The item, which originally appeared on the Nov. 19 agenda, was tagged ahead of Thanksgiving by council member Sallie Alcorn, whose office stated that she tagged the item for council member Edward Pollard, who was absent that week.
With the return of Pollard, the item was approved unanimously.
The overview
The project includes rehabilitating 7 miles of Bissonnet Street from South Dairy Ashford Road to Hillcroft Avenue, a feat that includes improving crosswalks and lighting, as well as installing bike lanes and dedicated turn lanes, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Pollard said the project is highly anticipated by his constituents in District J, as well as those in districts F and C, where the project spans.
“That stretch of Bissonnet has been a challenge, not only for accidents, but also for public safety-related matters, trafficking [and] prostitution,” he said.
The corridor was even listed as one of the most dangerous corridors for drivers in the High Injury Network and has seen over 3,012 crashes and nine fatalities between 2018 and 2022.
Funding the project
Houston was originally selected to receive a $28.7 million grant for the project in 2023 from the U.S. Department of Transportation as part of a $73 million initiative to increase roadway safety and prevent fatal accidents.
The total cost of the transformation is $35.9 million, with Houston providing a $7 million local match in addition to the USDOT grant.
Next steps
The project is currently in the design phase. Construction is anticipated to start in spring 2027 and be wrapped up by the end of 2028.
“For a stretch of Bissonnet that has not had a lot of investment in the years, this is a welcome project for those residents and business owners,” Pollard said. “I am glad to see it's finally getting pushed forward. This is going to be a transformative change. It’s something that area desperately needs.”
