On October 20, 2015, the City of Houston’s Public Works & Engineering Department (PWE) arranged a community meeting about reconstructing Antoine Drive – a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) slated to begin in 2020 – at the offices of the Near Northwest Management District. Unfortunately, PWE did not provide enough advance information to surrounding neighborhoods about this meeting, so many communities impacted by the Antoine corridor were not aware of this presentation.
While only the north end of the corridor (from Victory Drive to Bridge Forest Drive) is funded for reconstruction at this time, PWE discussed plans to widen the southern portion of Antoine from four to six lanes from HWY 290 to Tidwell. This plan, which was previously off the agenda according to the City of Houston's Mobility Study and study representatives due to strong neighborhood sentiment, is now being considered again.
Public comments on both projects are currently being taken and are due Monday, November 30, 2015.
Though the southern portion of the project is only in the planning stage and unfunded at this time, speaking out now against any widening of this street is important. If you disagree with the expansion of Antoine, please consider submitting comments against this proposal.
Comments can be sent to Carol Haddock, Public Works and Engineering at the City of Houston at pweplanning@houstontx.gov. Below is a sample letter along with some points to consider when writing comments:
Dear Ms. Haddock,
My name is ____________ and I live in _______________(neighborhood). I am against the widening of Antoine drive from Highway 290 to Tidwell from four to six lanes for motorists because the expansion will be detrimental to surrounding neighborhoods. Widening the road will not alleviate traffic or ease congestion. It will only create more problems for this residential corridor. We want a safe, pedestrian-friendly street where residents and all modes of transportation, not just cars, are considered.
Sincerely,
(Name and Address)
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Other talking points to consider including in your letter:
- Antoine Drive is a residential corridor with a school and homes lining each side of the street. Widening the street from four to six lanes for motorists will create an unsafe environment for homeowners whose driveways empty out onto the corridor, neighbors who walk along the street, and students who cross the street to get to and from Scarborough High School.
- There are already problems with motorists traveling at high speeds on Antoine. Adding additional lanes of traffic will only turn this residential corridor into a highway of motorists. This will create an unsafe street and an unsafe environment for those who live in the area.
- For decades, there have been numerous attempts to widen Antoine to alleviate traffic congestion; all have been met with strong resistance from people who live in this area. It is disappointing that this plan is again being considered when there has already been so much opposition expressed in the past.
- Under the current plans for the north end of Antoine, reconstruction was kept to four lanes. We ask that the same be considered for the southern end as well and that there be consistency between the two projects.
- Numerous urban transportation studies show that widening streets do not relieve congestion and can actually increase congestion over time.
- Many traffic engineers state that "trying to cure traffic congestion by adding more capacity is like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt."[ii]
- In an Aug. 16, 2013 New York Times article, “Widen Main St.? Community Had Other Ideas, and Thrived,” transportation project manager Ken Kuminski states, “bigger is not better” when plans to widen a town’s street was met with opposition. By working with residents, a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly street was developed. The design helped cut down on car accidents and injuries and actually helped improved the overall community[i].
- In 2013, City of Houston Mayor Annise Parker issued an Executive Order making Complete Streets the basis for a new, more urban and inclusive approach to the City’s streets as they are rebuilt over the next 20 years. Complete Streets are defined as streets that are safe for all users, including walkers, bicyclists, drivers, people who are disabled, and transit commuters.
- In a press release outlining this decision, Mayor Parker is quoted as saying, "The Complete Streets and Transportation Plan recognizes that all streets are different. The function of the road, current and projected adjacent land use and travel demands, availability of right-of-way, community input and the level of vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic must all be considered in decisions regarding enhancements. The ultimate goal, where appropriate, is walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods with amenities such as trees and landscaping, public art and street furniture.[iii]
[i] Gaffney, Dennis. "Widen Main St.? Community Had Other Ideas, and Thrived." New York Times, August, 2013.
[ii]Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck. Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream, North Point Press, 2000, 88-94.
[iii] The City of Houston, Office of the Mayor. (2013). Mayor Annise Parker Announces Visionary Complete Streets Policy for Houston [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/press/20131010.html