The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is currently planning a significant realignment of I-45, which runs downtown. The plan could remove an elevated portion of the highway known as Pierce Elevated.
Gail Delaughter reports on the planning effort in Houston that could lead to large overhaul of I-45 between Beltway 8 North and downtown Houston. According to Delaughter, "[th]e biggest changes are planned for downtown Houston, where TxDOT is considering tearing down the Pierce Elevated and realigning the freeway."
According to Delaughter, the current plan would split the segment into three sections—the project map included with the post shows realignments occurring on I-45, US 59, and Pierce Elevated. The plan also includes "managed lanes between the Beltway and I-10, along with new frontage road lanes and a bike trail."
TxDOT is expecting to complete the environmental study for the project in early 2016, after initially announcing the planning effort in November 2013. Currently, TxDOT is hosting a series of public workshops [pdf] about the plan, with the most recent meeting taking place on April 23, 2015. Public comments will be open until May 14, 2015. The article linked below includes an embedded version of the full plan.
Read the full story: TXDOT Releases Plans On Major Redesign Of I-45 In Downtown Houston
Calling for the Removal of Houston's Pierce Elevated Freeway
Houston's Pierce Elevated, a section of the I-45 freeway, is the latest target in the movement to remove urban freeways.
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.
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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.
Trump administration unlawfully slashed $7 billion in clean energy grants, judge rules
The Environmental Protection Agency ended the Solar For All program, which provided the grants, after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Record-breaking wildlife overpass in Colorado brings 91% reduction in animal collisions
Prior to the overpass, vehicles were hitting one deer per day on Colorado’s Interstate 25.
California lawmakers approve just 5% of much-needed LA28 transportation funding
State legislators appear just as unwilling as Trump to pay for Olympics-related transportation projects.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello