TXDOT Extending HOV Lanes to the Bay Area

According to recent news, the construction (and pending work), along Interstate 45 from Beltway 8 to Medical Center Blvd will help with traffic congestion in the Bay Area. This is part of a $171 million project which is expected to be completed in 2016. A few businesses have closed down in preparation for the additional lanes of traffic, which will include a HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane.

The Houston Metro Park & Ride locations closest to the Bay Area are at Monroe, Fuqua, and Bay Area Blvd. When you look at the proximity of these Park & Rides, one can very well see how much the HOV lane is needed in an area that is rapidly building in both businesses and residential homes. Ridership on these Metro buses is high in the Bay Area, which can be noted as you pass by the overflow of vehicles in the Metro parking lots.

The Victory Lakes Park & Ride facility, (opened in 2012), at UTMB Victory Lakes Specialty Care Center in League City is the result of a successful partnership between the Gulf Coast Center and University of Texas Medical Branch and was funded with federal stimulus dollars matched with the value of the UTMB land lease. The park and ride service using new 35-passenger buses is managed by Gulf Coast Center/Connect Transit, and operated by City of Galveston Island Transit. Funding came from the Houston-Galveston Area Council, Texas Department of Transportation and the City of League City. For the complete morning and afternoon schedules, please go to Connect Transportation page at the Gulf Coast Center website.

Until the multi-million dollar project is completed, drivers will have to deal with construction, which will likely cause more congestion.

By Pamela Moore for Brockway Realty

Originally Posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Official Blog

School Begins in the Clear Lake Area on Monday, August 26th!

All local students with their backpacks, new shoes and clothes will be waiting at bus stops on Monday, August 26^th, for the first day of school in the Bay Area.

Remember to obey the speed limits posted by the campuses and don’t forget to stay off your cell phone while in the school zones – it’s the law!

CCISD 2013-14 Academic Calendar

DISD 2013-14 Academic Calendar

FISD 2013-2014 Academic Calendar & Other Calendars Posted

By Pam Moore for Brockway Realty

Originally Posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Official Blog

6th Annual Clear Lake International Triathlon Scheduled for August 24th

Athletes from near and far will be converging in the League City area to compete in the 6^th Annual Clear Lake International Triathlon on Saturday, August 24^th.  The South Shore Harbour Resort & Marina, located at 2500 South Shore Blvd, League City, is the host hotel and venue for this event. The hotel overlooks the race site-swim, transition, and finish line.

The International Course will be: Swim (.93 miles) in a rectangular, clockwise course around South Shore Harbor; Bike (28,8 miles) double-loop crossing the Kemah Bridge twice with views of Clear Lake and the Johnson Space Center; Run (6.2 miles) 3 loops on a partially shaded course through South Shore Marina & neighborhood with views of Clear Lake. A Sprint Course, which is a shorter distance, will also be held.

Charities selected for benefiting from the Clear Lake Triathlon include: Clear Lake Presbyterian Church Youth Program, Ordinary Saints, and local triathlon/running clubs. More information can be found on the event’s website.

Even if you are not attending or watching the event on August 24th, please be aware that these athletes will be in the water of Clear Lake, and on our roads and streets. The City of League City has posted information about road closures on their website.

By Pam Moore for Brockway Realty

Originally Posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Official Blog

League City Named Top Texas City for Job Seekers

The City of League City has “bragging rights” once again! NerdWallet.com has named League City as the best Texas City for Job Seekers. Based on the U.S. Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics on population growth, salaries and unemployment rates, League City earned the top spot when compared against other Texas cities.

NerdWallet.com is a blog and website that helps consumers make decisions about personal finances, travel and education. Their study noted League City’s location to the City of Houston and the Johnson Space Center as well as the opportunities in major industries from aerospace and energy, to medicine and tourism.

According to a release from the city, Tim Paulissen, League City’s Mayor is quoted as saying: “League City is an excellent place to start a career and to raise a family. Our wonderful schools, the addition of University of Texas Medical Branch hospital and clinics here to the city, our small businesses and our proximity to employers in both Galveston and Houston make this a great location for people looking for career opportunities.”

For more information about the report by NerdWallet, follow this LINK to their webpage.

By Pam Moore for Brockway Realty

Originally Posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Official Blog

A Texan’s Favorite Season – Football Season

By: Hank Dugie, Mr. League City

Football season has arrived! Not only are the Houston Texans preparing for a season full of high expectations including a possible Superbowl contest, but high school teams and youth leagues around the area have laced up their cleats and hit the fields for the first weeks of preseason practice.

Clear Creek Independent School District alone lays claim to ten intermediate school and five high school football programs which serves approximately 1,000 student athletes and indirectly even more students through the bands, cheer squads, and dance teams. These student athletes dedicate several hours each day to growing as players and young people both inside and outside of the classroom. Participation in the district’s extracurricular activities is limited to students who excel in their studies.

A link to the 2013 varsity football schedule for CCISD can be found here: http://www.ccisd.net/docs/athletics-stadium/2013-varsity-football-schedule.pdf?sfvrsn=4

Volunteer coaches of the two longest standing youth leagues in the area, Texas Intercity Football Inc. (TIFI) and Bay Area Football League (BAFL), began battling the Texas heat and mental/physical exhaustion of fearlessly leading teams of 5-13 year olds last week. There may be spots left for your child in certain divisions. Please visit the league websites to find out if there is a team near you and if it is not too late to sign up. Youth sports are a great avenue for children to learn discipline, team work, and leadership.

BAFL & TIFI websites found here: http://www.bayareafootballleague.com/     |     http://www.tifi.org/

Originally Posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Official Blog

League City Multi-Use Park a Bonus for Students and Community

In February of this year, the City of League City and Clear Creek ISD announced they were teaming up to make a change to the practice baseball fields located by League City Elementary, located at 709 East Wilkins. Thanks to a Community Development Block Grant and the school district’s local match, the construction of the multi-use park was begun in March.

Two baseball fields have been converted into a multipurpose learning center with play equipment surrounded by live oak trees. This park will be used by students at League City Elementary during school days and will continue to be open after school, according to Paul Miller, CCISD’s Director of Facility Services.

A skate plaza, with minimal features, is near completion. The League City Little League will continue to use the remaining fields for practice. The work on this conversion was projected to be complete in June; you can see these new features along Park Avenue and East Wilkins Street.

By Pamela Moore for Brockway Realty

_{Photos for this blog were taken by Pamela Moore on July 23, 2013.}

Originally Posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Official Blog

Back to School – Already?

You may already have noticed the sale flyers announcing offers on back-to-school items from school uniforms, student supplies and college dorm accessories. Some people wait until the Texas “Back to School” Sales Tax Holiday Weekend to seek out what their students want or need.

Texas Senate Bill 485 changed the dates of this year’s annual Sales Tax Holiday to August 9-11, which is earlier than in years past. The Texas State Comptroller posts the official listing on their website to help shoppers decipher what is/what isn’t tax-exempt.

Parents might also want to look at when school begins for the 2013-14 term (August 26). The Clear Creek ISD calendar can be found on their website, along with other items they might need to know.  When checking out the calendar, you should note that CCISD is currently updating their website.

By Pamela Moore for Brockway Realty

Originally Posted on Brockway Realty LLC's Official Blog