All 26 Cy-Fair ISD schools located in Harris County Precinct 4 are now accessible through sidewalks developed through Commissioner Lesley Briones’ Sidewalks 4 Precinct 4 initiative.
The gist
Precinct 4 held a celebration at McFee Elementary on Aug. 13 to celebrate the completion of 25 miles of new sidewalks ready for the 2026-27 school year in CFISD. Per a news release, the new additions are aimed to create safe pathways to schools, parks and neighborhood hubs.
The Sidewalks 4 Precinct 4 initiative was developed out of a data-driven sidewalk gap analysis and has completed 80 miles since its March 2024 launch aimed at prioritizing closing gaps within one mile of:
- Schools
- Parks
- Bus stops
- Healthcare providers
The initiative has also seen 119 crosswalks and 35 intersection upgrades alongside the sidewalk additions.
The need
Briones said she is particularly excited about the five miles of sidewalk added near Greenhouse Road, touching five schools, as they were “desperately” needed. According to a Precinct 4 news release, since 2021 the Cypress area has seen 79 pedestrian crashes with 10 of them deadly.
Briones said she received calls from parents concerned about their children walking to school near busy streets, through ditches and mud.
“As a mom, and as a former teacher, public safety is my top priority,” Briones said. “These 25 miles of sidewalks here in Cy-Fair ISD is part of the safety of our children, of our families.”
Jon Rosenthal, State Representative for House District 135, said following CFISD’s bus route cuts during the 2024-25 school year, parents contacted his office notifying him of hazardous walking conditions their children faced without bus routes.
“You may think sidewalks are a bland issue, but it is a public safety issue, and especially in this case, for our children,” Rosenthal said.
Before you go
Briones said there are plans with Harris County Municipal District Services 102 to connect Truitt Middle School and Horne Elementary through 4.5 miles of new sidewalk. She said Precinct 4 plans to add additional sidewalks around CFISD schools including:
- Jowell Elementary
- Peggy Wilson Elementary
- Leider Elementary
- Watkins Middle School
CFISD Police Department Chief Eric Mendez said the scope of student safety is wider than just inside the classroom.
“We have students who walk everyday to and from school, it is imperative that we have safe routes for them,” Mendez said.
