The new Spring Branch Trail in northwest Houston is a 'harbinger' of more bike and pedestrian infrastructure to come.
The city of Houston has recently added a bike trail to connect northwest Houston with the region's growing trail system, according to an article by Dug Begley.
The Spring Branch Trail is 2.4-miles long, "[connecting] neighborhoods to shopping centers along major streets and [passing] by local schools, as well as Schwartz Park," reports Begley.
As noted by Begley, a pair of gaps in the trail will require future work, but the trail is being touted as a boon to local residents looking for ways to get outside for exercise and fresh air during the pandemic. According to sources cited in the article, a lot of people in the area began using the trail before the official opening.
The Spring Branch Management District funded the project with $1.7 million and the Houston Parks Board and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department developed the trail. The Spring Branch Trail is part of Houston Parks Board’s Beyond the Bayous initiative, "a shared vision to bring more parks and trails to Houston so that everyone can enjoy equitable access to green spaces," according to the project website.
FULL STORY: Spring Branch trail opening a harbinger of upcoming bike-pedestrian offerings
Housing Vouchers as a Key Piece of Houston’s Housing Strategy
The Houston Housing Authority supports 19,000 households through the housing voucher program.
Houston Mayor Promises Dedicated Austin Street Bike Lane After Public Backlash
Although the one-way bike lane won’t be protected by physical barriers, the proposal is an improvement over the mayor’s initial plan to only include sharrows on the Austin Street project.
Preserving Houston’s ‘Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing’
Unsubsidized, low-cost rental housing is a significant source of affordable housing for Houston households, but the supply is declining as units fall into disrepair or are redeveloped into more expensive units.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs
The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.
With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike
For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.
In More Metros Than You’d Think, Suburbs are Now More Expensive Than the City
If you're moving to the burbs to save on square footage, data shows you should think again.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)