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Ongoing sidewalk and pedestrian upgrades heavily impact the quality of life for many people who live and work in the District as the majority are public transit-dependent. Consequently, evaluating and addressing the community’s needs in this regard has been a high priority for the past decade.
H-GAC Grant for Sidewalk Improvement Project Gets the Green Light
North Houston District’s grant proposal for a major sidewalk improvement project has been chosen for funding by the Houston-Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Council (H-GAC).
The initiative aims to improve the sidewalk network in the District’s Northeast quadrant. To enhance safety and accessibility, the project will fill in gaps in the network, bring narrow sidewalks up to standard and make safety improvements—like high-visibility crosswalks—for transit users.
Roadways scheduled for sidewalk improvements are North of Greens Road, including Imperial Valley Drive, Regional Park Drive, Wayforest Drive and Harvest Time Lane.
With a total estimated project cost of $2.5 million, a funding split will be shared between the North Houston District and the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council. The District plans to initiate the design phase of the project in Fall 2025, and expects construction to begin in Spring of 2026 and to conclude in 2027.
The Importance of Pedestrian Improvements
In 2016, the District commissioned a Sidewalk Inventory & Funding Strategy report to examine the state of the sidewalk networks throughout the area. Using observations and recommendations from this report, along with a 2020 Livable Center’s Study, the District created a plan to improve and complete the sidewalk network. The priorities list includes repairing or replacing sections of cracked or narrow sidewalks, installing routes to help pedestrians reach transit, schools, and work, and adding sidewalks in some areas where there were none at all.
“Lots of people in the area don’t own cars. They have to use the sidewalks to access public transportation every single day. Making sure these sidewalks are continuous and up to par is a must,” said North Houston District Vice President of Planning & Infrastructure, Robert Fiederlein.
West Road Upgrades Awaiting Go-ahead for 2025 Start
Another important project awaits final approval from the H-GAC. West Road improvements have been preliminarily selected pending final selection for funding in 2025.
This project will include reconstruction of West Road from I-45 to Airline Drive with pedestrian amenities and new sidewalks to complete the sidewalk network in that area. The project’s estimated engineering design cost is $450,000, H-GAC and the North Houston District sharing a 90/10 funding split.
Fiederlein explained, “H-GAC has a rolling call for projects that need funding. The North Houston District applies every year for projects and looks forward to continuing our collaboration.”
“Working closely with our partners enhances overall safety and accessibility outcomes in the North Houston District,” Fiederlein said. “We are excited to work on such transformational projects with partners who support our objectives.”
Other Mobility & Infrastructure Improvements in the District
Additionally, here are summaries of the completed, ongoing, and upcoming sidewalk, pedestrian, and roadway improvement projects happening in the North Houston District:
- Airline Drive: Upgraded sidewalks on Airline Drive in collaboration between North Houston District and Harris County Precinct 2. Status: Completed.
- METRO BOOST 56: Improved pedestrian infrastructure, including safer crossings, improved curbs and ramps, and updated bus shelters with lighting along multiple corridors, including Aldine Bender, Airline Drive, Greens Road, and Imperial Valley. Status: In progress.
- Greens Road: N. Houston Redevelopment Corporation’s project to improve bus stops and pedestrian infrastructure on Greens Road from Ella Boulevard to Greenspoint Drive. Status: Pending.
Please stay tuned for updates!
