Humble ISD’s North Transportation Center adjacent to Woodridge Village on Ford Road is now complete. And the District’s new Ag Barn should be completed by the start of next year.
Humble ISD’s press office confirmed today that the project is now totally complete and operational.
The property, located at 24755 Ford Road, encompasses about 12 acres. The new center will save an estimated $2 million in operating costs due to shorter routes and improved response times.
(Looking north) Note the bus exiting the facility toward Ford Road on left.This large detention pond on the north side of the transportation center will reduce the risk of flooding caused by rapid runoff from all that concrete.Looking south. The project was completed so recently, that silt fencing from the construction still has not been removed.
Ag Barn Construction Could Finish by Early Next Year
While I had the drone up, I also took several pics of Humble ISD’s new ag barn about a block south. Note the cell tower in the photo above. It’s the same one in the photo below.
According to an Humble ISD spokesman, the contractor has finished exterior construction and is now focusing on interior buildout.
Looking north toward Humble ISD’s new ag barn in Porter. Ford Road in upper left. Transportation center in upper right.Looking south toward smaller, triangular detention pond next to Mills Branch Road (upper right) and North Kingwood Forest (also upper right).
Wider shot showing location of new ag barn, where Ford Road (right) turns into Mills Branch Road (top) across from entrance to North Kingwood Forest.
Mills Branch (the creek) originates in the woods in the upper left. Mills Branch then goes through Woodstream Forest and Royal Brook before joining White Oak Creek and Caney Creek.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/20210921-DJI_0465-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2021-09-21 16:56:392021-09-21 17:05:28Humble ISD North Transportation Center Now Complete, New Ag Barn Getting There
When Humble ISD began clearing land for its new ag science and north transportation centers in Porter near Woodridge Village, flood-wary residents expressed concern. Woodridge Village had contributed to flooding Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest twice in 2019 and residents feared additional clearing of forests would add to their problems. However, the contractors successfully built detention ponds and installed drainage before any major storms hit. No one has flooded yet due to these projects. A flyover of both facilities on 3/3/2021 showed the state of construction progress on both sites.
Ag Science Center
Humble ISD broke ground for its new seven-acre northern ag science facility last November. The contractor quickly finished clearing the site and building a detention pond. Now, work has started on the underground portion of the project – utilities, plumbing and drainage. Aerial photos taken last week show large amounts of pipe stockpiled near Ford Road. Photos also show concrete forms being staked out for building foundations. Humble ISD says the target opening for the new ag science center is still 2021.
Photo looking west shows relationship between Humble ISD Ag Science Center (foreground), Ford Road, North Kingwood Forest (left) and Woodridge Village (background). Note pipe being stockpiled near road.Looking NNW, you can see trenches for pipe and forms for concrete.
When complete, this site will replace the ag barn facility at Deer Ridge Park in Kingwood. It flooded multiple times. Each time, students had to move their animals to safety. And one of the barns sustained structural damage. The purpose of this site: to improve safety.
Contractors have poured the most of the concrete for building pads and parking lots. A large retention pond has partially filled with standing water. Two buildings have gone up and roofs are being put on. But the contractors have not yet “dried in” the buildings. They still have to install windows and doors before interior finish-work can begin.
Looking NE at Humble ISD North Transportation Center Construction Progress as of 3/3/2021.Looking south at same site. Note the ag science center in the background at the top of the frame.Ford Road on right.
Target opening for this facility is also the 2021 school year. Humble ISD says the new transportation center will save $2 million per year in operating costs due to shorter routes. Currently, one transportation center in Humble serves the entire district. The center should also improve response times.
1286 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 535 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/20210303-RJR_6288.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2021-03-07 12:50:562021-03-07 13:16:43March Update on Humble ISD Ag Science, North Transportation Center Construction
Photo taken on 9/11/2020 shows transportation center in foreground and Perry Homes Woodridge Village in background on other side of Ford Road.
Saving Taxpayers $2 Million Per Year
The District claims that the new 11.7-acre center will save about $2 million in operation costs per year due to shorter routes in half of the District. Management says it should be ready for the 2021 school year and that it will improve response times.
September Aerial Photo Shows Substantial Detention Pond
Here’s what the North Transportation Center looked like on 9/11/2020 from the air. Note the detention pond on the right side of the photo. This pond was one of the first things developed during construction. It also forms a significant percentage of the overall site. Visually, it appears to be about 15-20 percent. And as you can see, it actually holds stormwater!
The transportation facility will be directly across Ford Road from Woodridge Village which has been plagued by flooding problems. You can see Woodridge in the background of the photo above. Woodridge Village contributed to flooding Elm Grove Village twice last year in May and September.
When Humble ISD started clearing land for their North Transportation Center, worried neighbors expressed their concerns about possible flooding. But so far, no damage.
Close up shot of pond and newly poured concrete. Note depth of pondcompared to homes in background and construction container in foreground.Wider shot shows areas where contractors were getting ready to pour new concrete on 9/11/2020.
The Humble ISD has not responded to a request for their drainage analysis.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/2/2020
1130 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 378 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20200911-RJR_1168.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2020-10-02 13:18:192020-10-02 14:14:17Humble ISD North Transportation Center Taking Shape
Humble ISD says the target opening date for the new transportation center is 2021. Having an additional transportation center will save an estimated $2 million in operating costs, they say, due to shorter routes and improved response times.
Transportation Centers Use Lots of Concrete
This video shows what the old bus center looks like. Lots of concrete! It is a giant parking lot. But the District does have two small detention ponds for the 29-acre site (see below).
Old Humble ISD transportation center at Will Clayton and Wilson. Note detention ponds and bottom and right of photo. Source: Google Earth.
Residents Question Whether Site Will Add to Flooding
There is some good news, however. According to USGS, there were no wetlands on this site. Nor does FloodFactor.com for FEMA show that the Transportation Center is any danger of flooding, unlike its neighbor, Woodridge Village, to the west.
New Transportation Center property is by red pin. Woodridge Village is to left, across Ford Road.Source: FloodFactor.com.
Some residents have questioned whether the new transportation center will add to their flood woes. That’s unclear. It depends on whether the District puts detention ponds on the site.
Construction Photos As of 6/16/2020
Recent construction photos below suggest that they will, but the District has not yet responded to a request for a drainage analysis and site plan. See the status of construction below. All photos taken on 6/16/2020.
The cleared space on the right is the northeastern section of Woodridge Village. The one in the upper left by the cell tower is the new Humble ISD transportation center. Looking southeast toward Lake Houston in background.Tighter shot of new transportation center shows clearing is complete. Area between cell tower and top corner looks like it could become a detention pond.Even closer shot shows them laying stormwater sewers toward back corner.Close shot of drain pipe.From the size, it looks as though they expect a lot of runoff.It also looks like they are pouring a concrete bed for the pipe.
New Ag Barn Just Blocks Away
The District’s new ag barn will also be in the same vicinity, about two blocks south – right where Ford Road turns into Mills Branch Road. During the last bond election, shortly after Harvey, the District decided to relocate the ag barn from Deer Ridge Park for the safety of students and animals.
The District has just started clearing land for that project.
The high rate of development in this area makes it imperative that everyone adheres to drainage best practices to prevent flooding. As more information about these and other projects becomes available, I will post it.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/2/2020
1038 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 286 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200616-RJR_4378.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2020-07-02 08:32:562020-07-02 08:33:17Humble ISD Constructing Transportation Facility Next to Woodridge Village
