LINK Houston, BikeHouston, the Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council, Houston CNL, and Air Alliance Houston have issued the following letter on August 10, 2023, to the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston METRO) Board of Directors following the July 2023 Board Meeting, calling on METRO to prioritize vulnerable road users in the design of the METRO Rapid Gulfton Corridor Project and to preserve and expand critical safety improvements on Hillcroft Avenue. We look forward to our inclusion in continued design conversations.
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LINK Houston is a non-profit organization that advocates for a robust and equitable transportation network so that all people can reach opportunity. For more information, please visit www.linkhouston.org.
Contact:
Nick Arcos
Director Of Communications
Mobile: (713) 906-8345
nickarcos@linkhouston.org
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August 10, 2023
Sanjay Ramabhadran
Chair, Board of Directors
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
1900 Main
Houston, TX 77002
Dear Chair Ramabhadran:
As a follow up to our public comments at the Board of Directors meeting on July 27, 2023, the undersigned are transmitting this letter to call on METRO to prioritize vulnerable road users in the design of the METRO Rapid Gulfton Corridor Project and to preserve and expand critical safety improvements on Hillcroft Avenue.
We appreciate that METRO is prioritizing the Gulfton Corridor project in the implementation of the METRONext Moving Forward plan. However, we are concerned that the current design of this project will create an inhospitable environment for people walking and rolling to the bus.
Our concerns are based on renderings shown at METRO’s most recent public meetings. One illustration shows crossing distances of up to five lanes to reach the platforms in the median of Hillcroft Avenue; at 2 feet per second, the lower end of typical walking speeds, this would take 25 seconds to traverse. Another illustration shows the current separated sidewalk and bike lane replaced with a shared path of undetermined width, resulting in a net loss of space behind the curb. These designs are out of step with a community where so many travel outside a personal vehicle.
Rendering of Hillcroft at Bellaire, showing 5 southbound lanes including double left-turn lane.
We understand that these designs are not final, and that selecting a Locally Preferred Alternative will only confirm the project’s route. We also recognize that there are many factors to balance, including pedestrians, bicyclists, trees, buses, and cars. Nevertheless, we hold that this project is an opportunity to provide vulnerable road users with a first-class experience. We call on METRO to commit to a design that prioritizes people walking, rolling, and riding transit. We look forward to being included in design conversations in the future.
Sincerely,
LINK Houston
Gulfton Super Neighborhood Council
BikeHouston
Houston CNL
Air Alliance Houston
Cc: Thomas C. Lambert
President & Chief Executive Officer
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County