What could the city look like if budget and bureaucracy were no object?
In interviews with Houston Public Media, Houston mobility advocates and residents told Michael Hagerty what changes they would make to their city’s streets if they could.
One listener suggested getting rid of freeways inside the 610 loop and replacing them with surface boulevards that offer the potential for more uses.
Another wondered whether elevating roadways could prevent further road expansions. One listener wants to replace a local highway with a high-speed rail system complete with rail and bus connections to other destinations.
Some respondents criticized traffic calming measures, expressing the common concern that they negatively impact local businesses (bike lanes and other road safety infrastructure have been shown to be good for business). One listener called for adding a left turn lane and banning right turns on red on West Dallas Street to improve pedestrian safety.
Ultimately, it seems that Houston residents have opinions on their roadways — and many of them want to see safety improvements, pedestrian and bike infrastructure, and more transit options.
FULL STORY: If you could wave a wand and redesign a Houston road, what would you change and why?
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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