The Houston City Council is facing a costly decision regarding bike lanes in the Third Ward

Houston, Texas (KTRK) – Houston City Council members will make an important decision on a construction project in the Third Ward on Wednesday. It’s designed to improve sanitation and safety in the area, but the people who live there said they never signed for this.

The project involving the county, city and Texas Southern University has already begun in Blodgett. It takes a four-lane road down to two lanes, with bike lanes added on either side. The county pays most of the construction bill. District 1 has agreed to consider pausing construction to redesign the project, but that would cost $8 to $9 million for the city.

Mayor Sylvester Turner said, “We’ll deal with it (Wednesday). After (Wednesday), either way, I’m done with this. With all of this.”

There was a stir in his emotions Tuesday in response to the difficult decision about what to do with the Blodgett construction project between Ennis and Scott. People who live in the area said they want sanitation improvements and wider sidewalks, but they don’t want to associate it with reducing lanes of traffic to accommodate cyclists.

“We’re being very vocal about the bike lanes along Blodgett being clearly undesirable. Not that the community is anti-bike lanes, but there are ways that are more viable.” said Sharon Evans Brooks, a member of two civic clubs in the area.

She said she is also engaging with the university, city and county to move the project forward without asking the community what it wants.

Commissioner Rodney Ellis defends the construction and said the goal is to create an entire street that everyone can use safely. His office referred Eyewitness News to a public letter he published acknowledging a lack of communication and the work that had already begun.

Part of his letter read: “Harris County commenced construction with the understanding that, based on city standards, this project meets the needs of the community.” “The county is open to exploring options that address concerns that have been raised recently.”

Councilwoman Carolyn Evans Shabazz represents that part of the Third Ward and said she’s ready to vote against the interstate agreement governing the project on Wednesday.

“Since the Commissioner came forward, and was not authorized to do so, I think this is the opportunity to ask that Land Department to amend. Remove the bike lanes he has already begun building at Precinct One’s expense and halt the project,” she said. .

Evans-Shabazz said she was encouraged that other council members might consider whether the county should be allowed to move forward with projects like this without the city’s approval first.

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