Houston Road Safety Project at Risk

Mayor Whitmire reversed his support for a planned road safety project that includes lane reductions, putting $40 million in federal funding in jeopardy.

2 minute read

May 2, 2024, 9:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


road construction

Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority / Shepard-Durham Redesign Project

Houston Mayor John Whitmire is threatening to derail a major road redesign project due to his recent opposition to vehicle lane reductions and bike infrastructure, reports Adam Zuvanich for Houston Public Media. “would rehabilitate the aging roadways, provide stormwater drainage improvements, bolster safety by reducing the incidence of fatal crashes and better accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and mass transit users.”

The $100 million Shepherd and Durham Major Investment Project, Zuvanich explains, “would rehabilitate the aging roadways, provide stormwater drainage improvements, bolster safety by reducing the incidence of fatal crashes and better accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and mass transit users,” according to a letter written by Whitmire himself years ago. Now, the mayor says he wants to see major changes to the design of the project that eliminate planned lane reductions.

Other city officials and local business owners question the decision, saying any delays put $40 million in federal funding in jeopardy. Additionally, killing the bike and pedestrian component of the project could have an impact on local businesses and pedestrian-oriented developments that have sprouted up since the project was announced. According to Ann Lents, the board chair for the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority, “[Independently completed traffic] reports concluded that the new design is not just appropriate for current traffic but for traffic in the future. The project is designed to encourage and support economic growth and development along the corridor – which we've seen explode since the project was announced.”

Monday, April 29, 2024 in Houston Public Media

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

4 hours ago - SD News

Sleeping in Public

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts

Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

5 hours ago - KSL

Conductor walks down platform next to Amtrak train at station in San Jose, California.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement

An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

6 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO