Inside District I
September 2019 Newsletter
Greetings!

In May, I led a meeting between area elected leaders and Union Pacific (UP) officials to discuss the issue of repeated, extended blocked crossings in our community . I urged UP to review local operations to better mitigate the impact on surrounding neighborhoods, including finding ways to lessen the blockages on major thoroughfares.

Those who live in our area are quite familiar with this issue and have increasingly reported delays and other negative impacts as a result of trains blocking crossings for extended periods. The blockages have become particularly problematic in the early morning and afternoon hours when commuters are trying to reach their destination. 

Since our May meeting, UP has committed to improve their operations in an effort to minimize disruption to local traffic. They informed me that they will now advise train crews "to cut the crossing" (split the train apart at the street crossing so drivers and pedestrians can cross) when they have to stop the train for an extended period.

While this is a promising development, we will continue to monitor their operations. I encourage all residents who experience issues at a crossing (stopped train, malfunctioning signal or gate), to report it immediately to the appropriate railroad company: 800-848-8715 for UP, and 800-832-5452 for BNSF. 

As you may know, the railroads are regulated at the federal level, and those regulations along with several court rulings have limited cities like Houston from enforcing local anti-blocking laws. But there's a review underway that could provide some level of local control to municipalities, and so I encourage residents to contact our congressional representatives as well. Additionally, I've engaged a technology company about tools we could deploy throughout the community to more accurately track blocked crossings, complaints, and help us better inform federal policy makers.

UP and all railroad companies are important economic drivers in our country, but just as important is for them to be considerate of the communities in which they operate.

Respectfully,
Robert Gallegos
Houston Council Member
District I
Newly Reconstructed Forest Hill Bridge Opens
Residents and community leaders came together last month to officially open to traffic and pedestrians the newly reconstructed Forest Hill bridge. This is the first of four total bridges spanning over Brays Bayou in District I that will be rebuilt in an effort to improve the storm water conveyance capacity and mitigate flood risks along the Brays Bayou watershed.

The City of Houston committed $43 million to replace the aging bridges with longer-span bridges that will allow for better water flow. The work is being completed in partnership with the Harris County Flood Control District and Commissioner Garcia.

"Not only is this bridge replacement an important part of a larger drainage project, it will also better connect pedestrians and cyclist to the Brays Bayou Greenway Trail," said Councilman Gallegos who helped secure additional funding for a 10-foot-wide sidewalk and protected bike lane on the bridge.

Reconstruction of the Lawndale and Telephone bridges is expected to begin by the end of the year, and the 75th Street bridge is expected to be reconstructed beginning at the end of 2020. 
FREE Spay/Neuter Services for District I Pet Owners
Council Member Robert Gallegos has partnered with BARC and other animal welfare groups to host two Healthy Pets Healthy Streets events in District I during the month of September at Ingrando Park and Charlton Community Center . We invite all interested pet owners to come to the event to get a voucher for a FREE SPAY/NEUTER appointment for your pets.

The initiative offers free spay/neuter and wellness vouchers to pet owners in neighborhoods located in the City of Houston, Council District I. Only vouchers will be provided, so DO NOT BRING YOUR ANIMALS WITH YOU.

Requirements:
• Must live within the City of Houston Limits
• Current ID and utility bill required
• Services for owned animals only
• Limit of three (3) voucher appointments per household
Structure Destroyed by Fire Demolished
The former Popeyes restaurant located at Lawndale and 75th Street in the East Lawndale community has been demolished. The structure had become a nuisance in our community since a fire destroyed the building in May of 2018.

"For the last year, my office has worked with the City's Legal Department and Code Enforcement to issue citations for several violations, and used every legal avenue available to get the property owner to secure the property until it was demolished" said Councilman Gallegos. "I'm grateful to all the residents in the area for their patience as we worked through the process."
Community Trail Connector Project Nearing Completion
The new community trail surrounding Gus Wortham and connecting to the Brays Bayou Hike and Bike Trail is nearly complete. The new 8-foot-wide sidewalk has been completed, new drip irrigation system has been installed, and the contractor has planted 41 new 30 and 100-gallon trees donated by  Trees For Houston .

"When we began renovating the golf course, I committed to adding non-golf amenities to the property," noted Councilman Gallegos. "This new trail connector, which allows pedestrians and cyclists to connect to the Brays Bayou Greenway, was one of those amenities, and we are working with the community to build a new dog park near the southeast corner of the property by the end of 2020."

Additionally, thanks to dollars committed by Councilman Gallegos from the District I Service Fund, the Harrisburg TIRZ, and the Parks Department, crews are also in the process of replacing the old perimeter fence with a new black vinyl coated chain link fence. All the work should be completed by the end of the month.
METRO Adds $3.5 Billion Bond Measure to November Ballot
Last month the METRO Board unanimously approved placing on the November ballot a $3.5 billion bond proposition to fund the METRONext Plan , which includes rail to Hobby Airport, Bus Rapid Transit, HOV lanes, new and improved Park & Rides.

While the exact route to Hobby has not been determined, the board is considering possible options that could take rail (from Harrisburg) down Broadway to Park Place and Telephone, where it could tie in with the Purple Line, and then continuing on to Hobby on a shared track.

"I will continue pushing on METRO to ensure it selects a route that serves communities and destinations like Mason Park, Brady's Landing/Ship Channel, the Botanic Garden as well as other green spaces, libraries, and schools," said Councilman Gallegos. "A connection to Hobby shouldn't just benefit visitors, but connect Houstonians to local destinations."
Pilot Program Collects Nearly 3,000 Abandoned Carts
In February 2017, Councilman Gallegos launched a pilot initiative to pick up abandoned shopping carts from public property in District I. The program, conducted in partnership with the Solid Waste Department, collected the carts Monday through Friday on a twice-monthly basis.

"Abandoned shopping carts are not only unsightly, but they can create road hazards and even lead to drainage issues if they end up in our ditches or waterways," said Councilman Gallegos, who committed District I Service Dollars to fund the pilot program. In just over two years the pilot was operational, crews picked up 2,821 shopping carts from roadways, sidewalks, esplanades, ditches, and parks in District I. This is in addition to the shopping carts picked up by retailers like Fiesta, Walmart, and others during the same time frame. 

"The pilot program proved we had a problem that needed to to be addressed, and thankfully, in the last year of collections we have seen a steady decline in the number of carts being collected," noted Councilman Gallegos. While some of the larger retailers have implemented measures to keep carts on their property, such as through the use of magnetic perimeter barricades or through regular collection, many smaller and mid-size retailers do not.

"But it isn't just about retailers," added Councilman Gallegos. "Carts leave the property because many of our neighbors lack transportation, and so we must work collectively to develop a solution that helps our neighbors get their groceries home, while keeping our roadways and ditches clear of obstacles created by abandoned shopping carts."
Sewer System Improvements in Eastwood
Houston Public Works will soon begin a project that will improve the sanitary sewer system, drainage, roadway and sidewalks in the Eastwood neighborhood.

The work will consist of the installation of new storm sewers, new water lines, street pavement reconstruction and sidewalks along the alignment of the proposed sanitary sewer system in the area. The streets involved in this project are: Harby, Coyle, Jefferson, Ernestine, Eastwood and Sidney.

Work is slated to begin in October 2019 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020. Public Works will provide additional information on the project at the Eastwood Civic Association meeting on September 9th beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Council Approves Updates to Historic Site Tax Exemptions
Houston City Council recently adopted changes to the tax exemptions for the restoration and renovation of historic sites. The changes will allow even more eligible properties across the city to utilize the historic site tax benefit. The tax exemptions apply to historic structures that have been designated as a Landmark, a Protected Landmark, or as a Contributing Structure, under Article VII of Chapter 33 Historic Preservation Ordinance.

Councilman Gallegos was a supporter of the changes and offered additional revisions to ensure the maximum benefit for eligible properties in neighborhoods across the city. “I want to thank the Planning Department for working with me to allow for even more participation in this program,” said Councilman Gallegos. “The revised ordinance will allow eligible properties located in neighborhoods across the city to participate in the historic site tax credit program and ensure we have an opportunity to preserve even more historic structures."

Click here for more information on the two tiers of tax exemptions and a map of the qualifying census tract areas. Applications for the historic site tax exemptions will be administered by the Mayor's Economic Development Office in conjunction with the Finance Department. For questions about historic preservation, call the Historic Preservation hotline at 832-393-6556.
Helpful Numbers
District I Office
832-393-3011

Houston Help & Info 
3-1-1 or 713-837-0311

Air Quality Concerns 
832-393-5730

BARC
713-837-0311

Citizens' Assistance
832-393-0955

Dept. of Neighborhoods 
832-393-1038
HPD (non-emergency)
713-884-3131

Report Dumped Tires
832-393-0460

Solid Waste Department
713-837-0311

Report trains blocking intersections
Union Pacific: 800-848-8715
BNSF: 800-832-5452

Utility Customer Service 
713-371-1400