FM 1485 (SH 242 to Kidd Cemetery Road)

Introduction

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Houston District is proposing to widen Farm-to-Market (FM) 1485 from a two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway from State Highway (SH) 242 to Kidd Cemetery Road, approximately 5 miles, in Montgomery County. The project includes a raised median from SH 242 to Caney Drive and a continuous center turn lane from Caney Drive to Kidd Cemetery Road. It would also include a shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists.

Current conditions

Currently, FM 1485 from SH 242 to Kidd Cemetery Road is an undivided two-lane roadway with no median, turning lanes or shared use paths.

Project background

FM 1485 between SH 242 and Kidd Cemetery Road does not accommodate current and future traffic volumes, resulting in congestion and reduced mobility. Additionally, crash rates are higher than statewide average along the proposed project corridor.

• Montgomery County has experienced significant growth in recent years, and population and employment projections show that this trend will continue. The Houston-Galveston Area Council estimates that the population will increase by 133% between 2015 and 2045. Additionally, the number of jobs in Montgomery County is expected to increase by 56% between 2015 and 2045. The current configuration of FM 1485 does not accommodate current and future traffic volumes, resulting in congestion and reduced mobility.

• Based on data collected by TxDOT on crashes occurring throughout the state, the average crash rate along this section of FM 1485 between 2020 and 2023 was 183.30 crashes per 100 million vehicles. The statewide crash average for rural roadways during this same time period was 83.87 crashes per 100 million vehicles. Comparing these numbers, we see that FM 1485 in the project area had more than twice the number of average crashes as other rural roadways in Texas.

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility and safety on FM 1485 from SH 242 to Kidd Cemetery Road.

Proposed improvements

The proposed project includes:

• Widening FM 1485 from a two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided roadway from SH 242 to Kidd Cemetery Road
• The addition of a raised median from SH 242 to Caney Drive
• The addition of a continuous center turn lane from Caney Drive to Kidd Cemetery Road
• The construction of a 10-foot shared use paths on each side of the roadway for pedestrians and cyclists
• Improvements to drainage within the project area is being studied and may include the addition of detention ponds

Additional information

The project would require approximately 50 acres of additional right-of-way (ROW). Additionally, 40 displacements may occur as a result of the proposed project.

The proposed FM 1485 project would be designed to avoid or minimize environmental and community impacts to the greatest amount practicable. The right of way acreages and potential displacements are preliminary and subject to change.

The estimated construction cost is approximately $67 million.

Next steps

• Complete environmental analysis - 2025
• Expected public hearing – late 2025
• Anticipated environmental decision – early 2026
• Begin right-of-way acquisition – late 2026
• Anticipated construction - 2035

Get involved

• Expected public hearing - late 2025
• Virtual public meeting #1 - July 23, 2020

Since the 2020 Public Meeting the project team has been working towards the development of the detailed design and drainage studies. Moving forward the project team will complete environmental field studies and documentation. A public hearing is expected to be held in late 2025 to present the proposed detailed design, proposed drainage improvements, if needed, and the outcome of the environmental analysis.

Downloads

• Public meeting documentation - July 23, 2020