The long-awaited traffic signal at the intersection of Morton Road and Katy Hockley Road will finally become a reality, as a result of city council action in Monday night’s meeting.

Council authorized the Katy Development Authority (KDA) to use METRO funds up to $310,310.00 to construct the new signal. City Engineer David Kasper said that the project requires a six-month lead time for the electronics, and that ground would likely be broken in April 2025, with the signal to be operational in July 2025. Councilmember Gina Hicks asked for the timeline for widening Katy Hockley Road; Kasper replied that the road construction project would likely break ground in June 2025 and would take a year to complete. Signal installation will take the street widening into account, Kasper said.

Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris commended the Katy Police Department for having officers direct traffic at the intersection during peak travel times. Interim Police Chief Bryon Woytek said that the department would continue to gauge traffic flow now that Pitts Road is open and would continue evaluate the need to have officers at the Morton Road-Katy Hockley Road intersection.

Following a closed meeting in which council consulted with their attorney, council voted unanimously to add a new job description and salary for the new position of Tourism and Marketing Assistant.

In other action, council:

· Heard public comments from two speakers regarding the city’s planned takeover of Katy Market Days – one in favor and one against the change.

· Authorized the mayor to sign a quote with Lone Star Recreation of Texas, LLC for playground repairs at Play Station Playground at Katy City Park, 850 Franz Road.

· Amended a development agreement for Texas Heritage Marketplace at I-10 and Pederson Road, in order to facilitate the closing of an agreement between developer NewQuest Properties and an unnamed big box retailer, which city officials described as “having a logo like a bullseye.”

· Recognized the 2024 Katy Rice Harvest Festival Art Contest “Best in Show” winner, Aiza Saad Farooqui, for her painting “Katy Legacy – Where History Meets Art.” The Katy High School student donated her work to the city’s Johnny Nelson Museum.


There were no mayor or council member reports at the meeting.

The next meeting of city council will be December 9 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 901 Avenue C in Katy.