HTX-SLM: Impact 10/21/2025

The Sugar Land On-Demand service has once again expanded its service area, city officials announced in an Oct. 14 Facebook post.

The second expansion, which focuses on the north and east portions of the service area, builds on the 6-square-mile addition from May.

Zooming in: In March, city officials launched the on-demand program to give residents an affordable transportation option in a limited service area, Transportation and Mobility Manager Melanie Beaman said. The program is the first of its kind in the Gulf Coast region.

About the program: The program features seven on-demand vehicles, including five fully electric sedans and three hybrid wheelchair accessible minivans, Beaman said.

Looking ahead: The service area will continue to be expanded as additional funding becomes available with the ultimate goal to incorporate the entire city, Beaman previously said.

Detail Garage, a specialty automotive retail and training center focused on car care and detailing, has closed at Rocky Creek Crossing shopping center in Missouri City, a leasing representative confirmed.

About the company: Detail Garage is known for its wide range of premium car care products, detailing services, and hands-on training experiences, according to the website. 

In addition to products, the store also provided workshops and demonstrations designed to educate customers on best practices in auto detailing.

Moving forward: While details surrounding the closure were not shared, the complex’s leasing representative said the location is welcoming a new tenant, Ohio-based Donato’s Pizza.   

• 7260 Hwy 6, Ste. 100, Missouri City

Texas Ramp Project, which builds free wheelchair ramps for those in need across the state, is celebrating its 40th anniversary, according to a Sept. 15 news release. Over its 40 years, the nonprofit has built ramps for over 30,000 recipients with the help of over 3,500 volunteers.

Some context: The organization began in 1985 as the Dallas Ramp Project before being incorporated as the Texas Ramp Project in 2006, according to the news release. Texas Ramp Project provides the ramps to recipients at no cost, according to the news release. Most ramps cost between $800-$900 to build.

What else: In 2024, Texas Ramp Project built 2,727 ramps in 145 counties, according to its Sept. 1 fact sheet. To get a ramp, recipients must be referred by a health care provider or qualified organization via the nonprofit’s website.

As water restrictions and shortages become more common in Texas communities, state lawmakers are asking voters to approve $20 billion to fund new water supply projects and improve existing systems over the next 20 years.

The overview: If voters approve State Proposition 4, which is on the November ballot, the state will create a dedicated funding stream to help local utilities access more water and upgrade their infrastructure. Without the new funding, Texas’ water crisis could deepen, experts say.

“We’ve got 1,500+ people moving to Texas every day, and not one of them is bringing a single drop of water with them,” Dean Sharp, who leads the management division of the Texas American Water Works Association, said Oct. 16.

Key takeaway: Despite the $1 billion annual price tag, Proposition 4 would not create any new state taxes or increase costs for Texans, lawmakers and experts said. Beginning in 2027, the money would come from existing sales tax revenue and be deposited in the Texas Water Fund, a state account that voters approved in 2023.