Rosenberg, TxDOT Settle On Controversial Road Project

From The City of Rosenberg

ROSENBERG, TX -- The Texas Department of Transportation has agreed to pay the City of Rosenberg nearly $1 million for 3 acres of city-owned property condemned by the state. Officials said the land was needed as right-of-way for the state’s One-Way Pairs highway Project.

The project was a plan launched in 2014 designed to alter the traffic pattern on Avenues H and I from a two-way traffic pattern, to one.

Traffic flow on Avenue H was adjusted to a western traffic flow for all four lanes while Avenue Avenue I traffic flows were adjusted to an eastern directional flow of all four lanes.

The state’s transportation department sued the city for a 2.8-acre parcel of land to be used as a crossover between Louise Street and Damon Street for a portion of the project.

In 2014, Rosenberg residents voted not to donate this property to the state. The election was initiated under a City Charter provision, which allowed citizens to petition for a Special Election. Another citizen petition was presented to the Rosenberg City Council after the election.

The petition mandated that city-owned property was not to be sold, traded, or donated for the project. TxDOT filed its petition for condemnation against the City on May 22, 2015.

Last month, city staff and TxDOT agreed on a $975,000 settlement. The city will net about $900,000 from the settlement, officials said.

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