No More Delay

The Montrose Boulevard Improvement Project is funded and at 100% design. It is time to start construction. What can you do?

1. Sign Up to Speak at City Hall on drainage.

Tell the Mayor and City Council you want the Montrose Boulevard Improvement Project to go forward.

To sign up to speak:

• Call City Council Speakers Number at (832) 393-1100, no later than Monday by 2:00pm to speak on Tuesday at 2:00 pm.

• Provide Your Details: Be prepared to give your name, address, and the topic you wish to speak on.

• For the topic, say “Montrose Boulevard Improvement Project”.

• You do not have to give your address.

• Your district council member’s office may call you. 

• Mark Your Calendar: Public sessions take place every Tuesday. Make sure to call ahead to secure your spot.

City Hall is located at 901 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002 between McKinney and Walker.

You’ll go through security, register and then proceed to the second floor to city council chambers.

Your time will go by quickly. Really important that you write down what you want to say and see how long it takes. See facts.

Tell your story: who are you and how Montrose Blvd today affects you.

2. Send an email to the Mayor, at-large City Councilors, and District C Councilor:

mayor@houstontx.gov, atlarge1@houstontx.gov, atlarge2@houstontx.gov, atlarge3@houstontx.gov, atlarge4@houstontx.gov, atlarge5@houstontx.gov, engage@houstontx.gov, districtc@houstontx.gov 

3. Send an email to potential funding source, HGAC, that you support Segment 2 of the MBIP for so many reasons below and more!

• Include project #1235

• e-mail to: Publiccomments@h-gac.com

4. Sign our petition supporting the 100% designed, and funded plan :)

Facts

Montrose has yet to experience a 100-year flood event! Harvey was not as severe for Montrose as it was for other parts of Houston. We are rolling the dice - the risk gets worse, not better, each year.

• Flood Risk

  NOAA's data shows Houston should expect 15-18 inches of rain during a 100-year event, not the 12-14 inches previously estimated. This is a game-changer for flood planning, infrastructure and insurance in Houston.

• Inadequate Infrastructure

  Houston's flood defenses are based on outdated data. Severe storms are becoming more common. Montrose’s existing drainage infrastructure is based on a 48” stormwater pipe and a single 24’ pipe. This is insufficient for current 100-year flood event projections by NOAA.

  Montrose has the oldest drainage infrastructure inside Loop 610. Everything drains to Buffalo Bayou. The boulevard is the main conduit because it runs north - south and connects to so many streets which run east - west.

  Montrose is rapidly densifying, especially along the boulevard. The failure to build it now means it becomes prohibitively expensive to do once the high rises are in place.

• Drainage Plan

  The plan is designed for 100 year flood protection. Despite having a detailed plan, the space and the funding (which is from a bond and not the city’s budget), the Mayor does not believe it’s necessary.

  The Montrose Blvd. Improvement Plan started with the drainage analysis 4 years ago. The current system will be replaced with 10’ x 10’ storm sewer boxes. The corridor will then meet the City’s new criteria to meet NOAA’s ATLAS 14 rainfall projections for the U.S. These estimates serve as the de-facto standards for designing, building and operating infrastructure to withstand heavy rain and floods.

  A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

• Montrose Boulevard is an 80 year old corridor which needs to be fixed. 

• It’s a dangerous street (see below). It has a lot of crashes. The average speed is 45 mph but the speed limit is 35 mph.

• I can’t walk, stroller, walker, or roll along Montrose Blvd. I can’t walk my kids to school. This project will fix that.

• The plan includes a shared use path. Shared use paths allow for two moms with strollers walk side-by-side comfortably; shared use paths also allow for individuals with disabilities roll side by side.

• The plan includes safe mid-block crossings between traffic lights which allows for kids to safely cross through a pedestrian signalized crossing.

• Slowing down drivers does not increase traffic and it reduces crashes. 

• The TIRZ has held many meetings with the public over the last 4 years. We’ve had lots of input and the TIRZ has incorporated many improvements as a result. 

• The Montrose Redevelopment Authority (Montrose TIRZ) plan is detailed and thorough. 

• What about the trees?

• No mature trees in the medians are to be removed. There are many trees which are not healthy, and will never thrive.

• Multiple arborists have said current trees on the decline are restricted in their planting space, 18” for most, due to proximity to concrete roads and sidewalks, poor soil conditions and volumes, and overhead power lines that cause from them to be trimmed, aka “topped”, twice a year.

• More than 3 times as many trees will be planted in 6’ spaces, improved soil conditions, with no overhead power lines.

• The TIRZ has a plan for every tree. There is a maintenance plan to care and water them for 4 years to help them thrive.

• All mature trees in the median will be protected.

• Only trees in direct conflict with the proposed construction will be removed and replaced.

• See the tree planting plan here.