Offcite reads the documents and provides some bullet points.
1. I-45 Would Rival I-10 in Width
The plan would dramatically widen I-45 to more than 30 lanes in certain sections. North of 610, I-45 would rival the Katy Freeway in its expanse. Though the west side of I-45 at Crosstimbers is largely vacant, TxDOT plans to take major right of way east of I-45 where many businesses thrive, including the Culinary Institute. The greater capacity to move automobiles might be accompanied by increased cancer risk and asthma for Houstonians generally, and for those living close to the path in particular.
2. I-69 Would Be Sunken through Midtown and Museum District
All of I-69 from Shepherd to Commerce Street would be sunk as deep as 20 feet below grade. That is to say, all the above-ground sections in Midtown and the Museum District (Greater Third Ward) would be sunken and widened, radically transforming the landscape in these neighborhoods. As Tory Gattis notes, the plans would eliminate the bottleneck at Spur 527.
3. TxDOT Would Demolish Apartments, Public Housing, and Homeless Services in EaDo
Lofts at the Ballpark, Clayton Homes (public housing), and the SEARCH building (a 27,000-square-foot facility for services to the homeless that is just now breaking ground) are in the path of the widened I-45/I-69 freeway east of Downtown, and will be torn down at the expense of taxpayers.
[…]
6. New Slimmed-Down Bridges for Cars to Cross Buffalo Bayou
The section of the “Pierce Elevated” over Buffalo Bayou would be rebuilt with new Downtown connectors that TxDOT alternately describes as “parkways” and “spurs.” Though the official rendering is dull, the public-private partnerships that have rebuilt the parks along the bayous might help bring about new iconic bridges for cars. A Sky Park in this location is unlikely because moving traffic across the bayou is considered a major priority for many stakeholders.
That’s a lot of real estate that could be sacrificed for this project, if it comes to pass – as the story notes, funding has not yet been secured for it. The bridges will be a contentious issue, at least in my neighborhood. Already there’s a disagreement between those who applaud and advocate for the closing of the North Street bridge, and those who want to maintain it so as not to cut off a large segment of the neighborhood from the east side of I-45. There are also some potentially good things that could happen, as item #2 points out. I’ll say again, if this goes through it will be the most consequential event of the next Mayor’s tenure. Sure would be nice to know what that Mayor thinks about it, wouldn’t it?
Years ago, I was friends with somebody who was really into city planning. He used to drone on about how studies show that an increase in lanes doesn’t actually decrease traffic congestion. I assume he was quoting real studies, and that colors my opinion of these plans.
This is pretty big, and it has a lot of downsides. My guess is that it doesn’t all get done, but if even some of it does, it’s still pretty huge.
Hmm.
My question to the mayoral candidates would be “where are the feasibility studies showing us what kind of a multi-modal system including commuter rail could we get for that $6 billion?”