The final environmental impact statement for the controversial North Houston Highway Improvement Project is available for public comment, courtesy of the Texas Department of Transportation.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) released a final environmental impact study (EIS) for the $7 billion plan to remake Interstate 45 north of downtown Houston—one of the biggest and most controversial highway plans in the country.
The plan has pitted the competing visions of the TxDOT and the city of Houston, with a growing chorus of local officials and organizations opposing the project.
The EIS will now face public comment, and the state and the city are expected to work together to refine the project even further. An article by Emma Whalen breaks the news about the big release and provides details of next steps for the EIS and the project proposal:
Next, TxDOT will issue its record of decision, and the Texas Transportation Commission will give approval for the agency to seek construction firms and begin work.
Eliza Paul, TxDOT’s Houston district engineer, said, however, that the communication process between TxDOT and local officials and residents will continue throughout the process.
Public comment for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project is open until November 9. Additional news coverage of the project EIS is available from Dug Begley for the Houston Chronicle.
FULL STORY: TxDOT releases environmental report, a pivotal step in I-45 rebuild
TxDOT Approves I-45 Widening Despite Local Opposition
Despite every manner of local opposition, the Texas Department of Transportation is pushing forward with a plan to widen Interstate 45 north of the city of Houston, demolishing and displacing thousands of homes, businesses, and community facilities.
I-45 Widening Plan Nears the Finish Line in Houston
The public is getting a chance to give feedback on the city's proposed changes to a project that would realign and widen Interstate 45 near downtown Houston.
A Freeway Rebellion Rises in the Unlikeliest of States: Texas
“There’s no train, there’s no bus, there’s no anything that supports mass transportation. It doesn’t exist.” -Houston resident Fabian Ramirez.
Planning for Congestion Relief
The third and final installment of Planetizen's examination of the role of the planning profession in both perpetuating and solving traffic congestion.
Minneapolis Housing Plan a Success—Not for the Reason You Think
Housing advocates praise the city’s move to eliminate single-family zoning by legalizing triplexes on single-family lots, but that isn’t why housing construction is growing.
New White House Housing Initiative Includes Zoning Reform Incentives
The Biden administration this morning released a new program of actions intended to spur housing construction around the United States.
Study: Most of Vancouver Is a ‘15-Minute City’
A large majority of Vancouver residents can access a grocery store in 15 minutes or less by bicycle or on foot.
Urban Design, Transport, and Health
The Lancet medical journal published a series of articles that explore how to evaluate and guide urban planning decisions to create healthy and sustainable cities. Live long and prosper!
Detroit Bike Share Celebrates Five Years
In its five years of operation, Detroit’s MoGo bikeshare has added electric and adaptive bikes to its fleet of more than 600 bikes.
Urban Planning Partners
Sandy City
Ada County Highway District
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Redwood City
City of Rohnert Park
City of Hot Springs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
