Two-minute impact
The Transportation Advocacy Group, or TAG-Houston, brings together state and local government, transit authorities and engineers on an annual basis to discuss transportation project challenges and opportunities across the Houston region. This year's event spotlighted Whitmire, who said partnerships with surrounding counties and the Houston-Galveston Area Council were crucial to advancing transportation projects in the Houston region.
"One of the first missions I was on when I was sworn in is to repair the relationship with our region," Whitmire said. "We're not going to get out of this challenge without collaboration. ... We all know we have a great city, great people, but like all major cities, we have challenges."
Whitmire said the city has already begun partnering with Lesley Briones, Harris County Precinct 4 commissioner, and Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey to address joint mobility needs in their precincts.
Whitmire said Ramsey agreed to split the cost of repairs to city roads within his precinct to help offset the burden on the city while still making progress on roadway improvements.
"Let me just emphatically say, right now the state of mobility in the city of Houston is good, but it is fixing to get ... a lot better because of the team that I've put in place—experienced people," Whitmire said.
The takeaway
Whitmire said to continue addressing mobility issues the region also needs to focus on addressing public safety and water infrastructure issues such as the East Water Purification Plant, which provides water to 1.9 million residents in Houston.
Funding for road projects will be another large hurdle, Whitmire said, referencing eliminating the city's previously projected $330 million shortfall by reducing vacant positions and consolidating service and call centers in the city.
"I need your help in all the organizations that you go back to. I can't do it alone," Whitmire said. "We have an opportunity like never before, and understand mobility is what really brings us together, but it's bigger than mobility. ... Let's come together; let's lobby for better mobility transportation, but we've gotta take an interest in city government. ... You've got to realize it's going to be so important going forward to help Houston," Whitmire said.
