Houston is an international city, with a diverse population and economy. Its equity indicators, however, are relatively average compared to other U.S. cities.
The city of Houston this week published the “One Complete Houston: Understanding Our Equity Challenges and Opportunities” report, the first to emerge from the city’s equity indicator study, launched in 2021.
According to an article by Dylan McGuinness for the Houston Chronicle, the study finds that opportunities depend on zip code, race, and sexual orientation in the city of Houston, placing the city squarely in the middle of the pack when it comes to equity. “Houston scored a 44.1 out of 100, landing in the middle of the pack among seven U.S. cities that have conducted the measure. Pittsburgh (55), New York City (48.52) and St. Louis (45.57) scored higher, while Tulsa (43.63), Dallas (39.8), and Oakland (33.5) scored lower,” reports McGuinness.
The report was created in partnership between the city, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University, and Shell USA Inc. The report uses a methodology developed by the City University of New York to measure the varying levels of opportunity in a city. A total of 63 metrics contribute to the overall score. “Houston scored below a 20 out of 100 on 13 of them, and scored a 1 on eight of them, including residents without bank accounts, environmental penalties and mental health transports,” explains McGuinness.
FULL STORY: Houston is more equitable than Dallas but trails NYC, St. Louis, according to city's first ever report
Funding Urban Climate Justice
The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund stands out as an example of local grassroots climate action—in this case, the kind of action that makes other climate projects and programs possible.
Denver Freeway Widening Plans on Hold
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s plan to widen the Interstate 25 freeway through Denver is one of a few plans to widen urban freeways under consideration in the United States.
Cost Estimates Go up for Houston Freeway Project
The contentious reconfiguration of Interstate 45 is now estimated to cost $274 million more as the project faces community opposition and a federal investigation.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Bourbon Street Could Be a Model for Pedestrian Spaces
The conversation around pedestrianizing public streets isn’t new — think Times Square. Could one of America’s oldest streets lead the way in a revival of the pedestrian mall?
Multiple Lawsuits Aim to Save NYC Congestion Pricing
Environmental and transit advocacy groups, along with the MTA, are suing USDOT over its recent crusade to end the cordon pricing program.
Massachusetts Gov. Makes Case for Road Funding Reforms
A package of proposed bills would change the state’s road funding formula to ensure more money flows to rural areas with limited resources.
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.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
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