Infrastructure
Sept. 8, 2022
By Adam Paul Susaneck
Graphics by Jeremy Ashkenas, Quoctrung Bui and Sara Chodosh
Adam Paul Susaneck is an architectural designer and the founder of Segregation by Design. He uses historical data and archival photography to document the consequences of redlining, urban renewal and urban highway planning.
Houston Chronicle publishes: “Texas freeway foes band together against TxDOT, calling plans to widen highways 'insane'“ - https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Freeway-foes-across-the-state-band-together-17416345.php
“Among the projects drawing alarm:
Houston’s $9.7 billion-plus project to widen I-45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8, which will add two managed lanes in each direction and rebuild the downtown freeway system and the obsolete interchange with Loop 610.
Austin’s $4.9 billion rebuild of I-35 through the heart of the capital, which would replace the clogged two-tier freeway with a single buried road that adds two carpool lanes in each direction. Opponents have said this will divide the city further.
El Paso’s planned widening of I-10 through the downtown area, which would build on overall widening of the freeway to the New Mexico border meant to facilitate border trade and ease traffic.
Dallas’ proposed I-345 redesign to bury the freeway between downtown and Deep Ellum, which opponents have called unnecessary. They have advocated for removing the freeway entirely.”
Below is a sample comment submitted by Woodland Heights neighbor:
The project as proposed isn’t needed because in the last 20 years the referenced section of I-10 has only
been impassable due to flood waters on three occasions lasting for no more than 24 hours each.
Raising this roadbed as proposed will not allow traffic to flow unimpeded because a mile of so west
there is the same rare flooding issue on the I-10 roadway between Washington Ave. and TC Jester.
Traffic can easily be routed around these rare hazards via I-610 as it has before.
The more pressing problem is improperly permitted tractor trailer haulers who collide with and damage
the Houston Ave. bridge over I-10. This hazard closes the highway multiple time during the year for
extended periods of time. The much more cost effective solution is to simply rebuild the Houston Ave.
bridge over I-10 (one direction at a time so it remains passable). It would cost less than 10% of what the
current proposal costs. As a taxpayer who funds these projects, I want my tax dollars to be spent wisely.
Or perhaps for even less cost a height monitoring and warning system could be built along I-10 to
directly notify truckers that their load is too tall and that they will cause a bridge collision if they do not
exit and re-route.
I can’t help wondering if the public isn’t being fully informed as to the true nature of the proposed
project. Since the proposed “improvement” doesn’t actually allow for traffic to flow unimpeded
because of simultaneous roadway flooding less than two miles west of the location. There must be
some other unmentioned purpose or benefit to TXDOT for the proposed project. Could it actually be
related to the long delayed and strongly objected to I-45 project? It isn’t helpful to your cause to not be
fully forthcoming about goals and motivations.
Currently there exists a natural sound barrier and air quality provider in the form of a stand of native
trees and shrubs between White Oak Bayou and I-10 just east of Taylor St. That native forest and animal
habitat needs to remain no matter what. So if we cannot stop this wasteful project from occurring I
strongly recommend that all the needed detention for 500 year flooding events be constructed under
the new proposed roadway. You already plan to use this area for detention. Why not simply excavate
deeper and provide all the necessary detention there and not remove our neighborhood’s highway
sound and pollution barrier?
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, then I insist that you provide the neighboring
communities (on both sides of the highway) a third party water engineering study proving that in the
event of a flooding event like occurred in 2017 (Hurricane Harvey) that the planned detention built
under the proposed elevated roadway will hold the same amount or more acre feet of water that rose
on I-10 during that flooding event.
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, and TXDOT by agreement builds all the requested
detention under the elevated roadway, it will do so in such a way that the public can use it as an
amenity; specifically like the one previously built west of Yale St. along White Oak Bayou near Rutland
St. and 5 th and 6 th Streets.
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, TXDOT will use all known noise deadening designs and
materials on the proposed roadway to reduce noise in the adjoining communities and erect sound walls
covered by vegetation if the roadway exceeds the height of the existing forests along the highway.
TXDOT IS SPENDING $347 ON 1.8 MILES AND DEFORESTING THE LARGEST RIPARIAN AREA ADJACENT TO WHITE OAK BAYOU INSIDE THE 610 LOOP. SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO PROTECT OUR CITY. - A Tale of Two Bridges Blog
The project has moved into 100% design. On August 17, 2022 the City of Houston will host a virtual public meeting to share project updates. This will include an exciting opportunity to repave portions of 11th Street, how the repaving (street rehabilitation) will be phased, and phasing construction of the bikeway.
Virtual Meeting Details - https://www.letstalkhouston.org/11th-street-bikeway
When: Wednesday, August 17th at 6:00PM - 7:00PM
Where: Microsoft Teams Live event - https://bit.ly/3P2McBy(External link)
Purpose: share information about 11th Street including upcoming repaving and bikeway construction, timeline and phasing, and answer questions from the community related to these topics.
City of Houston Joint Committee Meeting on
Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure (TTI) & Public Safety and Homeland Security (PSHS)
Committee Agenda - https://www.houstontx.gov/council/committees/tti.html
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
“I attended and spoke at the Thursday, August 8, 2022, City of Houston Joint Council Committee on Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure & Homeland Security. I was pleased to hear the focus on Flood and Extreme Heat and Cold resilience prioritized natural restoration as mitigation.
The TXDoT proposed I-10 from Heights to I-45 expansion does the opposite of all the recommendations and efforts by Chief Zachariah. The expansion would replace trees, greenspace, and natural features for hot concrete.
I can hear I-10 from Bayland and Beauchamp St at night and it sounds like a speedway.
The additional concrete, loss of sound dampening natural features, and increased elevation will amplify the sound far into neighborhoods.
This is a quality of life issue for 1,000s of residents and our critical natural resources. Please speak out during the comment period through August 26, 2022.”
https://www.woodland-heights.org/events-1/2022/8/4/city-council-meeting-tti
Read & Listen to WHCA Director of Infrastructure, Brad Snead’s interviews on the concerns about environmental and sound impacts to our neighborhoods and bayous.
Read Plan to elevate I-10 raises concerns among Heights-area residents, by Dug Begley, Staff Writer, Houston Chronicle
Listen to Houston Matters Episode - Plans to raise part of I-10, and Houston's stress level (July 29, 2022)
TxDOT has announced plans to raise a portion of I-10 near White Oak Bayou, but local residents are skeptical of the project. Will TxDOT move forward with the project despite their concerns? We discuss. MORE: TxDOT is seeking public input on the proposed project.
Review the TXDOT I-10 Expansion from Heights to I-45 Proposal
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
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:
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.
No more added lanes for cars for any projects through urban centers
Prioritize safety of all road users and Vision Zero
All projects should prioritize sustainability and aim to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMTs)
All projects should center and aim for race and class equity for all road users
All projects should reduce flooding and prioritize flood mitigation
We want a UTP that increases multi-modal transportation options throughout the state
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.
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.
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.
Review the TXDOT I-10 Expansion from Heights to I-45 Proposal
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
www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/houston/072622.html
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.”
After reviewing the matter at the May 17, 2022 meeting, the GHSNC voted unanimously, with one abstention, to issue this letter and formally support the 11th Street Project.
Houston Public Works is celebrating the 27th Annual Water Works Festival this Saturday. The free festival is a celebration of all the ways water impacts our lives. There will be family-friendly activities, raffles, giveaways and more! Details here.
When: Sat, May 7th, 10am-2pm
Where: Houston Botanic Garden, 1 Botanic Ln
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 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.
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.
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.
Houston Public Works has shared some aerial photos of the MKT Trail bridge. Substantial completion of the project is anticipated by mid-July 2022. Keep up to date with Houston Parks Board here.
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.
