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Sugar Land Former MCPD officer charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault approves ‘microtransit’ pilot program By Ken Fountain
KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Staff Reports Sugar Land City Council recently approved an agreement with Fort Bend County to help fund a Microtransit Pilot Program with $1.5 million from voter-approved 2023 mobility bonds. Sugar Land’s microtransit service will be the first of its kind in the Texas Gulf Coast region. The city’s citizen-led Mobility Master Plan identifies the need for more transit options in Sugar Land. The plan includes extensive public input from Sugar Land residents. “Our residents continue to identify mobility as one of their top priorities,” City Engineer Jessie Li said in a news release. “This was reaffirmed in our most recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey. This Microstransit Pilot Program is one example of how we are answering the community’s call for a new, bold direction for mobility investments in Sugar Land.” For t Bend County ’s mobility bond funds will be combined with a $3.5 million Federal grant received through the H-GAC Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Commuter and Transit Services Pilot Program to help fund an on-demand, shared public transit service using smaller vehicles (vans/minivans) to operate within a designated zone in Sugar Land. Once in operation, the fleet will feature electric vehicles, including at least one hybrid electric option that is wheelchair accessible. The microtransit service will complement the existing transit services offered by Fort Bend Transit with on-demand, day-of rides and connections to their commuter park and ride lots located in Sugar Land. Fares will be around $2 per trip. Residents within the pilot program area will be able to book rides to many popular destinations within the service area zone, such as the regional airport, Constellation Field, Smart Financial Center, the Methodist Hospital, First Colony Mall. St. Lukes Hospital, two commuter park & ride lots, libraries, the University of Houston Sugar Land campus, parks, and a variety of shopping and dining spots “ T his public transit pilot program was identified by our resident as a way to connect people to jobs, schools, shopping, and other essential services,” Transportation and Mobility Manager Melanie Beaman said in the release. “If successful, we envision expanding theh program throughout the Sugar Land and will pursue additional Federal funding, publicprivate partnerships and other subsidies so that fares remain low for passengers.” The Federal grant funds cover 80 percent of the total cost to operate the service
SEE ‘MICROTRANSIT’ PAGE 2
A former Missouri City police officer involved in a collision that killed a mother and her teenage son in June was arrested last Wednesday after being indicted on two counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As of press time, Bladamier Viveros, 27, was being held in the Fort Bend County Jail in lieu of bonds totaling $500,000 after a judge on Monday reduced the total amount from $800,000,
according to a spokesman from the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office. The bond conditions stipulate that Viveros was remain in Fort Bend County, wear an ankle monitor, and drive only to and from work. According to court documents filed by his attorney, Viveros lives in his parents’ Rosenberg home. A call to Gregory Cagle, a lawyer with the Texas Municipal Police Association who is representing Viveros, was not returned by press time. At press time, there no set court date for an initial appearance.
The collision occurred near the intersection of Cartwright Road and Texas Parkway on the evening of June 20. Killed in the collision were Angela Stewart, 53, and her son Mason, 16, who was driving their car after they visited a store on Cartwright. According to the Missouri City Police Department, Viveros was responding to a 911 call placed by the victim of a robbery at an ATM machine on Cartwright. He was traveling east in the 16001700 block of Cartwright when he struck the Stewarts’ car, which was exiting a park-
ing lot of a large strip center at the intersection. They were both pronounced dead by Fort Bend EMS. Investigators later said that Viveros was not using his flashing lights or siren while travelling over the speed limit. Hours after the incident, investigators found a man named Michael Hawkins in the back seat of Viveros’s patrol car, who was badly injured and taken to Ben Taub Hospital in the Texas Medical
Blademier Viveros, 27, a former Missouri City Police Department officer, has been charged with two counts of manslaughter and one county of aggravated assault stemming from a June collision. Fort Bend County SEE MCPD OFFICER PAGE 2 Jail booking photo
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Fort Bend library system celebrates 50 years
The Albert George Branch Library in Needville opened in November 1974, along with the Mamie George Branch Library in Stafford. The Fort Bend County Libraries is celebrating the milestone this month. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
Community Reports This month, Fort Bend County Libraries is celebrating a significant milestone. The opening of the Albert George Branch Library in Needville and the Mamie George Branch Library in Stafford in November 1974 marked the expansion of Fort Bend Libraries into a full-fledged library system. With the addition of these two locations to the original Fort Bend County Library,
located next to Polly Ryon Hospital (now OakBend Medical Center) in Richmond, the goal of the founders to establish a system of libraries accessible to all residents of Fort Bend County continued to grow. An Open House at the Albert George Branch Library (9230 Gene Street in Needville) will take place November 9, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Stafford location held its celebration on November 2.
The public is invited to enjoy light refreshments, activities, and giveaways. All are welcome to browse through the library’s scrapbooks and share their own memories. Refreshments for these events are made possible by the Friends of the Library organizations that support each location. The libraries are named in honor of philanthropists Albert and Mamie George in appreciation for their contributions toward the
building and growth of the Fort Bend County library system. The Albert George Branch in Needville opened on November 11, 1974, and the Mamie George Branch in Stafford opened a week later on November 18, 1974. Carolyn Conrad was the first librarian for the Albert George Branch in Needville, while Elizabeth Smith was the first librarian for the Mamie George Branch in Stafford. Funding for construc-
tion of the two libraries was provided by The George Foundation in Richmond. The site in Needville was donated by the Needville Chamber of Commerce and the Needville Lion’s Club, and the site in Stafford was donated by the Fort Bend Independent School District. Each branch was 4,900 square feet. Renovation of the Mamie George Branch was com-
SEE 50 YEARS PAGE 2
Lamar CISD identified as fastest-growing district in state Staff Reports During the October meeting of the Lamar Consolidated ISD board, the 2Q24 demographic report presented by Zonda Education identified the district as the number one fastest-growing school district in the state of Texas. This is the second report completed by Zonda Education labeling Lamar CISD as a “hypergrowth” district. A district is classified as hypergrowth when an elementary school attendance zone has more than 300 new home starts annually.
“As we experience unprecedented growth across Lamar CISD, it’s clear that our commitment to quality education must grow with it,” Lamar CISD Superintendent Dr. Roosevelt Nivens said in a press release. “Our mission remains to ensure every student has the support, resources, and inspired leadership they need to thrive. We’re excited about the future and dedicated to building a team that can keep pace with our community’s rapid expansion and deliver excellence at every level.” Lamar CISD continues
to be home to the highest amounts of new single-family construction in the Houston region with over 5,000 new home starts during the last 12 months. Currently, the district has more than 39,900 future lots set for develop-
ment. Several of these lots are large master-planned communities. Additional key takeaways from the report: • District enrollment is currently more than 46,800 students, which
exceeds projections made in the spring. • The increase is mostly at the elementary grade levels.
SEE LAMAR PAGE 2