Montrose Boulevard Improvements

[Some one]

On 11/3/2024 at 4:26 PM, Some one said:

The mayor has not shown that he represents all of Houstonians, moreso just the constituents who he agrees with. He's been actively hostile to anyone who disagrees with him, even going as far as to call them "special interests" or "anti-car activists."

Regardless of how you spin it, it was sold to the voters as a bond to improve transit in the Houston Area. Gutting most of it without consulting the voters first is how you lose trust in the voters. It makes no sense to say that the UBRT wasn't financially feasible when they had almost a million dollars in federal funding, which would've helped paid almost half of the UBRT, but they squandered it when they killed the plan. The UBRT, like many other projects stalled, will likely make it a lot harder for Houston to receive federal funding for these types of projects in the future. So like the other poster said, what's the point of voting when city officials can just kill it because they don't like it.

Billion, not million

[editor]

On 11/3/2024 at 4:26 PM, Some one said:

Gutting most of it without consulting the voters first is how you lose trust in the voters.

You would think that the failure of both HISD bond measures would be a wake-up call for Whitmire in this regard.  

[kennyc05]

46 minutes ago, editor said:

You would think that the failure of both HISD bond measures would be a wake-up call for Whitmire in this regard.  

Do you think there's a chance that he possibly could get voted out next election?

[hbg.50]

1 hour ago, kennyc05 said:

Do you think there's a chance that he possibly could get voted out next election?

No.  The only people that hate him are the pro- bike lane people and Chris Hollins.  Otherwise he has a strong coalition from what I can tell.

[j_cuevas713]

17 hours ago, hbg.50 said:

No.  The only people that hate him are the pro- bike lane people and Chris Hollins.  Otherwise he has a strong coalition from what I can tell.

I think if Hollins runs against Whitmire, Hollins wins tbh

Most of his approval comes from conservatives, but that doesn't represent the majorty if Houston. Even with the red wave of this presidential election, Democrats still won precincts that were historically red or on the fence for many years. Many Democrats do not like John Whitmire, or at least the one's I've spoken with. Many regret their vote. You also have to think about the large Palestinian and Muslim populations in this city that also do not like him. 

Edited November 11, 2024 by j_cuevas713

[Houston19514]

2 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

I think if Hollins runs against Whitmire, Hollins wins tbh

Most of his approval comes from conservatives, but that doesn't represent the majorty if Houston. Even with the red wave of this presidential election, Democrats still won precincts that were historically red or on the fence for many years. Many Democrats do not like John Whitmire, or at least the one's I've spoken with. Many regret their vote. You also have to think about the large Palestinian and Muslim populations in this city that also do not like him. 

Which historically red or on the fence precincts did Democrats win in this presidential election?

[j_cuevas713]

Take a look for yourself. Areas in Clear Lake, Baytown, and precincts closer to Cypress, Harris won easily 60/40 or 70/30. Parts of the Heights that are usually pretty even swung further left. Precinct 251 in far NW Harris Co had Harris winning 75/25. All of those rural areas never swing left. I could be wrong but I don't remember ever seeing that kind of support in 2020. 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/neighborhood-voted-presidential-election-19893788.php 

Edited November 11, 2024 by j_cuevas713

[editor]

On 11/10/2024 at 5:04 PM, kennyc05 said:

Do you think there's a chance that he possibly could get voted out next election?

The guy will be 79 at the next election. Even I think that's too old. 

[hbg.50]

5 hours ago, editor said:

The guy will be 79 at the next election. Even I think that's too old. 

But the man is a workhorse.  He’s out there helping neighbors pick up debris from Hurricane Beryl…he loves his job and he’s already stated he wants 8 years.  Age should not be an issue as long as he remains healthy.

[hbg.50]

11 hours ago, j_cuevas713 said:

I think if Hollins runs against Whitmire, Hollins wins tbh

Most of his approval comes from conservatives

I don’t think this is true.  Adrian Garcia and Leslie Briones are not conservatives and they frequently partner with Mayor Whitmire.

Hollins to me is not very likable (unlike Christian Menafee who I think is very likable). Has he come out as an advocate for rail transit or bike lanes?  Hollins might get some of the Black vote but the City of Houston is majority Hispanic now.  Whitmire appointed a Female Hispanic to lead Metro, a Hispanic police chief, a Hispanic Fire Department Chief, a Hispanic chair for the Harris County Sports Authority, a Vietnamese-American woman to lead the Houston Public Library system, and a Vietnamese-American to lead Metro police.  He also has support from some in the African-American community.  It’s why I think he’s built a strong coalition of support in spite of stepping on the toes of the pro-bike lane lobby.

[j_cuevas713]

9 hours ago, hbg.50 said:

I don’t think this is true.  Adrian Garcia and Leslie Briones are not conservatives and they frequently partner with Mayor Whitmire.

Hollins to me is not very likable (unlike Christian Menafee who I think is very likable). Has he come out as an advocate for rail transit or bike lanes?  Hollins might get some of the Black vote but the City of Houston is majority Hispanic now.  Whitmire appointed a Female Hispanic to lead Metro, a Hispanic police chief, a Hispanic Fire Department Chief, a Hispanic chair for the Harris County Sports Authority, a Vietnamese-American woman to lead the Houston Public Library system, and a Vietnamese-American to lead Metro police.  He also has support from some in the African-American community.  It’s why I think he’s built a strong coalition of support in spite of stepping on the toes of the pro-bike lane lobby.

I'm not sure what bike lanes have to do with people wanting good infrastructure in general. You don't have to be a bike advocate to want wider sidewalks or street calming. I'm not sure what makes Hollins unlikeable either. He's smart and has a strong head on his shoulders. And no he hasn't been this forthcoming advocate for bikes or transit, but he is a progressive Democrat and many progressives support those causes. Whitmire is just too old school to understand Houston is no longer a city people pass through or make a pit stop to work. People LIVE here and want to live here. 

Edited November 12, 2024 by j_cuevas713

[editor]

11 hours ago, hbg.50 said:

But the man is a workhorse.  He’s out there helping neighbors pick up debris from Hurricane Beryl…he loves his job and he’s already stated he wants 8 years.  Age should not be an issue as long as he remains healthy.

I just think he should enjoy the life he's been given before he dies.  Take up woodworking.  Go on an around-the-world cruise.  Sit on a park bench and read.  Retire and enjoy life before you die.  There are a few people where I work who are in their 70's, and I just feel bad for any human being who can't separate themselves from their job.  

[Houston19514]

On 11/11/2024 at 3:42 PM, j_cuevas713 said:

Take a look for yourself. Areas in Clear Lake, Baytown, and precincts closer to Cypress, Harris won easily 60/40 or 70/30. Parts of the Heights that are usually pretty even swung further left. Precinct 251 in far NW Harris Co had Harris winning 75/25. All of those rural areas never swing left. I could be wrong but I don't remember ever seeing that kind of support in 2020. 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/neighborhood-voted-presidential-election-19893788.php 

However many there MAY have been that "swung left" there are several multiples that swung right in this election.  

BTW, Precinct 251  in 2020 went 82.5% for Biden vs 14.8% for Trump.

In 2024:  75.5% for Harris vs. 23.26% for Trump

I suspect you'd find similar results if you did the comparisons for your Clear Lake, Baytown and Cypress precincts.

[j_cuevas713]

18 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

However many there MAY have been that "swung left" there are several multiples that swung right in this election.  

BTW, Precinct 251  in 2020 went 82.5% for Biden vs 14.8% for Trump.

In 2024:  75.5% for Harris vs. 23.26% for Trump

I suspect you'd find similar results if you did the comparisons for your Clear Lake, Baytown and Cypress precincts.

I think you’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. Even with the heavy red wave, many areas didn’t really budge overall. Parts of the county that 20 years ago would have swung right back far bright red stayed heavily blue. Precinct 251 is a great example of that. Even areas that leaned in Trumps favor, were pretty split overall. This election was basically a litmus test for how far left Houston and Harris Co has swung over the past 20 years. And for a county with some very red edges, it’s simply not as red as it was before even with this election. 

Edited November 13, 2024 by j_cuevas713

[hbg.50]

2 minutes ago, j_cuevas713 said:

I think you’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. Even with the heavy red wave, many areas didn’t really budge overall. Parts of the county that 20 years ago would have swung right back far bright red stayed heavily blue. Precinct 251 is a great example of that. Even areas that leaned in Trumps favor, were pretty split overall. This election was basically a litmus test for how far left Houston and Harris Co has swung over the past 20 years. 

Why does any of that matter?  Whitmire is a Democrat that endorsed Kamala Harris.  Just because he doesn’t want to worsen car traffic with road diets doesn’t make him a Republican.  He’s also cleaning up corruption at city hall which appeals to all voters.

[Houston19514]

6 minutes ago, j_cuevas713 said:

I think you’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. Even with the heavy red wave, many areas didn’t really budge overall. Parts of the county that 20 years ago would have swung right back far bright red stayed heavily blue. Precinct 251 is a great example of that. Even areas that leaned in Trumps favor, were pretty split overall. This election was basically a litmus test for how far left Houston and Harris Co has swung over the past 20 years. 

20 years ago, In 2004, Precinct 251 voted as follows:

Bush:  4.68%

Kerry:  93.2%

[j_cuevas713]

10 minutes ago, hbg.50 said:

Why does any of that matter?  Whitmire is a Democrat that endorsed Kamala Harris.  Just because he doesn’t want to worsen car traffic with road diets doesn’t make him a Republican.  He’s also cleaning up corruption at city hall which appeals to all voters.

Worsen traffic with road diets? Have you not done any research on road diets and their affect on car traffic? I never said Whitmire was a Republican, but he is an old school JFK Democrat. And his style is exactly that. He hasn’t caught up with the times. Many modern Democrats are much more progressive and so are many Houstonians. They’ve shown it time and time again vote after vote from transit expansion to bike access. Look at the data taken from neighborhoods like Midtown, Montrose, the Heights revolving around bike access and the need for traffic calming. All the civic clubs and super neighborhoods support it. 

Edited November 13, 2024 by j_cuevas713

[j_cuevas713]

2 minutes ago, Houston19514 said:

20 years ago, In 2004, Precinct 251 voted as follows:

Bush:  4.68%

Kerry:  93.2%

Ok? Harris Co was still not very blue. Maybe you’re taking what I’m saying a little too literal when I say 20 years. My point is that Harris Co has always had small bright pockets of blue with bright red edges. But the county as a whole has never been considered a blue county until more recently. 

[hbg.50]

2 minutes ago, j_cuevas713 said:

Worsen traffic with road diets? Have you not done any research on road diets and their affect on car traffic? I never said Whitmire was a Republican, but he is an old school JFK Democrat. And his style is exactly that. He hasn’t caught up with the times. Many modern Democrats are much more progressive and so are many Houstonians. They’ve shown in time and time again vote after vote from transit expansion to bike access. Look at the data taken from neighborhoods like Midtown, Montrose, the Heights revolving around bike access and the need for traffic calming. All the civic clubs and super neighborhoods support it. 

We shall see…. Whitmire’s opposition to Shepherd/Durham and 11th Street was fueled by reducing car lanes, same thing for Montrose - nevermind all of your research.

We have 3 years to wait…

[Houston19514]

32 minutes ago, j_cuevas713 said:

Ok? Harris Co was still not very blue. Maybe you’re taking what I’m saying a little too literal when I say 20 years. My point is that Harris Co has always had small bright pockets of blue with bright red edges. But the county as a whole has never been considered a blue county until more recently. 

Probably a fair statement, but pretending there was any sort of precinct trend in the blue direction this year kind of stepped on your point. (Sorry to have taken your "factual" statements literally.)

And, like it or not, it must be acknowledged the county swung significantly in the red direction this year.

Edited November 13, 2024 by Houston19514

[TXK]

1 hour ago, hbg.50 said:

Why does any of that matter?  Whitmire is a Democrat that endorsed Kamala Harris.  Just because he doesn’t want to worsen car traffic with road diets doesn’t make him a Republican.  He’s also cleaning up corruption at city hall which appeals to all voters.

Changing infrastructure projects to deprioritize public safety in favor of appeasing people worried about their personal inconveniences, without data (that I've seen) to back up his position, sure seems like a much more conservative than progressive position on any given topic.

Also, pushing through his pet project changes that go against past votes, studies, and design work does not exactly scream integrity. Nor does spending the city's money to tear out already built projects. Him claiming support from other people doesn't really pass the smell test in comparison.

[j_cuevas713]

2 hours ago, Houston19514 said:

Probably a fair statement, but pretending there was any sort of precinct trend in the blue direction this year kind of stepped on your point. (Sorry to have taken your "factual" statements literally.)

And, like it or not, it must be acknowledged the county swung significantly in the red direction this year.

The entire country swung more right this election. Nobody is questioning that. My point is that Houston stayed heavily blue. Did the county flip in some areas, of course it did, but it wasn’t as dramatic as other parts of the country. Areas that would have flipped easily bright red just a couple of decades ago, didn’t. To your point about Precinct 251, in that election with Kerry/Bush, Bush won easily in the county. This year Harris still won the county even with a massive amount of red voters. 

[trymahjong]

Geez

but “Road diet” is a miserable term.🫤

Edited November 13, 2024 by trymahjong

[samagon]

20 hours ago, trymahjong said:

Geez

but “Road diet” is a miserable term.🫤

it is misleading.

diet is commonly associated with wanting to reduce weight, so the connotation created when saying "road diet" fills the head with taking steps towards reducing the number of cars on the street.

the actual thing that happens is that someone has done a study of the traffic patterns on the road and decided that the amount of ROW dedicated to car use is way too high. we're wasting taxes maintaining that, when you accommodate that much space just to cars you make it less safe for everyone else, certainly 

calling it a road diet is just silly.

[texan]

56 minutes ago, samagon said:

it is misleading.

diet is commonly associated with wanting to reduce weight, so the connotation created when saying "road diet" fills the head with taking steps towards reducing the number of cars on the street.

the actual thing that happens is that someone has done a study of the traffic patterns on the road and decided that the amount of ROW dedicated to car use is way too high. we're wasting taxes maintaining that, when you accommodate that much space just to cars you make it less safe for everyone else, certainly 

calling it a road diet is just silly.

Sorry for further derailing but I wanted to chime in.

"Road diet" was a cute term that has become viewed as an attack on cars. I think it needs a marketing makeover. Something like "safety/multimodal upgrade" or "roadway rightsize" to avoid the assumption that it's reducing throughput could be helpful.

Similarly, bus lanes have become a rallying cry as an attack on cars. Rebranding them "bus and emergency response lanes" to convey their full public benefit would, I hope, help their palatability.

[editor]

On 11/13/2024 at 5:47 PM, trymahjong said:

Geez

but “Road diet” is a miserable term.🫤

I think it depends on the road.

There's no denying the Katy Freeway is obese.  

Montrose Boulevard?  I think we used to call that "pleasantly plump."

 

 

[hbg.50]

Houston is not the only Texas city grappling with the benefits of road diets…

‘Not acceptable’: Dallas hospitals question ‘road diet’ near medical district 

A proposal by city staff would reduce the number of lanes on Maple Avenue, slowing traffic flow

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2024/11/18/not-acceptable-dallas-hospitals-question-road-diet-near-medical-district/
 

Three Dallas hospitals have joined the list of locals who have raised questions about a proposal by city officials to reduce traffic flow near the Southwestern Medical District.

The ‘road diet’ proposed by staff would reduce the number of lanes on the 2.4 mile stretch of Maple Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Oak Lawn Avenue from four to three with a turn lane and add bike lanes to the busy street. But a spokesperson for the district, home to the Children’s Medical Center, Parkland Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center, say the plan would have a “significant impact” on the area.

“Maple Avenue is already an important thoroughfare that directly impacts the medical facilities. It will become of even greater importance as a transportation link when the new pediatric hospital opens and upon implementation of the SWMD’s master plan which relies on Maple Avenue to alleviate the strain of traffic on Harry Hines Boulevard,” Southwestern Medical District Chairman David Biegler wrote in a Nov. 7 letter to city officials. “...For the SWMD institutions the three-lane road with bike lanes option is NOT ACCEPTABLE.”

[mollusk]

Two lanes per side without a dedicated center turn lane is actually more congested when someone's trying to turn left across traffic, because the people behind them typically will try to get into the right lane - frequently from a dead stop and without signaling.

[004n063]

On 11/19/2024 at 12:19 PM, hbg.50 said:

Houston is not the only Texas city grappling with the benefits of road diets…

 

‘Not acceptable’: Dallas hospitals question ‘road diet’ near medical district 

A proposal by city staff would reduce the number of lanes on Maple Avenue, slowing traffic flow

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2024/11/18/not-acceptable-dallas-hospitals-question-road-diet-near-medical-district/
 

 

Three Dallas hospitals have joined the list of locals who have raised questions about a proposal by city officials to reduce traffic flow near the Southwestern Medical District.

The ‘road diet’ proposed by staff would reduce the number of lanes on the 2.4 mile stretch of Maple Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Oak Lawn Avenue from four to three with a turn lane and add bike lanes to the busy street. But a spokesperson for the district, home to the Children’s Medical Center, Parkland Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center, say the plan would have a “significant impact” on the area.

“Maple Avenue is already an important thoroughfare that directly impacts the medical facilities. It will become of even greater importance as a transportation link when the new pediatric hospital opens and upon implementation of the SWMD’s master plan which relies on Maple Avenue to alleviate the strain of traffic on Harry Hines Boulevard,” Southwestern Medical District Chairman David Biegler wrote in a Nov. 7 letter to city officials. “...For the SWMD institutions the three-lane road with bike lanes option is NOT ACCEPTABLE.”

Make the bike lane wide enough to double as an ambulance lane. Hear a siren, hop on the sidewalk. Done deal.

[Some one]

On 11/19/2024 at 12:19 PM, hbg.50 said:

Houston is not the only Texas city grappling with the benefits of road diets…

 

‘Not acceptable’: Dallas hospitals question ‘road diet’ near medical district 

A proposal by city staff would reduce the number of lanes on Maple Avenue, slowing traffic flow

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2024/11/18/not-acceptable-dallas-hospitals-question-road-diet-near-medical-district/
 

 

Three Dallas hospitals have joined the list of locals who have raised questions about a proposal by city officials to reduce traffic flow near the Southwestern Medical District.

The ‘road diet’ proposed by staff would reduce the number of lanes on the 2.4 mile stretch of Maple Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Oak Lawn Avenue from four to three with a turn lane and add bike lanes to the busy street. But a spokesperson for the district, home to the Children’s Medical Center, Parkland Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical Center, say the plan would have a “significant impact” on the area.

“Maple Avenue is already an important thoroughfare that directly impacts the medical facilities. It will become of even greater importance as a transportation link when the new pediatric hospital opens and upon implementation of the SWMD’s master plan which relies on Maple Avenue to alleviate the strain of traffic on Harry Hines Boulevard,” Southwestern Medical District Chairman David Biegler wrote in a Nov. 7 letter to city officials. “...For the SWMD institutions the three-lane road with bike lanes option is NOT ACCEPTABLE.”

ig this video could apply to ambulances too...

3 hours ago, 004n063 said:

Make the bike lane wide enough to double as an ambulance lane. Hear a siren, hop on the sidewalk. Done deal.

To add onto this, it's much easier to get bikers (and pedestrians) out of the way than cars in this situation.