Sept. 8, 2022
By Adam Paul Susaneck
Graphics by Jeremy Ashkenas, Quoctrung Bui and Sara Chodosh
Adam Paul Susaneck is an architectural designer and the founder of Segregation by Design. He uses historical data and archival photography to document the consequences of redlining, urban renewal and urban highway planning.
Houston Chronicle publishes: “Texas freeway foes band together against TxDOT, calling plans to widen highways 'insane'“ - https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Freeway-foes-across-the-state-band-together-17416345.php
“Among the projects drawing alarm:
Houston’s $9.7 billion-plus project to widen I-45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8, which will add two managed lanes in each direction and rebuild the downtown freeway system and the obsolete interchange with Loop 610.
Austin’s $4.9 billion rebuild of I-35 through the heart of the capital, which would replace the clogged two-tier freeway with a single buried road that adds two carpool lanes in each direction. Opponents have said this will divide the city further.
El Paso’s planned widening of I-10 through the downtown area, which would build on overall widening of the freeway to the New Mexico border meant to facilitate border trade and ease traffic.
Dallas’ proposed I-345 redesign to bury the freeway between downtown and Deep Ellum, which opponents have called unnecessary. They have advocated for removing the freeway entirely.”
Below is a sample comment submitted by Woodland Heights neighbor:
The project as proposed isn’t needed because in the last 20 years the referenced section of I-10 has only
been impassable due to flood waters on three occasions lasting for no more than 24 hours each.
Raising this roadbed as proposed will not allow traffic to flow unimpeded because a mile of so west
there is the same rare flooding issue on the I-10 roadway between Washington Ave. and TC Jester.
Traffic can easily be routed around these rare hazards via I-610 as it has before.
The more pressing problem is improperly permitted tractor trailer haulers who collide with and damage
the Houston Ave. bridge over I-10. This hazard closes the highway multiple time during the year for
extended periods of time. The much more cost effective solution is to simply rebuild the Houston Ave.
bridge over I-10 (one direction at a time so it remains passable). It would cost less than 10% of what the
current proposal costs. As a taxpayer who funds these projects, I want my tax dollars to be spent wisely.
Or perhaps for even less cost a height monitoring and warning system could be built along I-10 to
directly notify truckers that their load is too tall and that they will cause a bridge collision if they do not
exit and re-route.
I can’t help wondering if the public isn’t being fully informed as to the true nature of the proposed
project. Since the proposed “improvement” doesn’t actually allow for traffic to flow unimpeded
because of simultaneous roadway flooding less than two miles west of the location. There must be
some other unmentioned purpose or benefit to TXDOT for the proposed project. Could it actually be
related to the long delayed and strongly objected to I-45 project? It isn’t helpful to your cause to not be
fully forthcoming about goals and motivations.
Currently there exists a natural sound barrier and air quality provider in the form of a stand of native
trees and shrubs between White Oak Bayou and I-10 just east of Taylor St. That native forest and animal
habitat needs to remain no matter what. So if we cannot stop this wasteful project from occurring I
strongly recommend that all the needed detention for 500 year flooding events be constructed under
the new proposed roadway. You already plan to use this area for detention. Why not simply excavate
deeper and provide all the necessary detention there and not remove our neighborhood’s highway
sound and pollution barrier?
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, then I insist that you provide the neighboring
communities (on both sides of the highway) a third party water engineering study proving that in the
event of a flooding event like occurred in 2017 (Hurricane Harvey) that the planned detention built
under the proposed elevated roadway will hold the same amount or more acre feet of water that rose
on I-10 during that flooding event.
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, and TXDOT by agreement builds all the requested
detention under the elevated roadway, it will do so in such a way that the public can use it as an
amenity; specifically like the one previously built west of Yale St. along White Oak Bayou near Rutland
St. and 5 th and 6 th Streets.
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, TXDOT will use all known noise deadening designs and
materials on the proposed roadway to reduce noise in the adjoining communities and erect sound walls
covered by vegetation if the roadway exceeds the height of the existing forests along the highway.
TXDOT IS SPENDING $347 ON 1.8 MILES AND DEFORESTING THE LARGEST RIPARIAN AREA ADJACENT TO WHITE OAK BAYOU INSIDE THE 610 LOOP. SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO PROTECT OUR CITY. - A Tale of Two Bridges Blog
https://www.facebook.com/events/407988114648691?ref=newsfeed
Event by Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council
107 W 12th St, Houston, TX 77008
Duration: 2 hr
Public · Anyone on or off Facebook
The second quarter meeting of the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council (GHSNC) will be in person at the historic Houston Heights City Hall and Fire Station.
The main guest presentation will be from members of the Houston Planning Department on the Walkable Places and Transit-Oriented Development ordinances, so that GHSNC members and members of the public can have a better understand of these programs and how they might apply to our area. Other items on the agenda include TxDOT’s proposal to raise lanes on I-10 between Heights Blvd and I-45, updates from the stakeholder members, and other items of mutual interest.
The update on the 11th Street Safety Improvements project previously scheduled for this meeting will take place at a separate City meeting 6:00 PM the following night via Microsoft Teams Live. Visit www.letstalkhouston.org/11th-street-bikeway for details.
The project has moved into 100% design. On August 17, 2022 the City of Houston will host a virtual public meeting to share project updates. This will include an exciting opportunity to repave portions of 11th Street, how the repaving (street rehabilitation) will be phased, and phasing construction of the bikeway.
Virtual Meeting Details - https://www.letstalkhouston.org/11th-street-bikeway
When: Wednesday, August 17th at 6:00PM - 7:00PM
Where: Microsoft Teams Live event - https://bit.ly/3P2McBy(External link)
Purpose: share information about 11th Street including upcoming repaving and bikeway construction, timeline and phasing, and answer questions from the community related to these topics.
City of Houston Joint Committee Meeting on
Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure (TTI) & Public Safety and Homeland Security (PSHS)
Committee Agenda - https://www.houstontx.gov/council/committees/tti.html
Reference the following project numbers: CSJ 0271-07-326
TxDOT Houston District
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 1386
Houston, Texas 77251
713-802-5076
“I attended and spoke at the Thursday, August 8, 2022, City of Houston Joint Council Committee on Transportation, Technology, and Infrastructure & Homeland Security. I was pleased to hear the focus on Flood and Extreme Heat and Cold resilience prioritized natural restoration as mitigation.
The TXDoT proposed I-10 from Heights to I-45 expansion does the opposite of all the recommendations and efforts by Chief Zachariah. The expansion would replace trees, greenspace, and natural features for hot concrete.
I can hear I-10 from Bayland and Beauchamp St at night and it sounds like a speedway.
The additional concrete, loss of sound dampening natural features, and increased elevation will amplify the sound far into neighborhoods.
This is a quality of life issue for 1,000s of residents and our critical natural resources. Please speak out during the comment period through August 26, 2022.”
https://www.woodland-heights.org/events-1/2022/8/4/city-council-meeting-tti
Read & Listen to WHCA Director of Infrastructure, Brad Snead’s interviews on the concerns about environmental and sound impacts to our neighborhoods and bayous.
Read Plan to elevate I-10 raises concerns among Heights-area residents, by Dug Begley, Staff Writer, Houston Chronicle
Listen to Houston Matters Episode - Plans to raise part of I-10, and Houston's stress level (July 29, 2022)
TxDOT has announced plans to raise a portion of I-10 near White Oak Bayou, but local residents are skeptical of the project. Will TxDOT move forward with the project despite their concerns? We discuss. MORE: TxDOT is seeking public input on the proposed project.
Review the TXDOT I-10 Expansion from Heights to I-45 Proposal
Submit Public Comment Form - Reference the following project numbers: CSJ 0271-07-326
TxDOT Houston District
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 1386
Houston, Texas 77251
713-802-5076
WHAT: This is TxDOT's 10-year plan and budget. It is based on information and requests from regional planning bodies like the Houston-Galveston Area Council in Houston. The Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) approves the plan, and TxDOT carries it out.
The 2023 UTP public comment period is July 8, 2022, through 4:00 p.m. CST on Aug. 8, 2022. You may submit comments using the following methods:
Fill out a comment form online.
The online comment form can be switched between several of the most spoken languages in Texas, including English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hindi, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, and Cantonese.
You may also print a comment form or request a printed comment form at your local TxDOT district or area office and mail it to:
Texas Department of Transportation
Attention: TPP-UTP
125 E 11th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
You may e-mail your public comments to UTP-PublicComments@txdot.gov. Additionally, you may leave a voicemail comment by calling 833-933-0446.
Please be prepared to state your city, state, and zip code. Your name and address are optional. Please speak as clearly as possible, comments are transcribed and added to the official record.
In order to be considered, comments must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2022.
Talking points to consider:
Remove the I-45 & I-10 Expansion from the UTP to allow for a new project based on a true community engagement process. In the meantime, for communities that were harmed by the initial construction of I-45, their concerns should be addressed and mitigated immediately. These reparations should not be held hostage to a plan that will sacrifice more Houstonians to flooding, pollution, and traffic violence.
No more added lanes for cars for any projects through urban centers
Prioritize safety of all road users and Vision Zero
All projects should prioritize sustainability and aim to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMTs)
All projects should center and aim for race and class equity for all road users
All projects should reduce flooding and prioritize flood mitigation
We want a UTP that increases multi-modal transportation options throughout the state
Updates to the TxDOT ADA Transition Plan have included work to identify the specific need and cost of bringing all TxDOT on-system facilities up to inclusive ADA standards. This TxDOT assessment estimated that adding or fixing all on-system missing and broken sidewalks, ramps and safe crossings across the state would cost $1.56 billion. We request that you increase the funding for the ADA Transition Plan from the proposed $5 million to $25 million a year in the FY2023 Unified Transportation Program.
UTP Presentation - https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/tpp/utp/2023-utp-public-meeting-with-speaker-notes.pdf
Virtual Public Hearing, July 26 at 2pm. Link is HERE.
Texas is skirting federal environmental law to push for highway expansion - Megan Kimble, Grist, Jul 27, 2022
This timely article comes just as TXDOT has announced plans to expand I-10 from Heights to I-45 a sub-set of overall planned interstate expansion. The article explains that the I-45 expansion was put on hold so that the full impact could be studied in aggregate which will show more accurate an significant impacts than when segmented.
Overall, between 2015 and 2022, Moritz discovered that 130 TxDOT projects were found to have no significant impact after an initial review, while only six received full environmental analyses detailing their impacts. Cumulatively, those 130 projects will consume nearly 12,000 acres of land, add more than 3,000 new lane miles to the state highway system, and displace 477 homes and 376 businesses. The total projected costs of those projects was nearly $24 billion, almost half of what TxDOT spent on transportation projects during that time and twice as much as the amount spent on projects that received full environmental reviews.
Review the TXDOT I-10 Expansion from Heights to I-45 Proposal
Submit Public Comment Form - Reference the following project numbers: CSJ 0271-07-326
TxDOT Houston District
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 1386
Houston, Texas 77251
713-802-5076
www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/houston/072622.html
We are excited to welcome spring by hosting Heights Garden Club's (HGC) Plant & Seed Swap. We will be set up at the South end of the Norhill Esplanade. WHCA will be setup for Home Tour ticket sales and Constable Patrol sticker pickup.
You don't have to be an HGC member to participate but it's open for all to join at https://heightsgardenclub.org/.
Bring labeled seeds, clippings, and plants.
Bring a chair and your family out to enjoy the day. There will be tables but you may bring your own if you have lots of plants to share.
Take plants that will expand varieties in your garden.
Native plants are preferred to non-native or invasive plants.
See you Saturday, March 26 from 10-12pm at Norhill Esplanade.
And don’t forget to get your Home Tour Tickets.
WHCA March 2022 Member Meeting
Please join us for the March Bi-Monthly General Meeting.
We’ll give updates on the 2022 “Past Meets Present” Home Tour, hear from guests, and take neighbor Q&A. We are also seeking Board Nominations for the May 10, 2022 Elections.
We will have 2022 Constable Patrol stickers for pickup and be looking for Home Tour volunteers.
Bring a chair and a neighbor and we’ll see you on Tuesday, March 8, at 6pm on the South side of Norhill Esplanade.
Check out our curbside tree project and purchase a tree below.
Rachael Cahan with the Travis Foundation came out to the February WHCA Member Meeting to answer the pressing question. What are those strange mounds?
Has the Travis Spark Park been infested with giant gophers? No, it’s hügelkultur. What? Mounds or raised beds of organic tree material mimicking the fallen debris on a forest floor. Why? The soil surrounding our playing field is in poor condition with many exposed Cypress knees causing a serious trip hazard. Hügelkultur is the long-awaited soil remediation project the Travis Foundation is excited to have had installed during the winter break.
Hügelkultur are mounds constructed to provide a natural, self-fertilizing, slow-release composting soil remediation technique which requires minimal irrigation. Due to its raised nature, hügelkultur are more flood resilient and the answer to our soil and erosion problem.
Clear Perspex has been installed at the end of the mounds so you can take a closer look and watch the magic of decomposition. If you look, you will see distinctive layers of different types of dead tree material. Last year’s big freeze has provided a plethora of material including the bamboo located outside the cafeteria. It has all been put to great use feeding the soil and our beautiful Cypress trees. These mounds will eventually be covered in plants, but this will not happen until after winter, so until then, the plastic fencing will remain.
The Travis Foundation would like to thank all its donors for making this project happen. It has been years in the planning and would not have been possible without them.
For further information or questions, please email contact@travisfoundation.org
In accordance with the WHCA bylaws, an election will be held at our Annual meeting on the second Tuesday of May. The WHCA is now accepting nominations for seats on the Woodland Heights Civic Association Board.
An election will be held at our 2022 Annual meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 for the following Board of Directors positions:
President
Dir - Beautification
Dir - Communications
Dir - Deed Restrictions
Dir - Security
Go to the 2022 Nominating Form and nominate yourself or a neighbor - woodland-heights.org/board-elections
WE DID IT! "Totally Turtle" Campaign is 100% Funded!
The Friends of Woodland Park are excited to announce that we have achieved our fund-raising goal for the Turtle playscape sculpture by Dylan Conner. We are thrilled and humbled by the generosity of so many park enthusiasts and we look forward to working with Dylan to bring this permanent play structure to the park in Fall of 2022. As a small recognition, we have a special thank you page on our website for all of our donors.
For those who have not donated and wish to have their names or honorees included on the donor plaque, we are keeping the fundraising campaign (and name-the-turtle contest!) open until the end of January 2022. No donation is too small, and all donations above $250 will be honored on the Donor Plaque. Any donations above the turtle project needs will be used for park improvements and educational messaging. So if you want to be permanently recognized for contributing to this community park improvement, please be sure to go to our website.
Our next Woodland Park Bird Survey will take place on Saturday February 19 at 7:30 am. All welcome and bring binoculars if you have them.
