Infrastructure

Public Comment Needed for 2023 Unified Transportation Program by Aug 8 /  by Alaina Hebert

WHAT: This is TxDOT's 10-year plan and budget. It is based on information and requests from regional planning bodies like the Houston-Galveston Area Council in Houston. The Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) approves the plan, and TxDOT carries it out.

The 2023 UTP public comment period is July 8, 2022, through 4:00 p.m. CST on Aug. 8, 2022. You may submit comments using the following methods:

Fill out a comment form online.
The online comment form can be switched between several of the most spoken languages in Texas, including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, and Cantonese.

You may also print a comment form or request a printed comment form at your local TxDOT district or area office and mail it to:

Texas Department of Transportation
Attention: TPP-UTP
125 E 11th Street
Austin, Texas 78701

You may e-mail your public comments to UTP-PublicComments@txdot.gov. Additionally, you may leave a voicemail comment by calling 833-933-0446.

Please be prepared to state your city, state, and zip code. Your name and address are optional. Please speak as clearly as possible, comments are transcribed and added to the official record.

In order to be considered, comments must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2022.

Talking points to consider:

  1. Remove the I-45 & I-10 Expansion from the UTP to allow for a new project based on a true community engagement process. In the meantime, for communities that were harmed by the initial construction of I-45, their concerns should be addressed and mitigated immediately. These reparations should not be held hostage to a plan that will sacrifice more Houstonians to flooding, pollution, and traffic violence.

  2. No more added lanes for cars for any projects through urban centers

  3. Prioritize safety of all road users and Vision Zero

  4. All projects should prioritize sustainability and aim to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMTs)

  5. All projects should center and aim for race and class equity for all road users

  6. All projects should reduce flooding and prioritize flood mitigation

  7. We want a UTP that increases multi-modal transportation options throughout the state

  8. Updates to the TxDOT ADA Transition Plan have included work to identify the specific need and cost of bringing all TxDOT on-system facilities up to inclusive ADA standards. This TxDOT assessment estimated that adding or fixing all on-system missing and broken sidewalks, ramps and safe crossings across the state would cost $1.56 billion. We request that you increase the funding for the ADA Transition Plan from the proposed $5 million to $25 million a year in the FY2023 Unified Transportation Program.

2023 Unified Transportation Program 

UTP Presentation - https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/tpp/utp/2023-utp-public-meeting-with-speaker-notes.pdf

Virtual Public Hearing, July 26 at 2pm. Link is HERE.

Segmented Interstate Expansion Skirts Federal Environmental Law /  by Alaina Hebert

Texas is skirting federal environmental law to push for highway expansion - Megan Kimble, Grist, Jul 27, 2022

This timely article comes just as TXDOT has announced plans to expand I-10 from Heights to I-45 a sub-set of overall planned interstate expansion. The article explains that the I-45 expansion was put on hold so that the full impact could be studied in aggregate which will show more accurate an significant impacts than when segmented.

Overall, between 2015 and 2022, Moritz discovered that 130 TxDOT projects were found to have no significant impact after an initial review, while only six received full environmental analyses detailing their impacts. Cumulatively, those 130 projects will consume nearly 12,000 acres of land, add more than 3,000 new lane miles to the state highway system, and displace 477 homes and 376 businesses. The total projected costs of those projects was nearly $24 billion, almost half of what TxDOT spent on transportation projects during that time and twice as much as the amount spent on projects that received full environmental reviews.

How can You get involved?

  1. Review the TXDOT I-10 Expansion from Heights to I-45 Proposal

  2. Submit Public Comment Form - Reference the following project numbers: CSJ 0271-07-326

TxDOT Houston District
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 1386
Houston, Texas 77251
713-802-5076

Public Comments are due by Friday, August 26th, 2022

Texas Parks & Wildlife - Bayou City Episode /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

  • Take a tour of the last preserved bayou in the Bayou City with Mark Kramer from the Armand Bayou Nature Center and learn of the importance the habitat plays in flood control.

  • Houston Parks & Recreation Department (HPARD) has begun restoring riparian habitat along the bayous. HPARD's Kelli Ondracek discusses the restoration project at Milby Park.

  • Little White Oak Bayou in Woodland Park is among the unique riparian habitats slated for restoration by HPARD.

“Meet some of Houston’s most dedicated bayou conservationists, learn about issues the bayou ecosystem has faced over the past century, and see some hope for keeping an urban area and its watery wilderness in balance.”
— Program 3004 - October 31-November 6, 2021, and May 1- 7, 2022

Houston Welcomes 10 New Historic Landmarks /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

In advance of Historic Preservation Month in May, Houston welcomed 10 new historic landmarks spanning the city in five different City Council Districts. Houston City Council approved the new landmarks on April 20. There are two landmarks and eight protected landmarks including Third Ward's Eldorado Ballroom built in 1939 and located at 2310 Elgin St. in Council District D.

Learn more about historic landmark designations. View this presentation to see photos of all the new landmarks.

Read this Texas State Historical Association article about the Eldorado's rich history in Houston.

Bike to Work Day - Friday, May 20 /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

Bike to Work Day is Back!

Join us for the first in-person Bike to Work Day (BTWD) in two years. We're celebrating National Bike Month in May by bringing back our annual bike ride to Downtown Houston on Friday, May 20, at 7:15 a.m.

This year’s bike ride will begin at the visitor center at Buffalo Bayou Park at Lost Lake, 3422 Allen Parkway, with riders departing promptly at 7:30 a.m. The ride will end at the Hermann Square Reflection Pond at City Hall.

If you can't join us, we challenge you to ride your bicycle to work on May 20 or another day during Bike Month.

Take a picture and tag the Houston Bikeways social media with the hashtag #BTWD2022.

To help make your ride safe and enjoyable, we’ve listed some safety tips below. We’ll also be crowdsourcing some tips on biking on social media, so be sure to follow us and join the conversation.

Twitter @HoustonBikePlan

Facebook

Bike To Work Day website

Submit your Redistricting Feedback Now to July 10 /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The City is embarking on a process to adopt new City Council district boundaries using the information from the 2020 US Census. There will be multiple opportunities to comment and be updated on the process.


Town hall meetings were scheduled in each City Council district in April and May to explain the redistricting process, and to allow the public to give input to the City on how they want their district to look in the future. Capital Improvement Project (CIP) meetings will follow the Redistricting Town Halls. Anyone can attend any redistricting meeting, but Capital Improvement Project updates are specific to the district in which the meeting is held. View the meeting schedule.

A virtual Redistricting town hall meeting will be held May 25. View meeting details.

Public Engagement:

Phase 1: Town hall meetings will be held to obtain public input on how the new districts should be configured. The City wants your input before drawing the new maps; no new maps will be presented at the town hall meetings. Residents may also submit their own redistricting plan to the Planning & Development Department by July 20.

Phase 2: District boundaries are redrawn based on 2020 Census data, the criteria that were approved by City Council, and public input.

Phase 3: Draft Redistricting Plan is completed and presented to City Council.

Phase 4: Public may comment on the proposed new maps at three public hearings in July.

Visit Redistricing website

Lights Out for Birds /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The Texas Coast, including the Houston area, is an important migratory path for birds. Most migratory birds fly at night, and lights on buildings can disorient birds on their paths. Businesses and individuals across the city are encouraged to turn off all nonessential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout spring, and especially during the peak period of April 23rd-May 10th.

District H Town Hall Resources & Recordings /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The District H Town Hall that occurred on Monday, April 25th featured an introduction to the City's redistricting process that is now available online here. The public is encouraged to submit their own districting plan or may propose that certain voting precincts, neighborhoods, or locations be included in a specific district. Learn more here.


Houston Public Works' Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) presentation for District H can be viewed on the District H website. Please note that the presentation provides CIP highlights and does not include all District H projects planned, in progress, or completed.


The full recording of the District H Town Hall, including both redistricting as well as the District's Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) will be available soon on the HTV site here (under Press Conferences / Events Around Town & More). As a reminder, the public can attend any Town Hall meeting, a list of which can be viewed on the Redistricting website here.

District H - Council Redistricting & CIP Town Hall /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The City of Houston is holding meetings to receive public input about redistricting and share information about Capital Improvement Projects. The District H Town Hall will take place in person at Moody Park Recreation Center, as well as virtually on Microsoft Teams.

When: Mon, Apr 25th, 6pm
Where: Moody Park Community Center, 3725 Fulton -OR- Virtual

Details can be found on the Planning and Development Department’s website and in this committee presentation. Please view page 9 of the presentation to see what the 2020 Census determined current populations of Council Districts to be, and why District H will need boundary adjustments to come into compliance. Please note that the public is invited to attend any Town Hall Meeting, not just those within their Council District.

11th Street Safety improvements /  by Woodland Heights Civic Association

The WHCA recently submitted this letter of support for 11th Street Safety Improvements.

Let’s Talk Houston!

www.LetsTalkHouston.org/11th-street-bikeway

Houston Bikeways Program

www.houstonbikeplan.org | 832-395-2700 | bikeways@houstontx.gov

Houston Vision Zero

Citywide safe streets effort to end traffic deaths and serious injuries. Provide feedback about traffic safety concerns in your neighborhood. www.visionzerohouston.com

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/11th-street-redesign-carbon-zero-goals-houston-16984690.php

Director of Infrastructure | Brad snead

Email infrastructure@woodland-heights.org or complete the form below to contact.

Infrastructure Corner /  by Lori Bigler

11th Street Bikeway

We have an update on the 11th Street Project after the City’s presentation on December 16th (which we advertised via social media). For those who don’t know, the City plans to implement a “road diet” on 11th Street between Shepherd and Michaux: removing one car lane, converting the middle lane to a turning lane (like on Studewood) for most of the road, and adding separated bike lanes. The general idea is to reduce car speed, while maintaining traffic volume, and add infrastructure to make it safer for people walking in biking in the area. The City is currently at 30% design phase and hopes to start construction this coming Summer.

Two particular points of interest for our neighborhood. The first is the location and design of protected crosswalks on 11th Street, such as around Hogg Middle School. The second relates to sections of the project inside our neighborhood. The Houston Bike Plan includes Michaux as a bike thoroughfare to connect 11th Street to the White Oak Bayou Trail. As part of the 11th Street Project, the City plans to (i) add bike signage on Michaux and (ii) install a pedestrian/bike island refuge at Michaux and White Oak.

There are trade-offs for all of these projects. I’m in communication with the City, and would like to get a sense for what our neighbors think about these two points in particular. To be clear, we are likely past the “no go” stage; the project is almost certainly happening. However, there is opportunity to improve the project and have our voices heard in the final design. If you have comments on how the project could improve—and just not general opposition—or are interested in meeting (virtually) about these issues, please contact me (Brad Snead) at infrastructure@woodland-heights.org.

The meeting presentation can be found here: https://houstonbikeplan.org/planned/11th-street/ (look in the public engagement section). Individual comments and questions can be submitted here: www.letstalkhouston.org/11th-street-bikeway.

Overview of Total Project Area

 

As always, please email any comments, ideas, and suggestions to infrastructure@woodland-heights.org.-

-Brad Snead, Director of Infrastructure

Infrastructure Corner /  by Lori Bigler

We have some updates on local area projects. Sherry Weesner, president of TIRZ 5 and the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority, gave an update at the last meeting of the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council on August 18th. The Woodland Heights is part of GHSNC council, with one voting delegate chosen by the WHCA Board (currently Brad Snead).
 
Here is an overview.

First, the image above is an overview of the TIRZ5 project map, which roughly follows White Oak Bayou, but also reaches along Shepherd/Durham, down Heights Blvd to Buffalo Bayou, and to Memorial Park.
 
Second, Ms. Weesner gave an overview of completed and ongoing projects that TIRZ 5 was involved in, including the new intersection at Houston Ave and White Oak, and the new trail head at the MKT Trail and Studewood.

TIRZ5 Project Map2.png

Third, she gave an overview of several planned projects along the MKT Trail—along the portion from Heights Blvd to Houston Ave—which are at about 90% design completion, and are planned to start next year. (1) Heights Blvd (between Donovan Park  and Heights Mercantile)—installing raised crosswalks and making other safety improvements to slow traffic. (2) White Oak Drive (next to Juiceland/Black Swan)—installing “bulb outs” at the intersection, and perhaps a pedestrian island. (3) Sawyer (next to Target)—redesigning the entire intersection, in conjunction with the developer at the corner, to give the trail priority and to make walking/biking safer. (4) Spring Street—installing raised crosswalks and making other safety improvements.
 
Fourth, on Heights Blvd South of I-10, they are planning several improvements. They will convert the existing bike lanes into separated bike lanes, and are planning to reconstruct the intersections at Washington Ave and Center St, and connect those lanes to Buffalo Bayou Park. In other words, you should be able to bike safely go from the Heights or White Oak Bayou Trail to the new HEB, and on to Buffalo Bayou Park, on separated bike lanes with priority at the intersections. I believe this project is also at the 90% design stage.

TIRZ5 Project Map3.png

Fifth, they are at 60% design stage on a new connection from the White Oak Bayou/MKT Trails to Memorial Park via a CenterPoint utility corridor. The picture on the right is a little hard to see. But the trail currently ends in the Cottage Grove neighborhood, and you have to zig zag through neighborhoods and across I-10 to get to Memorial Park. This could be a significant connector for the Heights area.

Sixth, she discussed the Shepherd/Durham project, which is expected to start construction in 2022 and take multiple years. There are multiple parts, from different funding sources, but it will eventually stretch between I-10 and 610, as well as South of I-10 between Washington Ave and Memorial Dr. They are also working with Houston Metro, which has a planned Bus Rapid Transit stop planned between Shepherd/Durham South of I-10. Generally, the project will remove a car lane both directions (going from 4 to 3), add a raised bike lane (even with the sidewalk, not the road), lined with trees wherever possible. She said they plan to have two rows of trees along the bike lane where space permits, and one row of trees where space does not permit. The bike lane on Shepherd will be on the East side, and will include “floating” Metro bus stops, similar to what is being installed on Cavalcade. The bike lane on Durham will be on the East side as well because of limited right of way. She also explained that they engaged two engineering firms, both of which concluded that the congestion on Shepherd/Durham is not from amount of car lanes, but from the design of the turns. This project should alleviate that congestion while making it safer for other road users.

Seventh, she mentioned several other projects they are assisting with, in conjunction with the Montrose TIRZ and others, putting bike lanes on West Dallas and Dunleavy, adding connections in the area South of Buffalo Bayou between Shepherd and Waugh

Finally, she discussed a question we raised about TIRZ5’s interest in working with neighborhoods to do small projects. She said TIRZ5 usually gets involved in big projects, but likes to take 1 to 2 small projects a year that can be done quickly. They would like to work with neighborhoods as well, if we can find funding for half or so (and she mentioned other potential sources of funds and grants). The WHCA Board will discuss this, and would like input from the neighborhood, on what types of projects we’d like to see to help us connect to these other projects. For example, we could use this to create a bike/pedestrian crossing at White Oak Dr from our neighborhood so we can access the bayou trails more safely.

So there are a lot of things in the works for the coming years. Please email any comments, ideas, and suggestions to infrastructure@woodland-heights.org.

Brad Snead
Director of Infrastructure

Bye Bye Bridge: Old Wooden Bridge on Stude Park Trail To Be Removed. /  by Lori Bigler

This just in regarding an old portion of the trail at Stude Park. The bridge in question is the small wooden foot bridge close to the bayou. It’s been is disrepair for years. It gets very slippery when wet. It also suffers flooding events very poorly.

89c64dc747f080e27f8448575167960f.png.max800.png

Good morning,

Houston Parks Board continues making progress on improving the White Oak Bayou Greenway for all trail users. We sincerely appreciate your continued support and would like to share an important update with you.

In an effort to ensure everyone is using safe and well-maintained trails along the bayous, Houston Parks Board will be demolishing an old and crumbled asphalt trail along White Oak Bayou between Stude Park and White Oak Drive. Part of the trail demolition includes a wooden pedestrian bridge south of Thelma Drive and White Oak Drive. Click here to view a map of the demolition area.

Work will begin on the trail and bridge demolition starting Monday, March 16, and is expected to potentially last through March 20, depending on weather, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Our contractor for this project is L.N. McKean, Inc., who has performed other successful demolition and trail work for our organization.

After work is complete, the trail area will be returned to grass. Trail users can continue to use the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail (the primary trail for this bayou) that is located near the top of the bayou’s bank along White Oak Bayou Drive.

If you have any questions about this work, feel free to email or call me at the contact information below. Please also share this information with anyone else you think may be interested.

Want to know more?

To learn more about our nonprofit organization and how we create, improve, protect and advocate for parks for everyone, visit www.houstonparksboard.org and click “About Us.”

To explore an interactive map of our other projects, visit www.houstonparksboard.org, and click on our Interactive Map.

Thank you,

Lisa Kasianowitz

Outreach Manager
Houston Parks Board
lisa@houstonparksboard.org
300 North Post Oak Lane
Houston, TX 77024
P: 713-942-8500 X14
F: 713-942-7664

www.houstonparksboard.org

11th Street Project Update /  by Lori Bigler

The following message was recently received, offering the status of the 11th Street bike lane project that was discussed at the WHCA General Meeting in March 2019.

Hello,

We’re pleased to announce that the 11th Street safety project is proceeding into the design phase. Many thanks to all who participated in meetings and provided input so far.

This project will implement safety improvements on 11th Street between Shepherd and Michaux. The new street configuration will consist of 1 vehicle lane and 1 bike lane in each direction with a center lane for making left turns. A pedestrian island will be constructed at the Nicholson Street hike and bike path, to make it safer for people walking and biking across 11th street, and additional pedestrian island locations are being considered as well.

We are excited to bring these roadway improvements to the community, and we are convinced the new configuration with be safer, more efficient and enjoyable for all road users. Construction is estimated to start in Fall 2020 and we will continue to monitor the corridor’s traffic and safety performance after installation.

Your feedback has been integral to this project and it will remain that way during the next three months of the design phase. We look forward to continuing the dialog.

Please follow this link to find out more about the project.

Lauren Grove
Transportation Planner
City of Houston Planning & Development Department
611 Walker Street, 6th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
(832) 393-6550
Lauren.Grove@houstontx.gov