League City removes Walker Street extension from 2019 bond program

A proposed project to extend Walker Street has been removed from the city of League City’s future projects—a result of resident opposition to the project.

At the Jan. 11 meeting, League City City Council unanimously voted to nix the $1.5 million project from the city’s $75 million mobility bond program, which was approved by voters in 2019. The proposed project included constructing a two-lane extension of Walker and adding sidewalks between Texas Avenue east to FM 270 with the goal of easing congestion on FM 518.

Dozens of League City residents voiced their opposition to the project at a Nov. 17 public meeting, citing neighborhood noise levels, increased traffic and the safety of existing homes as reasons to not extend the street.

During the Jan. 11 meeting, Mayor Pat Hallisey read a letter from a resident who lives along Walker who requested council not approve the project and take away the "vibrant, active" neighborhoods along the roadway.

"Council has always been neighborhood-friendly and has always, for all the years I've been in town, have tried to listen when a neighborhood came and said something was not in their best interest," Hallisey said. "They sent a pretty clear message of what was appropriate through a neighborhood that has kids, schools and other activities."

Resident René Ibara addressed City Council during public comment and thanked them for removing Walker Street from future projects.

"Thank you for hearing the community and the residents. I also want to thank the council members who were present at the town hall meeting and heard the public," he said. "I can honestly say I'm pretty sure I speak for the rest of the community that wanted this thing to come back off."

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a quote from a resident who spoke at the meeting in favor of removing the Walker Street extension from future plans.