The Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone is investing approximately $6 million to reconstruct 4.5 miles of sidewalks used daily by pedestrians to reach three local schools in the community.

The full story

The Montrose Safe Routes to School Connections Project aims to enhance the safety and accessibility of students and parents who walk or bike to school in North Houston.

The project area will encompass the block from Fairview Street to West Dallas Street, and Taft Street past Montrose Boulevard near Eberhard Street.

The location holds three Houston ISD campuses:
  • Carnegie Vanguard High School
  • Wharton Elementary School
  • Gregory Lincoln Education Center
According to a presentation from the TIRZ, only 24% of the existing blocks are accessible to walk or bike in that zone. The proposed project intends to improve that percentage to 88% accessibility after completion.


More details

The scope of the project includes upgrading intersection safety, improving pedestrian crossings, and protecting and preserving the trees along the pathways. Specific design details include:
  • Rebuilding and widening 4.5 miles of existing sidewalks
  • Creating 30 high-visibility crosswalks
  • Adding three all-way stop controlled intersections
  • Installing one pedestrian signal and one rectangular rapid flashing beacon
Improvements are also included for areas that cross in front of residences, such as replacing driveways with ADA compliant driveways, providing individualized tree protections, replacing intersection ramps and sidewalks with new five- to six-feet sidewalks.

Next steps

The Montrose TIRZ received funding in 2023 from the Houston-Galveston Area Council's Transportation Policy Council to move forward with the project. The cost estimate is approximately $6 million, with H-GAC funding 90% of the project and the TIRZ funding the remaining 10%.


The board held a public meeting in September to gather feedback from the community on the proposed project. More open houses are scheduled to occur in December with the design phase slated to start in the spring.

According to the TIRZ website, construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2025.