debate” divides conservatives from liberals and Red states from Blue on most contentious issues
After 250 years, we still haven’t figured out where to draw that line – at least not universally. We just let people and companies shop for jurisdictions compatible with their own self-interest. Want conservative? Move to Texas. Want to hedge your bets? Move to Harris County.
Different Jurisdictions, Different Philosophies
Want to file a lawsuit against the EPA or against polluters? Shop for a court friendly to your point of view.
Should a company be allowed to build on cheap, floodplain property likely to destroy homes and lives? That is the debate with Scarborough. The company stands to make immense profits if it can secure development permits for its 5,300-acre property.
Against that backdrop, lies the safety and security of hundreds of thousands of people, most of whom remain blissfully ignorant of the developing threat upstream.
Engineers using mathematical models estimate the probability of becoming a victim due to alterations they propose to the floodplain. But, in the end, they are highly paid consultants trying to prove the viability of their recommendations to clients.
The public rarely has the knowledge or money to challenge their findings. The public must rely on elected representatives to protect them, the same representatives who receive immense campaign contributions from the engineering companies and their clients.
The High Cost of Failure
If the engineers get it wrong, which they often do, you, the taxpayer, not the developer, will pick up the tab.
If engineers always got it right, American government(s) wouldn’t spend $40–70 billion per year on disaster relief and flood mitigation.
The proposed Scarborough development is almost half as large as Kingwood. And almost all of it is in floodplains or floodways.
FEMA’s estimated feet above dry land for 100- and 500-year floods in the Scarborough area shown above.
Houston and Harris County have already passed unanimous resolutions against developing the Scarborough land. But it’s in Montgomery County, which has less stringent flood regulations.
Ask everyone you know to sign it, too. Help protect your home and family.
This is an election year. Let’s make elections painful for the people pushing this development. The best time to stop a problem is before it starts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/7/2026
3204 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/DJI_20260524145751_0210_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-06-07 18:12:572026-06-07 18:12:58Editorial: “Me vs. We” in Scarborough Development Debate
New Northpark Paving Now Stretches from One End of Project to Other
6/9/2026 – New Northpark paving now stretches from one end of the project to the other.
We aren’t anywhere close to a ribbon cutting yet. But we did reach a milestone of sorts in the expansion project to create the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. Specifically, newly paved surface lanes now stretch from US59 past Russell-Palmer Road – including across the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks.
You can’t drive on them yet. But you should be able to within a couple weeks after UnionPacific finishes installing crossing gates and the City re-programs traffic lights.
All pictures below were taken on 6/9/2026.
Last Four Feet Paved this Week
In the picture below, note the asphalt strips adjacent to the railroad where newly paved surface lanes cross the tracks.
Not all the concrete work is done yet. A left-turn lane in front of the dry cleaners at Loop 494 still needs to be finished. And some cross-Northpark culverts still need to be installed in the center where the old lanes are now.
Contractors also still have some work to do on sidewalks/multi-purpose pathways, especially where streetlights are in the way.
UnionPacific has scheduled June 23, 2026, to install the crossing gates and co-ordinate traffic signals.
East Abutment Being Paved
Farther east, contractors have started paving the east abutment for the bridge which will eventually cross the tracks and Loop 494.
Medians and Entry Ponds Coming Together
Beyond the abutment, a combination of sod and grass has been planted in the median between in/and outbound lanes. Thanks to recent rains, it is already starting to turn take root and green up.
At US59, excavation of the north entry pond looks complete. However, contractors still have work to do on the south pond.
Heavy rains last week appear to have slowed down work on the ponds. As you can see, the north pond is still holding a significant amount of stormwater.
For More Information
Use the keyword “Northpark” to review more than 200 previous posts about the expansion project. Also consult the LakeHouston Redevelopment Authority project pages.
The Authority will hold a board meeting this Thursday at the Kingwood Community Center on 6/11/26 starting at 8am. The address: 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, Kingwood, Texas 77345.
Here is the agenda. And here is the 36-megabyte board packet.
Harper Brothers Construction projects a completion date for the project of January 7, 2027, just seven months from now. You can expect to see a lot of activity on the bridge in coming weeks and months.
The drainage analysis for the new Regional Detention Basin (Project T-1015) is also nearing completion.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/9/2026
3206 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Showdown Over Slowdown at HCFCD
6/8/2026 – In their 6/11/2026 meeting, Harris County Commissioners will revisit the future employment of Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen, PhD, PE. The immediate issue: slippage of 11 CDBG-DR projects that could cost the county $322 million if they miss their deadlines on February 28, 2027.
Despite deadlines only a little more than eight months away, the projects typically take 1-2 years to construct.
HCFCD also expects to miss deadlines on 13 of 18 CDBG Mitigation Projects (CDBG-MIT) worth another $362.7 million dollars. But that deadline is 3/31/28.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey PE has sounded the alarm for months about this problem. So, has the Texas General Land Office (GLO), which administers HUD funds in Texas.
Predictably, the parties involved are offering their own versions of how we reached this point. Dueling press releases today differed starkly.
The GLO says HCFCD promised it “shovel-ready” projects.
On the other hand, HCFCD calls them “complex, large-scale flood risk reduction projects under strict federal timelines, evolving program requirements, construction market pressures, and funding structures that were not originally designed for this level of accelerated delivery.”
Unusual 5-Part GLO Press Release
The GLO issued a five-part press release, unusual in its detail. There was:
The GLO press release summarized the letter to Hidalgo. It quoted GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham as saying Harris County needed “Shovels, Not Scapegoats.”
The press release also said that, “We have grave concerns about Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) not meeting its benchmarks…” It went on to say that if the county didn’t change its business processes…
Buckingham stated that the GLO spent more than $5 million of its own grant funding to teach HCFCD about grant requirements and provide technical support with grant applications. The GLO claims its team conducted more than 750 meetings “to provide staff support to Harris County to ensure these projects are completed on time in accordance with the federal deadline, yet there are still too few shovels in the ground.”
Commissioner Buckingham concludes her letter by saying, “It’s time to … finish the job. Shovels, not scapegoats.”
Click here for the:
Later in the day, GLO also provided an update on reimbursable expenditures to date associated with CDBG-DR and MIT projects.
Page 15 of 18 shows that with roughly 84% of time elapsed, HCFCD has spent only about 3.9% of available DR funds.
Page 11 of 18 shows that HCFCD has spent only 4.4% of available MIT funds.
HCFCD Paints Rosy Picture Despite Obstacles
The GLO press release this morning emphasized that in 2023 projects were supposed to have been shovel ready. HCFCD’s press release this afternoon never mentions “shovel ready.” Instead it paints a nightmare picture of impossible complexity before claiming it has, ta da, a “plan” to solve the problem.
HCFCD will unveil its new “plan” to commissioners on Thursday. According to HCFCD, it “protects federal funding, maintains and strengthens our commitment to communities, and ensures residents receive the flood risk reduction benefits these programs were designed to deliver.”
HCFCD had planned a press conference tomorrow to explain the plan to reporters, but cancelled it late today.
Proposed Solution
While details of the plan have not yet been divulged, in principle, GLO and HCFCD agree on the following outline. It involves:
1) Putting all CDBG-DR and -MIT projects in one giant “budget bucket,” including some funds still at Harris County Housing and Community Development.
2) Billing everything possible from that giant bucket against the DR budget before the 2/28/27 deadline.
3) Billing the rest against the MIT budget, which has a 3/31/28 deadline.
This approach at least kicks the can down the road past the next election. However, Buckingham cautions that the 2/28/27 deadline is firm. Without taking a position on Petersen’s employment, GLO does warn that HCFCD and the County need to move much faster.
Thursday’s Decision on Petersen
GLO’s list of Harris County “failures” is unambiguous. Ramsey can elaborate on them at length and provide examples. Despite extensive support provided by GLO, they include:
HCFCD’s own spending data shows that its slowdown cuts across project phases, types of projects, and funding sources. The graph below shows all 2018 bond spending. You can see that problems go far beyond CDBG, GLO and HUD.
The downturn you see coincides with Petersen’s appointment to manage HCFCD.
Changing Horses in Midstream
Petersen supporters argue that it could be dangerous to change horses in midstream, especially now that the immediate crisis seems to be solved with the “one big bucket” plan.
But her opponents argue that staying with the status quo carries the larger risk. They argue that poor performance during a crisis may be a reason for change, not a reason against it.
In my opinion, the real question is not whether you’re midstream, but whether the current horse is still the best one to get you across.
Fox26’s Greg Groogan interviewed GLO commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham. After recounting a litany of concerns about HCFCD’s performance under Petersen, he asked, “Commissioner, you are … a Doctor. This patient looks sick. Is that a fair assessment?”
Buckingham answered, “This patient is in the middle of a code and about to die.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/8/2026 and updated with Fox link on 6/9/26
3205 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
Editorial: “Me vs. We” in Scarborough Development Debate
6/7/2026 – Much of human history comes down to balancing the rights of individuals vs. those of society as a whole. Said another way, where do we draw the line when considering “Me vs. We?”
The proposed Scarborough Development, backed by the State of Texas General Land Office, in the floodplains of Spring Creek, Cypress Creek, Turkey Creek and the San Jacinto West Fork makes a good example.
Should a developer have the ability to build on its own property? Even if altering the floodplain will endanger the lives of future homeowners, first responders, and people in surrounding areas? And what if you, the taxpayer, are asked to mitigate that risk in the future? That’s the Me vs. We debate. What’s good for one isn’t always good for the majority.
Me vs. We in American Life
The Me vs. We debate permeates almost every aspect of American life. For instance, we give up some of our freedom as individuals when we:
In America, the “Me vs. We debate” divides conservatives from liberals and Red states from Blue on most contentious issues
After 250 years, we still haven’t figured out where to draw that line – at least not universally. We just let people and companies shop for jurisdictions compatible with their own self-interest. Want conservative? Move to Texas. Want to hedge your bets? Move to Harris County.
Different Jurisdictions, Different Philosophies
Want to file a lawsuit against the EPA or against polluters? Shop for a court friendly to your point of view.
Should a company be allowed to build on cheap, floodplain property likely to destroy homes and lives? That is the debate with Scarborough. The company stands to make immense profits if it can secure development permits for its 5,300-acre property.
Against that backdrop, lies the safety and security of hundreds of thousands of people, most of whom remain blissfully ignorant of the developing threat upstream.
Engineers using mathematical models estimate the probability of becoming a victim due to alterations they propose to the floodplain. But, in the end, they are highly paid consultants trying to prove the viability of their recommendations to clients.
The public rarely has the knowledge or money to challenge their findings. The public must rely on elected representatives to protect them, the same representatives who receive immense campaign contributions from the engineering companies and their clients.
The High Cost of Failure
If the engineers get it wrong, which they often do, you, the taxpayer, not the developer, will pick up the tab.
If engineers always got it right, American government(s) wouldn’t spend $40–70 billion per year on disaster relief and flood mitigation.
And the shame of it is that floodplain preservation is almost always cheaper than flood mitigation and disaster recovery…by a huge margin.
The proposed Scarborough development is almost half as large as Kingwood. And almost all of it is in floodplains or floodways.
Houston and Harris County have already passed unanimous resolutions against developing the Scarborough land. But it’s in Montgomery County, which has less stringent flood regulations.
Regardless, concerned Montgomery County residents have started a petition against the development.
Ask everyone you know to sign it, too. Help protect your home and family.
This is an election year. Let’s make elections painful for the people pushing this development. The best time to stop a problem is before it starts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/7/2026
3204 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.