8/8/26 – The major action these days on the Northpark Drive Expansion project centers around the Loop 494 intersection. While Northpark is open and flowing in both directions, Loop 494 is totally blocked off and will remain so for the next month as contractors work on the bridge.
However, there’s good news to share. There entire Northpark drainage system from I-69 past Russell Palmer Road is now complete.
Intersection Closure
Concrete barriers prevent drivers on Loop 494 from crossing Northpark in both directions. To continue north or south on Loop 494, drivers must go east or west on Northpark to the nearest crossover, and double back. See below.
Connecting the drainage on both sides of Northpark was more difficult than expected. However, that is now complete – and not just from the Shell Station on the north side to the dry cleaners on the south.
“The entire Northpark drainage system for Phase I is now complete.”
Ralph De Leon, Project Manager
Last drainage link in entire Northpark Phase I system, south of Shell Station.
De Leon described completion of the drainage system as a “huge milestone.”
Bridge Construction
The contractor has to build three huge bridge columns immediately east side of the intersection. These particular columns are the largest and deepest because of their location near the middle of the bridge. The contractor will use the intersection as the construction zone during installation.
They really have no other choice. Because of other work on the abutments, they are hemmed in on both sides. And specialized trucks that will haul off the mud from the hydro-excavation are huge. They will be staged at the intersection.
Height of the cranes used in the excavation also presents a logistical problem.
Crane used for hydro-excavation. Beginning of west bridge abutment to its right.
In a worst-case scenario, if tipped, they could fall within the safety zone of the UPRR Tracks or even on the tracks themselves. That adds another level of complexity to the operation.
Bridge Caps on Columns
Additionally, contractors must build bridge caps on top of the columns to support the bridge beams. By this time, Loop 494 should be reopened, but contractors will have to narrow it to two lanes.
Cap currently under construction close to east abutment. Others near intersection will be much larger.
Danger to School Buses
Even though De Leon hoped to have the intersection totally open before students returned to school, he said, “We couldn’t have school buses running through the construction zone. It’s too dangerous.”
De Leon has communicated with both New Caney ISD and Humble ISD since the beginning of the project.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DSC_5580.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2026-08-08 18:01:322026-08-08 18:07:51Northpark-494 Intersection Still Closed, But Drainage Now Complete
8/7/26 – Yesterday, Harris County Commissioners discussed the largest tax hike in Harris County history. Before raising taxes a penny, they should examine the efficiency of the departments they oversee.
Harris County Commissioners discuss budget proposals on 8.06.26
Since 2022, I have posted about slowdowns in Harris County flood-mitigation projects as one deadline after another slipped. It started with wholesale management changes made by the Democratic majority on Commissioners Court.
The slowdowns became so serious in the case of HCFCD that the department head recently resigned under pressure. As statistics below show, she left her successor, Marcus Stuckett, with huge challenges.
The problems at HCD have not yet received the attention that HCFCD received. But they are also serious.
Both groups must use grant money by strict deadlines or lose it. And both are far behind schedule.
They raise the questions, “Will tax increases continue to fund inefficiency? And if so, are increases really necessary?”
CDBG Projects Bring Efficiency Issues into Sharp Focus
At HCFCD, the potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds brought the former Executive Director’s efficiency into sharp focus. She failed to advance projects in a timely manner. And that is jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. Harris County taxpayers backstop those funds.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE fought to expose HCFCD’s problems, even as Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia fought to keep in place the very people covering the problems up.
So, where exactly do things stand? How bad is the problem?
GLO awarded HCD $204 million dollars on 8/31/2022. To date, HCD has expended $69 million (34%). They must expend the remaining two thirds by August 31, 2027. So…
HCD has expended only 34% of the funds in 80% of available time.
Their $204 million includes 10 neighborhood drainage infrastructure projects valued at $168 million. Of the 10:
Construction is complete on one
Six are in various stages of construction (46-89% complete)
One is being advertised for bids
Two are still in design.
GLO also awarded HCD $37.5 million for 30 planning studies. Of those:
One was withdrawn
One is complete
The remainder are just starting or in various stages of completion ranging from 1% to 50%.
These also have deadlines of August 31, 2027.
HCFCD CDBG Mitigation Grants
HCFCD received an allocation of $546 million in CDBG Mitigation (MIT) funds in 2023. To date, it has expended only $25 million. HCFCD must complete construction and GLO must receive final billing by 3/31/28 – only 20 months away. Thus, under Dr. Tina Petersen…
HCFCD managed to spend 5% of its MIT money in 64% of available time.
HCFCD CDBG – DR Grants
GLO also approved an HCFCD allocation for $322 million in CDBG-Disaster Relief (DR) funds on 11/27/23. Almost 34 months later, HCFCD has expended only $15.6 million. So…
HCFCD has spent less than 5% of DR funds in 84% of available time.
Summary Table
This table summarizes the status of CDBG projects.
According to the GLO, only seven of 29 HCFCD DR and MIT projects are actually in construction.
HCFCD’s report submitted to Commissioners Court this week shows 12 “in construction.” However, only seven of the 12 have any work billed against them. Delays in contractor mobilization may account for the difference.
So, where do we go from here?
The Bundle Jumble
Before Dr. Tina Petersen resigned, she tried to cobble together a plan that would get HCFCD past the $322 million DR hurdle.
She reached agreement in principle* with both the GLO and Harris County Commissioners Court to apply work billed to date in all four categories above against the $322 million DR obligation. That would give the county a little more breathing room.
In a best-case scenario, the county might bill enough to meet the entire $322 million obligation and lose nothing. In a less-than-best-case scenario, the county would narrow its losses.
Will It Work?
To date, the county has spent only $109 million in all four programs together. That covers only about a third of the $322 million.
What happens if HCFCD’s new management and HCD can’t spend another $213 million in the next six months? Potentially, HUD could start clawing back money from the GLO and the GLO could start clawing it back from the County.
But Harris County has already encumbered money for its suppliers. So, the buck stops with Harris County taxpayers.
Remember as you follow the county’s budget debate in coming weeks to ask whether you’re paying for additional services you want or simply funding inefficiency.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/2026
3265 Days since Hurricane Harvey
*When I asked the GLO for the wording of the agreement, a spokesperson said, “It has not been finalized yet. We are still getting details we need to write the amendment.”
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CC-260806.jpg?fit=1100%2C610&ssl=16101100adminadmin2026-08-07 20:02:552026-08-07 20:21:52Largest Tax Hike in Harris County History Raises Efficiency Question
8/6/2026 – One of the strongest El Niños ever is suppressing tropical activity in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf. El Niños create wind shear that disrupts the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes. As a result, forecasters have lowered their estimates which were already below normal to begin with.
NOAA Updates Seasonal Forecast
In an email this morning, Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, wrote, “Updates to the seasonal Atlantic basin hurricane outlooks this week continue to indicate a high chance of below to well below normal activity across the Atlantic basin as we move through the peak of the season (August-October).”
That’s welcome news. “The main driver of the highly negative conditions is the continued increasing El Niño event well underway in the waters of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. There, sea surface temperatures are currently running (1-3º C above normal values),” said Lindner.
El Niño Region 3.4 (the dark area off the western coast of South America) tends to correlate highly with weather impacts in North America, including shifts in the jet stream. Niño 3.4 is currently averaging a sea surface temperature anomaly of +2.3º C.
One of Worst El Niño Events since 1950
“That already approaches some of the maximum El Niño events since 1950,” added Lindner. “With the likely peak of this event around December or January…it is now fairly likely that one of the strongest El Niño events in modern times will occur.”
El Nino events, especially of this magnitude, tend to produce tremendous wind shear values across the deep tropics in the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic. They effectively tear apart any tropical system attempts at development.
“Wind shear values of 40-60 kts have been common across the Caribbean so far this hurricane season,” said Lindner. “They extend eastward into the tropical Atlantic and are some of the strongest on record in this part of the basin.”
In addition to the high wind shear values, Lindner also cited dry sinking air that continues to dominate much of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean. He noted slightly more favorable conditions north of the Bahamas and through the northern Gulf.
Sea surface temperatures are running near normal to slightly above normal in some parts of the Atlantic basin. High negative wind shear values and dry sinking air are resulting in lower than average instability and a general overall lack in thunderstorm activity.
“One of the Quietest Seasons since 1997”
Accordingly, the seasonal outlook numbers for the basin remain well below the average of 14 named storms. Two “tropical storms” have already occurred (Arthur and Bertha) both of which impacted the northern Gulf coast and suffered greatly under adverse conditions keeping their intensity low and organization poor.
The basin is on track to be one of the quietest seasons since 1997 (another powerful El Niño year).
Lindner says there will be small windows of favorable conditions, most likely in August and September. For instance, areas in the middle Atlantic north of the highly unfavorable deep tropics could produce a few storms if tropical waves can reach those areas.
Budding meteorologists may be interested in reading NOAA’s entire seasonal outlook updated today. It’s a deep dive into the science of tropical forecasting.
It Only Takes One
Remember! Just because the outlook numbers are lower than average, does NOT mean there will not be any additional tropical storms or hurricanes or potential threats this year. So remain prepared.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2026 based on information from Jeff Lindner
3264 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ct5km_ssta_v3.1_global_20260805.png?fit=1787%2C1054&ssl=110541787adminadmin2026-08-06 15:20:072026-08-06 15:24:47Tropical Forecast Lowered for Remainder of 2026 Season
Northpark-494 Intersection Still Closed, But Drainage Now Complete
8/8/26 – The major action these days on the Northpark Drive Expansion project centers around the Loop 494 intersection. While Northpark is open and flowing in both directions, Loop 494 is totally blocked off and will remain so for the next month as contractors work on the bridge.
However, there’s good news to share. There entire Northpark drainage system from I-69 past Russell Palmer Road is now complete.
Intersection Closure
Concrete barriers prevent drivers on Loop 494 from crossing Northpark in both directions. To continue north or south on Loop 494, drivers must go east or west on Northpark to the nearest crossover, and double back. See below.
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 originally hoped to open the intersection before New Caney ISD schools started last week, but the new target date is now September 12.
Reasons for Delay
Drainage
Connecting the drainage on both sides of Northpark was more difficult than expected. However, that is now complete – and not just from the Shell Station on the north side to the dry cleaners on the south.
De Leon described completion of the drainage system as a “huge milestone.”
Bridge Construction
The contractor has to build three huge bridge columns immediately east side of the intersection. These particular columns are the largest and deepest because of their location near the middle of the bridge. The contractor will use the intersection as the construction zone during installation.
They really have no other choice. Because of other work on the abutments, they are hemmed in on both sides. And specialized trucks that will haul off the mud from the hydro-excavation are huge. They will be staged at the intersection.
Height of the cranes used in the excavation also presents a logistical problem.
In a worst-case scenario, if tipped, they could fall within the safety zone of the UPRR Tracks or even on the tracks themselves. That adds another level of complexity to the operation.
Bridge Caps on Columns
Additionally, contractors must build bridge caps on top of the columns to support the bridge beams. By this time, Loop 494 should be reopened, but contractors will have to narrow it to two lanes.
Danger to School Buses
Even though De Leon hoped to have the intersection totally open before students returned to school, he said, “We couldn’t have school buses running through the construction zone. It’s too dangerous.”
De Leon has communicated with both New Caney ISD and Humble ISD since the beginning of the project.
For More Information
Visit the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project pages or attend their board meeting Thursday, August 13. You can also search on the tag “Northpark Expansion” on this site.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/8/2026
3266 Days since Harvey
Largest Tax Hike in Harris County History Raises Efficiency Question
8/7/26 – Yesterday, Harris County Commissioners discussed the largest tax hike in Harris County history. Before raising taxes a penny, they should examine the efficiency of the departments they oversee.
To see why, review the recent history of the Harris County Housing & Community Development (HCD) Department and Flood Control District (HCFCD). Together, they manage more than a billion dollars of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) via the Texas General Land Office (GLO).
Since 2022, I have posted about slowdowns in Harris County flood-mitigation projects as one deadline after another slipped. It started with wholesale management changes made by the Democratic majority on Commissioners Court.
The slowdowns became so serious in the case of HCFCD that the department head recently resigned under pressure. As statistics below show, she left her successor, Marcus Stuckett, with huge challenges.
The problems at HCD have not yet received the attention that HCFCD received. But they are also serious.
They raise the questions, “Will tax increases continue to fund inefficiency? And if so, are increases really necessary?”
CDBG Projects Bring Efficiency Issues into Sharp Focus
At HCFCD, the potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds brought the former Executive Director’s efficiency into sharp focus. She failed to advance projects in a timely manner. And that is jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. Harris County taxpayers backstop those funds.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE fought to expose HCFCD’s problems, even as Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia fought to keep in place the very people covering the problems up.
So, where exactly do things stand? How bad is the problem?
To answer those questions, I relied on data supplied by the GLO in Austin.
Housing and Community Development Projects
GLO awarded HCD $204 million dollars on 8/31/2022. To date, HCD has expended $69 million (34%). They must expend the remaining two thirds by August 31, 2027. So…
Their $204 million includes 10 neighborhood drainage infrastructure projects valued at $168 million. Of the 10:
GLO also awarded HCD $37.5 million for 30 planning studies. Of those:
These also have deadlines of August 31, 2027.
HCFCD CDBG Mitigation Grants
HCFCD received an allocation of $546 million in CDBG Mitigation (MIT) funds in 2023. To date, it has expended only $25 million. HCFCD must complete construction and GLO must receive final billing by 3/31/28 – only 20 months away. Thus, under Dr. Tina Petersen…
HCFCD CDBG – DR Grants
GLO also approved an HCFCD allocation for $322 million in CDBG-Disaster Relief (DR) funds on 11/27/23. Almost 34 months later, HCFCD has expended only $15.6 million. So…
Summary Table
This table summarizes the status of CDBG projects.
According to the GLO, only seven of 29 HCFCD DR and MIT projects are actually in construction.
HCFCD’s report submitted to Commissioners Court this week shows 12 “in construction.” However, only seven of the 12 have any work billed against them. Delays in contractor mobilization may account for the difference.
So, where do we go from here?
The Bundle Jumble
Before Dr. Tina Petersen resigned, she tried to cobble together a plan that would get HCFCD past the $322 million DR hurdle.
She reached agreement in principle* with both the GLO and Harris County Commissioners Court to apply work billed to date in all four categories above against the $322 million DR obligation. That would give the county a little more breathing room.
In a best-case scenario, the county might bill enough to meet the entire $322 million obligation and lose nothing. In a less-than-best-case scenario, the county would narrow its losses.
Will It Work?
To date, the county has spent only $109 million in all four programs together. That covers only about a third of the $322 million.
What happens if HCFCD’s new management and HCD can’t spend another $213 million in the next six months? Potentially, HUD could start clawing back money from the GLO and the GLO could start clawing it back from the County.
But Harris County has already encumbered money for its suppliers. So, the buck stops with Harris County taxpayers.
Remember as you follow the county’s budget debate in coming weeks to ask whether you’re paying for additional services you want or simply funding inefficiency.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/2026
3265 Days since Hurricane Harvey
*When I asked the GLO for the wording of the agreement, a spokesperson said, “It has not been finalized yet. We are still getting details we need to write the amendment.”
Tropical Forecast Lowered for Remainder of 2026 Season
8/6/2026 – One of the strongest El Niños ever is suppressing tropical activity in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf. El Niños create wind shear that disrupts the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes. As a result, forecasters have lowered their estimates which were already below normal to begin with.
NOAA Updates Seasonal Forecast
In an email this morning, Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, wrote, “Updates to the seasonal Atlantic basin hurricane outlooks this week continue to indicate a high chance of below to well below normal activity across the Atlantic basin as we move through the peak of the season (August-October).”
That’s welcome news. “The main driver of the highly negative conditions is the continued increasing El Niño event well underway in the waters of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. There, sea surface temperatures are currently running (1-3º C above normal values),” said Lindner.
El Niño Region 3.4 (the dark area off the western coast of South America) tends to correlate highly with weather impacts in North America, including shifts in the jet stream. Niño 3.4 is currently averaging a sea surface temperature anomaly of +2.3º C.
One of Worst El Niño Events since 1950
“That already approaches some of the maximum El Niño events since 1950,” added Lindner. “With the likely peak of this event around December or January…it is now fairly likely that one of the strongest El Niño events in modern times will occur.”
El Nino events, especially of this magnitude, tend to produce tremendous wind shear values across the deep tropics in the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic. They effectively tear apart any tropical system attempts at development.
“Wind shear values of 40-60 kts have been common across the Caribbean so far this hurricane season,” said Lindner. “They extend eastward into the tropical Atlantic and are some of the strongest on record in this part of the basin.”
In addition to the high wind shear values, Lindner also cited dry sinking air that continues to dominate much of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean. He noted slightly more favorable conditions north of the Bahamas and through the northern Gulf.
Sea surface temperatures are running near normal to slightly above normal in some parts of the Atlantic basin. High negative wind shear values and dry sinking air are resulting in lower than average instability and a general overall lack in thunderstorm activity.
“One of the Quietest Seasons since 1997”
Accordingly, the seasonal outlook numbers for the basin remain well below the average of 14 named storms. Two “tropical storms” have already occurred (Arthur and Bertha) both of which impacted the northern Gulf coast and suffered greatly under adverse conditions keeping their intensity low and organization poor.
The basin is on track to be one of the quietest seasons since 1997 (another powerful El Niño year).
Lindner says there will be small windows of favorable conditions, most likely in August and September. For instance, areas in the middle Atlantic north of the highly unfavorable deep tropics could produce a few storms if tropical waves can reach those areas.
Budding meteorologists may be interested in reading NOAA’s entire seasonal outlook updated today. It’s a deep dive into the science of tropical forecasting.
It Only Takes One
Remember! Just because the outlook numbers are lower than average, does NOT mean there will not be any additional tropical storms or hurricanes or potential threats this year. So remain prepared.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2026 based on information from Jeff Lindner
3264 Days since Hurricane Harvey