713-627-3200
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Who is Completing the Application?
Please provide contact information for the person who will complete the online application for this project. The email address and password entered here will be used to complete and submit both Pre-Applications and Applications.
Lisa Graiff
Beyond the Bayous Project Manager
713-942-8500
Primary Agency Information
Please provide contact information for the agency official who is representing the project sponsor. This individual will be considered the official applicant and must be authorized by their agency to submit this request for funding and make necessary assertations and representations on the agency’s behalf.
2999 South Wayside Drive
Houston
TX
77023
Additional Agency Information
300 North Post Oak Lane
Houston
TX
77024
Project Information
West Side/Westpark Connector Greenway
Harris County
Near Newcastle Drive and Westpark Drive
Project limits are in the CenterPoint Utility easement at Richmond Avenue near Drexel Drive south to Brays Bayou. From the CenterPoint Easement at Westpark Drive another segment will be completed to the west along the METRO and HCTRA easements adjacent to Westpark Drive to the Hillcroft Park and Ride.
Through grants from the Houston Endowment, the Houston Parks Board (HPB), in coordination with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD), has conducted studies to expand the success of Bayou Greenways 2020 (BG2020) to further connect Houstonians to parks, schools, jobs and each other. Beyond the Bayous identifies a new Regional Connector Network of Greenways to link the Bayou Greenways. This broader system of greenways can serve as the framework for active transportation projects under H-GAC’s 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. The West Side / Westpark Regional Connector Greenway is part of this broader effort to improve regional connectivity by providing a system of connected greenways. This new greenway links Richmond Avenue south to Brays Bayou Greenways, and across to Gulfton, one of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Complete Communities. It complements a sister application by Memorial Park Conservancy and Uptown extending the connection north from Richmond Avenue through Memorial Park and over I-10. Houston Parks Board is currently constructing a greenway along the same CenterPoint corridor from Sims Bayou Greenway to Airport Boulevard. The Complete Community initiative identified historically underserved, primarily low-income communities and worked with the community to build action plans for future investments and changes. Gulfton is Houston’s most densely populated neighborhood. It is isolated from resources in adjacent communities because Interstate 69 (I-69) and Interstate 610 (I-610) act as barriers to pedestrians. These infrastructural barriers make it difficult for pedestrians within Guflton to safely access transit and employment in both local employment hubs such as Bellaire and regional employment centers such as Uptown, Greenway, Texas Medical Center and Downtown. In addressing ped-bike regional connectivity, the project also aims to improve safety and accessibility. With the success of BG2020, more Houstonians than ever are walking and biking throughout the region. In Gulfton appropriate safe pedestrian infrastructure is not available and dangerous pedestrian and vehicle conflicts result. Providing separated, ADA compliant pathways addresses these safety and accessibility concerns. Additionally, Houstonians are still heavily reliant on cars for transportation. By improving the alternative transportation network, the project will also provide environmental and economic benefits.
This project will create a new north-south greenway along the CenterPoint right of way and Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) drainage easement from Richmond Avenue south to Brays Bayou. It will also create a new east-west trail in the METRO right of way along Westpark Drive to the Hillcroft Park and Ride. At Richmond Avenue, this project will connect to a trail proposed by the Uptown Management District (MD) and Memorial Park Conservancy in the same CenterPoint easement. That project will continue the Greenway north to connect to Buffalo Bayou, Memorial Park and across I-10 to White Oak Bayou Greenway. At a minimum, this proposal’s Greenway will have a 10’ wide shared-use concrete trail with wayfinding. Where the greenway cross roadways, signed and signalized crossings will be provided for safety. This project will add 6.2 miles of off-street greenway to the Regional Connector Network.
The proposed project will increase Houston’s regional connectivity. It will connect Gulfton, a dense, low-income, diverse population with a high percentage of households without cars, to transit opportunities including two major transit centers, seven frequent bus routes, and the Bayou Greenways. Together with the Uptown and Memorial Park Conservancy project, this project will create a north-south connection from Brays Bayou to Buffalo Bayou and improve connections to Memorial Park. The West Side / Westpark Regional Connector Greenway Segment will increase pedestrian safety and access through two major intersections. The first is the I-610 and I-69 interchange and the second is the I-69 and Westpark Tollway intersection. By providing access through these barriers, the proposed greenway links two regional recreation destinations (Memorial Park and Brays Bayou Greenway). The project will also improve 14 intersections with wayfinding, lighting and other design techniques to better direct and protect pedestrians from vehicular traffic. The project will contribute to economic development by increasing multi-modal access to jobs via public transit by connecting to the Hillcroft Park and Ride and the future Bellaire Uptown Transit Center.
No
I Don't Know
Less than $100 million
Active Transportation
17553503
Project Development/Readiness
Schematic
Environmental Assessment (EA)
09/01/2019
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Centerpoint Interlocal Agreement - COH and HPBLGC.pdf
Typically Ped-bike trail projects can be both designed and built within three to four years. As this project would not require property acquisition, the timeframe is closer to three years. Therefore, this project could be completed in the four-year TIP timeframe if funding is secured within a year of this application.
Map/Location
Benefit/Cost Analysis
WestSide-Westpark-AT-Safety-Benefits.zip
WestSide-Westpark- Active-Transportation-Emissions-Benefits.zip
Planning Factors - Barrier Elimination (Active Transportation)
Yes
Yes
Planning Factors - Emissions Reductions
The project provides air quality improvements of an estimated 3.54 NOX tons/year
The Project provides air quality improvements of an estimated .89 tons/year of VOC
Planning Factors - Environmental Justice
Yes
Yes
Planning Factors - Expands or Improves Bicycle & Pedestrian Connectivity to Employment/Schools/Medical Facilities/Transit Stops/Other Points of Interest
Yes
901 - 1000
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Planning Factors - Planning Coordination
Yes
The Houston Bike Plan, HPB Beyond the Bayous, HPB Gulfton Open Space and Connectivity Study, Complete Communities Gulfton Action Plan
http://houstonbikeplan.org/documents/; https://houstonparksboard.box.com/s/2pbf5fxnpro5uivlabxdzn6044ekrx0d; https://houstonparksboard.box.com/s/hwoeowzgt4h9lurkvxjzyg8afw178nj9; http://www.houstontx.gov/completecommunities/gulfton/;