For one refugee family, living in Houston has meant facing a host of new challenges as they traverse the city’s roadways without a car.

Peter Holley writes about a family who moved from a refugee camp in Burundi in Central Africa to Houston and their acclimation to life in this city—namely, learning to make their way along treacherous roads on foot.
Among Texas cities, Houston stands out for its especially bad sidewalk infrastructure, where crossing busy roadways can be deadly. And the risks are even greater for residents on Houston’s southwest side. Sixty percent of the deadliest intersections are located in this area, and most resettled immigrants live in this part of the city.
"Not only is southwest Houston one of the most car-dependent areas in the nation, it’s also beset by narrow sidewalks in various states of disrepair, limited signage, distracted drivers, and relentless waves of traffic," writes Holley.
FULL STORY: This Family Survived an African Refugee Camp. Their New Challenge: Surviving Houston Without a Car.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Santa Barbara Could Build Housing on County Land
County supervisors moved forward a proposal to build workforce housing on two county-owned parcels.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.
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