Why Precinct 2’s Roads Fell Behind: A 12-Year Timeline of Growth, Budgets, and Decisions

This article examines verifiable facts regarding authority, tenure, documented timelines, and infrastructure outcomes during the service of
Charlie Riley, who has represented Precinct 2 on the Montgomery County Commissioners Court since 2014.

This review does not allege illegality. It evaluates whether infrastructure outcomes align with the responsibilities and duration of the office held,
using publicly available reporting, official announcements, and publicly accessible government records.

What a County Commissioner Can Influence (Fact)

A Montgomery County Commissioner:

• Serves on Commissioners Court and votes on the county budget and capital priorities
• Adopts and updates subdivision and drainage regulations
• Oversees county infrastructure such as county roads, drainage, and related public services
• Coordinates with TxDOT and municipalities on transportation priorities and project sequencing
• Advocates for project funding and interlocal agreements that can accelerate (or delay) progress

Commissioners do not directly control TxDOT-owned roadways. However, infrastructure planning, county matching funds, subdivision standards, and project prioritization
are within the scope of the office.

Budget Line Items and Vote Records (2014–2026)

Below are major county budget items tied to transportation and infrastructure that passed through the Montgomery County Commissioners Court while Commissioner Riley served. All are public record in county budget ordinances.

County Road & Bridge Fund — Appropriations

Tenure and Timeline (Fact)

• Charlie Riley has served as Commissioner for Precinct 2 since 2014.
• FM 1488 congestion and safety issues were publicly discussed for years prior to the current widening project.
• Old Conroe Road expansion discussions date back to at least 2015, based on published reporting and city/county project references.
• Significant residential and commercial growth occurred throughout Precinct 2 during this period.

These points establish that current infrastructure conditions developed during Riley’s tenure.

FM 1488: Known Constraints, Limited Relief (Fact)

FM 1488 is a TxDOT-controlled roadway. Still, its congestion and safety constraints have been widely recognized in the community for years.
During this period, residents observed traffic volumes increasing, intersections becoming choke points, and emergency access concerns becoming more prominent.

Commissioner Riley has stated publicly that he has met multiple times with TxDOT regarding FM 1488 and other state routes affecting Precinct 2.
However, public-facing documentation typically does not quantify measurable congestion reduction or safety improvement outcomes attributable to those meetings prior to recent construction activity.

The fact pattern is straightforward: growth and traffic pressure increased, while infrastructure relief arrived later in the cycle.

Old Conroe Road: Funding Decisions and Delay (Fact)

Old Conroe Road illustrates how project momentum can stall when funding and jurisdictional alignment break down.
In May 2025, Conroe City Council voted to halt funding for the Old Conroe Road project, citing the need to prioritize water infrastructure.
During that meeting, Councilman Harry Hardman stated that the City had sent Montgomery County an invoice for $2 million to assist with the project and that the County “refused to pay.”
According to reporting, Montgomery County officials declined to comment at the time.

Source (May 2025):

https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/government/2025/05/23/conroe-city-council-votes-to-reallocate-funding-away-from-old-conroe-road-project/

In January 2026, Conroe City Council approved an agreement transferring the Old Conroe Road project to Montgomery County.
Published reporting states Montgomery County agreed to pay Conroe $3.4 million for engineering and right-of-way work already completed, and Commissioner Riley stated that the County intended to proceed until completion.

Source (January 2026):

https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/government/2026/01/28/montgomery-county-to-take-over-old-conroe-road-project-after-conroe-oks-transfer/

These publicly reported facts document a clear sequence: a requested contribution was not paid in 2025, and a larger payment and transfer agreement occurred in early 2026, enabling the project to move forward.

Magnolia Ridge Access: Safety Concerns and Timing (Fact)

Magnolia Ridge residents have raised concerns for years regarding limited ingress and egress and the safety risks created by single-access neighborhoods during emergencies.
In January 2026, the City of Magnolia posted that TxDOT’s FM 1488 construction could affect the neighborhood’s entrance.
Shortly afterward, the City announced that the Heron Run route to SH 249 was open and would remain open permanently.

Source (City post about construction impacts):

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KgVhYEmpx/

Source (City announcement of permanent access route, Jan 16, 2026):

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G8bk1aqkc/

This establishes, as a matter of public record, that permanent access was announced and opened in January 2026. Residents welcomed the change and also noted that access concerns had been raised publicly for years prior.

Visual Timeline (2014–2026)

• 2014: Charlie Riley begins service as Precinct 2 Commissioner.
• 2015–2019: Growth accelerates; residents increasingly cite traffic and congestion concerns on key corridors including FM 1488.
• 2020–2022: County updates planning and regulations related to subdivisions and drainage (newer standards apply to future plats and do not automatically resolve legacy constraints).
• May 2025: Conroe City Council halts Old Conroe Road funding after the County does not pay a requested $2 million contribution (per published reporting).
• January 16, 2026: City of Magnolia announces a permanent secondary route for Magnolia Ridge via Heron Run to SH 249.
• January 2026: Conroe approves transfer of the Old Conroe Road project to Montgomery County with a reported $3.4 million payment for prior engineering and right-of-way work.

Reader-Friendly Explainer: What This Means

1) Growth vs. Capacity

The basic problem residents describe is that growth increased faster than major corridors expanded.
County-level planning and standards can influence outcomes, but visible relief (capacity improvements and safer access) often arrived later than constituent concerns.

2) Access Safety

Subdivision standards can require multiple access points for new development. However, neighborhoods built under prior standards can remain constrained for years unless new agreements, easements, or openings are implemented.
In Magnolia Ridge, a permanent secondary route was not publicly announced as open until January 2026.

3) Old Conroe Road

Old Conroe Road shows how funding alignment can stall a project. In May 2025, Conroe halted funding after a requested county contribution did not materialize.
In January 2026, the project moved forward with a transfer agreement and a larger payment amount reported publicly.

4) Accountability Without Allegation

Accountability does not require proving intent. Voters can evaluate whether infrastructure outcomes matched the pace of growth during a long tenure, using dates, decisions, and documented project movement.

What the Facts Establish

Based on authority, tenure, and documented timelines:

• Infrastructure strain in Precinct 2 developed during Riley’s service (2014–2026).
• Multiple problems were known and publicly discussed for years.
• Major visible changes (project movement and access improvements) occurred later in the cycle.
• Old Conroe Road project momentum shifted from stalled (May 2025) to active transfer and funding (January 2026), as documented by published reporting.

These statements describe outcomes and chronology, not motive.

Fact-Check Appendix

Old Conroe Road — May 2025 (funding halted / $2M invoice reference):

https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/government/2025/05/23/conroe-city-council-votes-to-reallocate-funding-away-from-old-conroe-road-project/

Old Conroe Road — January 2026 (transfer agreement / $3.4M payment reported):

https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/government/2026/01/28/montgomery-county-to-take-over-old-conroe-road-project-after-conroe-oks-transfer/

City of Magnolia — FM 1488 construction affecting Magnolia Ridge entrance (Jan 2026 post):

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KgVhYEmpx/

City of Magnolia — Magnolia Ridge second entrance open (Jan 16, 2026 announcement):

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1G8bk1aqkc/

Note: Additional budget ordinances, Commissioners Court agendas/minutes, and subdivision/drainage criteria documents are public records obtainable via Montgomery County’s official channels and the County Clerk’s records systems. Where this article refers to local budget voting in general terms, it does so to describe the commissioner’s statutory role, not to claim a unique vote outside the public record.

Conclusion: Outcomes vs. Authority

Montgomery County Precinct 2 residents face infrastructure constraints that developed over the same period as sustained population growth.
Based on documented timelines, publicly reported funding decisions, and official announcements, major visible changes in access and project movement occurred late in the period reviewed.

Voters can reasonably evaluate whether infrastructure planning and execution kept pace with growth during this tenure, and whether the level of urgency shown in recent months should have been applied earlier.