Inside District I Newsletter

Like many Houstonians, I was disappointed by the harsh and unnecessary executive order signed by the president last week targeting refugees and legal U.S. permanent residents travelling from certain countries. But I have been inspired and uplifted in recent days by the peaceful protests and marches in support of our diverse immigrant community.

Houston is the most ethnically diverse city in the U.S. Our residents speak over 90 languages and have immigrated from every corner of the world. We welcome and celebrate our diversity, as it makes up the colorful fabric of our community.

I want to assure everyone that the City of Houston is here to serve you. The Houston Police Department is committed to protecting every resident from hate, discrimination, and threats of violence. HPD serves all Houstonians, regardless of immigration status, faith or religion; therefore, if you are the victim of a crime or witness a crime, do not hesitate to call the police.

Houston is and will continue to be a welcoming city.

Best wishes,

Robert Gallegos

Houston Council Member

District I

Family-friendly Super Bowl Festivities Downtown

Super Bowl LIVE presented by Verizon is a free family-friendly fan festival in downtown Houston celebrating Super Bowl LI. Anchored in Discovery Green and encompassing more than 750,000 square feet, approximately the size of 13 football fields, Super Bowl LIVE features live music and performances, interactive exhibits, great food and a 90-foot tall virtual reality trip to Mars.

The National Football League is also showcasing the NFL Experience at the George R. Brown Convention Center from Wednesday, February 1 - Super Bowl Sunday, February 5. NFL Experience is an interactive theme park offering games, youth football clinics, merchandise and autograph sessions from NFL players and Legends. NFL Experience will also feature personalized digital photos, 40-yard dash and vertical jump against NFL players on LED screens, a virtual reality experience, an enhanced Super Bowl rings display and a new NFL Draft set! Tickets must be purchased for the NFL Experience.

Improvements at I-45/Broadway Traffic Circle

TxDOT has completed its beautification project at the Broadway and I-45 traffic circle. Improvements include new landscaping, repainted road stripes, and enhanced lane designators.

In addition, new LED lights have been installed to increase visibility for drivers and pedestrians. The area has also been decked with new decorative features designed to reduce future encampments.

These revitalization measures will ensure the interchange remains safe and clean. We would like to thank TxDOT for taking on this beautification effort and coordinating with the District I office over the past few months to bring about these improvements.

Harrisburg Overpass Complete, "Green Line" Opens

A community celebration helped open Metro's new segment of the East End "Green Line" in January. A new overpass was completed over the UP railroad lines near Hughes Street in December and allowed for the extension of the line.

Metro rail riders are now able to take the "Green Line" from the Magnolia Transit Center all the way downtown and beyond by connecting to other lines and buses. "Like so many residents, I was personally involved with the Green Line project from the very beginning, and today's inaugural ride was truly special," said Council Member Gallegos at the ribbon cutting ceremony in January.

The overpass is also proving to be an iconic structure illustrating the rich history of the East End through history panels and two murals painted by renowned graffiti artist and East End native, Gonzo247. Council Member Gallegos used District I service dollars to help fund half of the cost of the murals. The murals should be completed by the end of the month.

Council Approves Creating Team to Combat Flooding

City Council in January approved $10 million to fund a new initiative called the Storm Water Action Team - "SWAT" aimed at addressing drainage problems in neighborhoods across the city.

The work includes repairing collapsed culverts and drainage pipes, enlarging inlets, and regrading, cleaning and mowing more roadside ditches. Two of the first repairs in District I, along Plum Creek between I-45 and 610, will eliminate a drainage chokepoint in the Pecan Park neighborhood and improve overall drainage for the entire community.

Last year, City Council adopted Council Member Gallegos' budget amendment calling on Public Works to explore funding for similar repairs that are normally considered to be the abutting property owners' responsibility. The $10 million approved by City Council will fund quick fixes that will provide a great amount of relief to many neighborhoods.

New Greenway Coming Soon to Sims Bayou

As part of the Bayou Greenways 2020 project, construction of a trail along Sims Bayou from Old Galveston Road to Deeda Drive in the Park Place neighborhood, will soon be underway . This segment of trail, expected to be completed in about a year, will give the public access to greenspace along the bayou and 1.3 miles of new hike-and-bike trails.

Also on this timeline for construction is a new trail further east along Sims Bayou within Milby Park which will provide connections to the futsal court and two parking lots. As part of a second phase of the project, a 1.2-mile trail segment from Milby Park along Old Galveston Road is currently being designed.

In addition to the trail, amenities along the greenway will include landscaping with native plants, benches, trash cans and recycling bins. Houston Parks Board will be responsible for maintenance of the completed greenway.

This latest project is just one part of the larger Sims Bayou Greenway, which will stretch nearly 20 miles when completed. The trails will offer walkers and cyclists new connections to neighborhood parks, schools and community centers and opportunities for recreation along the bayou.

Sims Bayou is just one of nine bayous being transformed through Bayou Greenways 2020. A public-private partnership between the nonprofit Houston Parks Board, the City of Houston and the Houston Parks Department, the ambitious parks project aims to connect people, places and greenspaces by creating a 150-mile network of parks and trails along Houston's major waterways.

Beautified Broadway Boulevard Reopens

After two years of construction and a year-long beautification effort, Broadway Boulevard has been transformed into a beautiful signature corridor with new roadway, landscaping and amenities.

"In the past couple of years, we've opened a new international terminal at Hob by, completed landscape enhancements along Airport Boulevard, and trails on Sims Bayou and a future Botanic Garden are in the works just on the other side of 45," said Council Member Robert Gallegos at ribbon cutting celebration in January.

The beautification effort, led by Scenic Houston and the Hobby Area Management District, kicked off last year as the $17 million road reconstruction project from I-45 to Airport Boulevard was nearing completion. It includes planting of more than 400 trees, landscaping, LED street lighting, and improved sidewalks and crosswalks.

610 & Gulf Freeway Construction

TxDOT has begun construction on 2 direct-connectors at I-45 and the 610 South Loop Interchange. This project will improve connectivity for motorists while reducing congestion and improving safety along this heavily traveled corridor. The project limits for I-610 South Loop just west of Broad St. to I-45 Gulf Freeway beyond Griggs Rd. Interchange include:

Construction of the I-610 eastbound to I-45 northbound direct connector from Telephone Rd. to Griggs Rd. The addition of the interchange facility will eliminate the current street level traffic route.
Construction of the I-45 southbound to I-610 westbound direct connector from Woodridge Dr. to Telephone Rd. The addition of the interchange facility will eliminate the current street level traffic route.
Reconstruction of SH-35 bridges and alignment over the I-610 frontage roads.
1-mile of concrete pavement widening along I-610 westbound auxiliary lanes from Woodridge Dr. to west of Broad St.
0.75-mile of concrete pavement widening along I-45 southbound auxiliary lanes north of Woodridge Dr.
Ramp improvement at SH-225 southbound at I-45 southbound.
Lighting, CTMS improvements, and southbound I-45 frontage road improvements along Gulfgate Mall.

This project is expected to last approximately 3.5 years. For more information on closures and construction associated with this project, please visit the Houston Transtar website.

News at a Glance from City Hall

In Januray:

City Council approved the purchase of one tower truck, two aerial ladder trucks and four pumper trucks for HFD. The tower truck is headed to Station 18 on Telephone.
City Council re-appointed Janiece Longoria as Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority Board and Dean Corgey to Position 1 of the Board.
City Council approved changing the name of Dowling Street to Emancipation Avenue.
City Council created a banner program to promote airport events along major corridors to Bush and Hobby airports. Vertical banners will be installed on a limited number of streetlight lampposts along Airport Blvd.

For a complete list of items considered by City Council each week, visit the online Council Agenda portal.