TxDOT’s decision to proceed with I-45 expansion demonstrates blatant disregard for Houston’s residents, advocates, and elected officials
On February 4, 2021 the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP). The ROD, which TxDOT self-certified, allows the state agency to officially proceed with building the project despite significant pushback from elected officials, residents, and advocates concerned about adverse impacts of [...]
LINK Houston’s Statement on TxDOT’s Record of Decision for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project
On February 4, 2021, the Texas Department of Transportation announced issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP). Below is LINK Houston's statement regarding the ROD. “LINK Houston’s mission is to advocate for equity in transportation. We will continue fighting alongside residents and partners to ensure that [...]
Let’s Get Out the Vote!
LINK Houston is teaming up with Roll to the Polls to help ensure that transportation is not a barrier for voters to access polling locations during the 2020 Election Season. We created neighborhood maps showing bikeways and transit services alongside early voting and Election Day voting sites. To view or download the universal English [...]
LINK Houston Sends Letter to H-GAC MOU Working Group Urging Transparency and Importance of Community Input
On October 1, LINK Houston Executive Director Oni K. Blair sent a letter to the North Houston Highway Improvement Project Memorandum of Understanding Working Group appointed by the Houston-Galveston Area Council. In her letter, Ms. Blair urged the working group to continue a transparent process in developing an agreement and to ensure that any [...]
TxDOT Must Extend Comment Period for the I-45 Expansion Final Environmental Impact Statement
On Friday, September 25, 2020 the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP), or the I-45 expansion. The FEIS, a federally required document, outlines potential positive and negative environmental impacts of large infrastructure projects and is the last hurdle TxDOT needs in order to [...]
Walkable Places and Transit-Oriented Development Ordinances put Houston on path toward equity and resiliency
The City of Houston recently passed the Walkable Places and Transit-Oriented Development Ordinances to improve walking, rolling, safety, and transit access in Houston's neighborhoods. The initiatives, led by the Planning and Development Department, have been in the works for three years with Third Ward, Near Northside, and Midtown designated as pilot areas. We at [...]
LINK Houston in the News
Janis Scott: A Powerful Voice for Transportation Equity
This Transit Equity Day, we would like to acknowledge and thank Janis Scott for her unceasing commitment to improving and preserving public transit access for all Houston-area residents. Janis truly embodies the values central to transit equity. [Read more.] Understanding Houston | February [...]
TxDOT gives itself go-ahead on $7.5B rebuild of I-45, and critics pounce
Texas highway officials Thursday gave themselves the green light to rebuild Interstate 45 in Houston, a crucial step in the process, despite lingering concerns from critics that the proposed $7.5 billion widening project is out of step with the region's future needs. [Read [...]
Houston region’s transportation board changes nixed, leaving women out of positions of power
The four-person leadership of the Houston area’s regional mobility council will stay virtually the same for 2021, after suburban officials substituted two key positions. Officials prior to the divided vote last Friday said the move was necessary to better reflect both urban and [...]
H-GAC group stalls I-45 resolution after TxDOT objects to agreement
A monthslong process to reach an understanding between regional leaders and the Texas Department of Transportation about objectives of the I-45 project stalled Jan. 22. What began as a memorandum of understanding, a binding agreement between the group of regional leaders from the [...]
Public comment period extended on I-45 Environmental Report
At activists’ and local officials’ request, the Texas Department of Transportation extended the public comment period on the forthcoming I-45 project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement. “TxDOT wishes to assure the public that our team will continue to engage with the stakeholders and seek [...]
Houston-Galveston Area Council seeking feedback on I-45 project plans
A group of regional county and transportation leaders are seeking feedback on how to address community input on the pending multibillion-dollar overhaul of I-45 through downtown Houston and the Northside. The city of Houston conducted months of feedback on the Texas Department of [...]