With the project still under federal investigation, local and state agencies say they are moving forward with the development of design details for the contentious freeway redesign.
The controversial plan to rebuild and widen parts of Interstate 45 in Houston is once again moving forward after the city and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) came to an agreement at the end of last year.
As reported by Dug Begley for the Houston Chronicle, details of the agreement, which will require plans for rebuilding Interstate 69 under a light rail line, flood control projects, sidewalks and bikeways, and details for how changes to I-45 will impact connecting roads, remain to be worked out.
Meanwhile, a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) review of the project and potential civil rights violations is still in progress. As Begley explains, “Though minor changes have reduced some of the effects, TxDOT’s approved project impacts — the catchword for any structure or dwelling directly touched by the changing road boundary — include 158 houses, 433 apartments or condos, 486 public housing units, 340 businesses, five churches and two schools.”
The North Houston Highway Improvement Project has been at the heart of a fierce debate over the future of downtown Houston, with critics calling for a new approach to transportation and mobility that rejects the perpetuation of unsustainable, car-oriented planning. “In a statement, Air Alliance Houston said the agreements ‘will do very little to protect Houston communities from the harms posed by this project,’ specifically related to air pollution caused by the larger freeway in many neighborhoods around the central business district.”
FULL STORY: TxDOT has deal to rebuild I-45, but many details must be worked out before lifting a shovel
Contentious Houston Freeway Widening Project Inches Forward
Federal officials have given TxDOT the go-ahead to resume work on a small portion of a controversial interstate widening project in downtown Houston.
Interstate Expansion to Go Ahead in Houston
The North Houston Highway Improvement Project, stalled by a federal investigation, will now go ahead with only a few tweaks that opponents say don’t go far enough to mitigate the damage it will cause to Houston neighborhoods.
Proposed Park Yet Another Hurdle for Houston Interstate Expansion
The Interstate 45 widening project, halted by a federal order and opposed by many local officials and organizations, could hit a new snag if White Oak Bayou becomes a city park.
New York Governor Advances Housing Plan Amid Stiff Suburban Opposition
Governor Kathy Hochul’s ambitious proposal to create more housing has once again run into a brick wall of opposition in New York’s enormous suburbs, especially on Long Island. This year, however, the wall may have some cracks.
A Serious Critique of Congestion Costs and Induced Vehicle Travel Impacts
Some highway advocates continue to claim that roadway expansions are justified to reduce traffic congestion. That's not what the research shows. It's time to stop obsessing over congestion and instead strive for efficient accessibility.
Rethinking the Role of Parking in the American City
In cities big and small, the tide is turning against sprawling parking lots, car-centric development, and minimum parking mandates.
Mapping Sidewalks for Improved Connectivity
A new tool uses aerial image recognition to map a city’s sidewalks and crosswalks. Its developers hope it will aid in creating a more comprehensive understanding of pedestrian networks and where improvements are needed.
Long Beach Residents Oppose Proposed Homeless Services Hub Near Rail Terminus
L.A. Metro’s “end-of-the-line” policy forces people experiencing homeless off transit every night at the same time and location. A proposed hub would provide services a few stops before the end of the line in Long Beach.
The Nation's Most Advanced Secessionist Movement
Legislation supporting the Greater Idaho Movement, which would annex over half of neighboring Oregon, has advanced in the Idaho legislature.
City of Greenville
City of Greenville
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
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 Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.
