For decades, the North Houston District has collaborated with the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO), the Texas Department of Transportation, and local governments to advocate for transportation infrastructure improvements for the area. One upcoming project to address pedestrian safety is the installation of new crossings between intersections, funded by METRO. 

Mid-Block Crossings Offer A Safer Way to Cross

To add walkability and safety to public-transit-dependent areas, the North Houston area will soon receive nine mid-block street crossings on major local roadways. The project by Houston METRO is expected to conclude in the Summer of 2025. 

The mid-block crossings will help reduce jaywalking and make using public transit more safe and convenient. By having additional protected crossings, people don’t have to walk all the way to the next intersection to cross the street to reach or exit a transit stop.

Among the new installation sites, pedestrians will be able to enjoy easier access via two new crossings to be installed in front of Thomas R. Wussow Park. 

Soon, people will be able to cross from the nearby bus stop to the park, which is undergoing a $1 million expansion to feature two new youth soccer fields, a shaded fitness area, a new playground pod and equipment, enhanced lighting, and environmental improvements, including gardens with native plants.

A significant and critical infrastructure investment, these crossings will be installed in the District’s Southeast and Northeast quadrants in locations where people can access public facilities and METRO bus stops more safely. The installations will occur along METRO’s 56 Airline/Montrose line, including installations on Greens Road, Northchase Drive, Greenspoint Drive and Imperial Valley.  

Advocacy Leads to Progress with Purpose 

North Houston residents and visitors will soon be able to use new ramps and crosswalks outfitted with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), which are enhanced Yield to Pedestrian signs with illuminated flashing lights to alert motorists to people using the crosswalk. Pedestrians can push a button to activate the caution lights when using the crosswalk. The flashing lights heighten awareness but do not create a signal to stop traffic.

The District’s Vice President of Planning and Infrastructure, Robert Fiederlein, pointed out that a recently installed mid-block crossing improved safety conditions at the Greenspoint Transit Center, which hosts more than 1,800 daily boardings. Because of the distance between intersections there, commuters would often resort to jaywalking across the street to save time.

“Jaywalking was a dangerous problem in this high-traffic area, and safety was an issue with several instances of pedestrians nearly being hit trying to cross the street without a designated crosswalk,” he explained. To address the issue, METRO put in a mid-block crossing there to help people safely cross the street.

Tools for Pedestrian Safety

There are three common types of crossings used to address pedestrian safety, each with varying levels of protection. 

• Hawk signal: Provides a button pedestrians can press to make traffic stop and allow them to cross the road. This method delivers the highest level of safety for individuals who need to cross the street. 
• RRFB: Contains flashing lights for awareness but they do not stop traffic. They offer an elevated level of pedestrian protection.
• Standard crosswalk: Marks the designated walkway and offers the standard level of pedestrian safety when crossing the street. 

Partnerships That Prosper

Houston METRO is funding the RRFB mid-block crossings as part of its BOOST 56 programming in the area. In its entirety, BOOST 56 is a seven-part project that stretches across 20 miles of the route between Greenspoint Transit Center and the Texas Medical Center. Improvements will benefit commuters along the popular route and include enhancements like new or improved sidewalks along/near the route, improved accessibility along the route with safer crossings and new ramps for wheelchair and stroller access.

Please stay tuned for updates!