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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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
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Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
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Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
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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.
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Clanton & Associates, Inc.
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service