We need you in our advocacy efforts January 23-February 3!
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is nearing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP), or the I-45 expansion. The state agency recently released updated technical reports, which are open for public comment until February 7, 2020 (the comment period was extended from January 10 to February 7 following community pushback.) Based on our initial review of the lengthy reports, we are still very concerned (as are most of you) that TxDOT is unwilling to see the big picture – our collective vision for a resilient Houston with thriving neighborhoods:
- where history and character are celebrated and preserved instead of threatened by an enormous amount of concrete.
- where families experience safety and stability instead of worrying about losing their homes, jobs, schools, and community services because TxDOT’s archaic view of transportation calls for expanding highways through Houston’s urban core.
- where the return on the investment in our roads is worth the wait, instead of individuals driving from outside of Houston gaining three minutes of travel time at the expense of thousands who for decades bore the brunt of construction delays and subsequent environmental inequities.
- where residents can look forward to reducing flooding instead of worrying that they’ll lose everything the next time it rains because TxDOT opts to increase impervious surfaces.
- where safe access and connectivity to other parts of the city are improved through sustainable, affordable travel options like public transit, bikeways, and actual sidewalks so that we can get to a destination without being stuck in a car and further contributing to a climate crisis that is already impacting us annually.
As TxDOT inches closer to finalizing the National Environmental Policy Act process and completing the EIS, we must remain vigilant and take every opportunity to push local leaders to act on the public promises they made. The City of Houston is gearing up for a second round of community engagement, in which officials will present to the public draft alternative schematics based on feedback collected in late summer and fall of 2019. These meetings are crucial as the Mayor will most likely base his decision on which schematic to present to TxDOT according to public input collected at the upcoming meetings. We must show up and voice our opinions, otherwise we risk all of the hard work and efforts we put forward to mitigate impacts of this project.
Additionally, we at LINK Houston along with other members of the Make I-45 Better Coalition, Stop TxDOT I-45, and residents across Houston will address City Council at the end of January to call on Mayor Turner and City Councilmembers to hold TxDOT accountable and not support the NHHIP if it does not mitigate negative impacts on communities.
We ask you to join us for upcoming public meetings, January 23-February 3. Below are details on these meetings, and we will provide talking points that you are welcome to use in your advocacy efforts.
Thursday, January 23
City of Houston NHHIP Facilitation Group Meeting
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Fonde Community Center
110 Sabine Street, Houston, TX 77007
Monday, January 27
Movie and I-45 Panel Discussion with Houston City Councilmember Dr. Letitia Plummer
6:00-8:30 p.m.
Emancipation Community Center
3018 Emancipation Avenue, Houston, TX 77004
Tuesday, January 28
Public Comments at Houston City Council
2:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers, 901 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002
To sign up to speak, please call the City Secretary at 832-393-1100.
Thursday, January 30
City of Houston NHHIP Community Engagement Workshop
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Emancipation Community Center
3018 Emancipation Avenue, Houston, TX 77004
This meeting is crucial to voice our opinion. The Mayor will make his decision based on community feedback from this meeting.
We must show up!
Saturday, February 1
City of Houston NHHIP Community Engagement Workshop
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Aldine Ninth Grade School
10650 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77037
This meeting is crucial to voice our opinion. The Mayor will make his decision based on community feedback from this meeting.
We must show up!
Monday, February 3
City of Houston NHHIP Community Engagement Workshop
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Harris County Department of Education
6300 Irvington Boulevard, Houston, TX 77022
This meeting is crucial to voice our opinion. The Mayor will make his decision based on community feedback from this meeting.
We must show up!