Published Nov 02, 2023 by Hailea Schultz
A proposed $22 million project aims to increase accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians by connecting Uptown to Memorial Park.
The Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded the Uptown Houston District an $18.5 million grant to make the project a reality. According to the Houston Chronicle, the proposed trail connection is still in the design phase, but it would include a new route along Post Oak Boulevard with wide sidewalks to accommodate pedestrians and bicycles and then a new bridge crossing over Buffalo Bayou, eventually leading into Memorial Park.
“The West Loop has always been this wall that makes getting to Memorial Park harder than it ought to be,” Uptown Houston President John Breeding told the Houston Chronicle.
If approved, the project is expected to take 12 months to complete. Breeding plans to bid the project for construction in December 2024.
Increasing connectivity to Memorial Park, given that it is surrounded by major freeways such as Loop 610, has been a focus for many city and area leaders. The project is one of several included in the Memorial Park Conservancy’s 10-year master plan.
In September, a $13.5 million project to connect Memorial Park and Buffalo Bayou Park between the west and east sides of Harris County via a new pedestrian-friendly trail was announced.
High quality infrastructure is crucial to providing safe access to all pedestrians and cyclists commuting in the greater Houston region.
“People who walk and bike make up about 1 out of every 5 deaths on roadways here in Texas,” Commissioner Alvin New said in a TxDOT release. “These projects will help the state move closer toward the goal of zero deaths by giving people a place to walk and bike separate from traffic.”
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