The proposed freeway expansion in downtown Houston has faced searing backlash from local residents who see the project as a relic of the era of rampant freeway construction and neighborhood disruption.
An article and accompanying video from CBS News profiles some of the residents and institutions threatened with displacement by an interstate widening project in Houston, already home to the widest freeway in the world. "About 1,000 homes and apartments along with 344 businesses, two schools, and five churches are expected to be knocked down to complete the project."
One of these churches is Mount Olive Baptist Church, which was rebuilt by its pastor after it sustained severe damage during Hurricane Ike. Now, the $9-billion plan to widen interstates through downtown Houston threatens his church once again.
Community activists cite the loss of property to eminent domain and highway projects as a loss of generational wealth as homeowners lose the opportunity to pass on property to their children. Meanwhile, displaced residents, even if they receive buyouts, have a hard time finding new housing as neighborhoods become more expensive and they are priced out of the areas they previously lived in.
According to the article and previous Planetizen coverage, "The federal government has put most of the Houston project on hold while it investigates possible civil rights and environmental violations."
I-10 Widening Project Continues in Texas
The current work will expand the freeway to three lanes in each direction and shift a notorious bottleneck farther west.
Halted Interstate Expansion Could Proceed in Houston
Local and state officials have come to an ‘historic’ agreement that could move the stalled project forward.
Contentious Houston Freeway Widening Project Inches Forward
Federal officials have given TxDOT the go-ahead to resume work on a small portion of a controversial interstate widening project in downtown Houston.
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‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
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The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
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Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research