METRO’s repaving project on Washington Avenue moves forward despite a $700,000 Houston-Galveston Area Council mobility study, raising concerns about prioritizing cars over long-term safety and transportation improvements.
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A multimillion-dollar repaving project for Houston’s Washington Avenue is progressing, even amid worries that it may strengthen car-centric infrastructure prior to the completion of a $700,000 Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) mobility study.
The HGAC study, initiated in late 2023, seeks to transform Washington Avenue by enhancing pedestrian access, transit alternatives, and overall safety. Nonetheless, METRO’s Board of Directors expedited a $24.4 million contract with MC2 Civil for repaving, which has drawn criticism from officials and advocacy groups.
Dominic Mazoch, a resident of Houston, raised concerns about METRO's sense of urgency during a special board meeting on March 6, inquiring, “Why repave Washington Avenue if future improvements are planned?” Several board members, such as Bob Fry and Robert Trevino, voiced their concerns about the insufficient transparency concerning the streets designated for repaving.
Peter Eccles, director of policy at LINK Houston, cautioned that repaving without rethinking the street's design could “freeze an already dangerous corridor in amber.” Washington Avenue is included in Houston’s high-injury network, indicating a history of elevated crash rates.
While METRO maintains that the repaving is an essential short-term solution, detractors contend that hastening the project may jeopardize future transportation improvements. The administration of Houston Mayor John Whitmire has justified the decision, asserting that the repaving will prolong the road's durability while still permitting future redesigns.
Feedback from the public on the HGAC study can be submitted until March 23, with recommendations anticipated by May or June 2024.
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