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.
FULL STORY: TXDOT Releases Plans On Major Redesign Of I-45 In Downtown Houston

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions