Today's the Day!

See you at 2 pm for our
candidate forum & meeting

Come join us to learn more about candidates' positions on the I-45 project (NHHIP) as well as learn about recent updates!

All candidates attending will be given the opportunity to talk about I-45 and their vision for transportation in Houston. We have invited the top mayoral candidates as well as all at-large and NHHIP-bordering Council candidates who have raised >$10,000.

We will also have updates on where TxDOT is in their process, as well as current work by the City's Planning Department facilitated by Huitt-Zollars.

See you soon!

Make I-45 Better Coalition's Candidate Forum and Project Update
Today, Sept. 7th, 2–4 pm
Hosted at St. Arnold's Brewery
2000 Lyons Ave., Houston, 77020

New TxDOT Feedback Opportunity

Complete this survey before Sept. 20th

This short survey is intended to gather feedback on potential actions TxDOT could take to lessen impacts on communities.

The survey is intentionally short—only 7 questions—and should only take a few minutes. Although it’s brief, the information it provides is critical to helping TxDOT improve the NHHIP. Please complete the survey by September 20th.

More background
TxDOT's NHHIP environmental studies identify and quantify potential natural, human and social environmental effects of the proposed transportation improvements. Adverse impacts that cannot be avoided must be adequately mitigated. Accordingly, TxDOT is required to compensate for or replace lost resources. This survey will help us evaluate currently considered mitigation strategies and potentially identify additional options.

New Piece in Chronicle About I-45

Famed city planner and author Jeff Speck recently penned an opinion piece in the Houston Chronicle about the NHHIP. We highly recommend reading it!

He lays out a strong case for why we need to keep working together to oppose TxDOT’s current plans for expanding I-45.

If you missed his excellent lecture with the Kinder Institute earlier this year, you can find a great overview here.

New Visualizations of the NHHIP

The City of Houston’s Planning Department has just added a lot high quality visuals to help us understand the I-45 expansion. Visit their website here, then scroll down to "Meeting Materials" to see their data visualizations related to flooding, lane count, street connectivity, and more.

While there, add your comments to their interactive map that shows the giant footprint of the I-45 expansion (as it is currently designed).

Other TX Cities Resisting TxDOT

Check out how folks in Dallas are thinking about freeway expansions.... They too pushed back against TxDOT plans earlier this year. Others in Dallas have put together extensive proposals advocating to entirely remove a segment of highway bordering their downtown.

Advocacy Strategies

LINK Houston worked with partners and residents from the Near Northside and Independence Heights to develop advocacy strategies for the communities. LINK created excellent summaries and also included contact info for key decision makers and elected officials.

Read them here and here.

ICYMI

(In Case You Missed It)

KHOU: H-GAC approves funding for I-45 expansion project despite protest "Mattress Mack, Judge Lina Hidalgo join dozens in protest of I-45 expansion funding"
Houston Chronicle: Houston-area officials commit $100 million to I-45 widening project "...the go-ahead from the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council fell well short of full-throated support."
Fox: Protesters say I-45 expansion will affect minority Houstonians
The Houston Chronicle published an excellent opinion piece that outlines a new vision for improving the I-45 proposed project. Great job, Geoff!
Wired explains why building bigger roads actually makes traffic worse.
Chronicle: Report lists I-45 rebuild project among nation’s biggest highway boondoggles
Chronicle: Massive I-45 project will remake Houston freeway spine, but at what cost?

© 2019 Make I-45 Better Coalition
317 Sampson St, Houston, TX 77003

You are receiving this email since you subscribed at an event.
unsubscribe from this list

Upcoming Events: