It's poor planning and government misspending at its finest: The suburban haven of The Woodlands promises good schools and verdant cul-de-sacs, but with rapid growth that's more conducive to megamalls than smart expansion, residents have found themselves increasingly entrenched in heavy traffic along the enclave's routes of escape.

Among the symptoms are poorly timed traffic lights, resulting in unnecessary backups and upset soccer moms.

But hope is on the horizon: The Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioners Office has received a $144,400 grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the purchase of equipment for traffic signal synchronization. Transportation manager for the Montgomery County Department of Engineering Jeff Johnson said that The Woodlands will purchase additional traffic-timing equipment and computer software by the year's end.

Government grants to supply such simplistic services as timing traffic lights? Since it boasts of low crime and its fire department is more occupied with rescuing cats from tree branches, it's hard to believe that The Woodland's resources are so strained that it requires a significant chunk of money to flip a few switches.

Simultaneously, construction on new exterior lanes on thoroughfare Research Forest Blvd. between New Trails and Shadowbend Drive is slated to end by the end of the month, part of the six phase street widening, working from the outside lanes inward. The process is expected to complete on June 1, 2011. Teeth-grinding construction is also underway along Woodlands Parkway, which has been narrowed to one lane in certain areas.

The beauties of unsustainable sprawl are sprouting like dandelions in The Woodlands. Perhaps the bedroom community should have secured the green light on functional traffic infrastructure before investing in chic water taxis.