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America's oil capital was moving away from cars. Then a new mayor arrived.
America’s oil capital was moving away from cars. Then a new mayor arrived.
Houston faces choices confronting many U.S. cities. Billions of federal dollars are available for them to upgrade rail and bike transit, but some are balking.
A scooterist rides along a street in downtown Houston, on Aug. 3. near the Bagby Street bike lanes. (Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post)
By Sarah Raza
August 21, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON — This epicenter of the oil and gas industry was ready to shed its reputation of being a car-centric city. Bicycle infrastructure projects were underway and the city had secured federal funding to expand public transit. Voters in Harris County, home to Houston, had approved billions of dollars to improve public transportation.
But after Mayor John Whitmire took office in January, everything changed. The city’s chief transportation planner left, bike infrastructure projects were stalled, and the region’s transit authority — largely appointed by the mayor — delayed parts of a $7.5 billion public transit expansion.
Advocates for transit and “safer streets” in Houston say they now suffer from whiplash, and fear the city is turning the clock back on transportation alternatives. It comes at a critical time for many U.S. cities that want to be part of the climate solution and make a meaningful shift away from reliance on the automobile. Whether America can make this shift could depend on the outcome of city-by-city battles.
{snip}
Houston faces choices confronting many U.S. cities. Billions of federal dollars are available for them to upgrade rail and bike transit, but some are balking.
A scooterist rides along a street in downtown Houston, on Aug. 3. near the Bagby Street bike lanes. (Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post)
By Sarah Raza
August 21, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
HOUSTON — This epicenter of the oil and gas industry was ready to shed its reputation of being a car-centric city. Bicycle infrastructure projects were underway and the city had secured federal funding to expand public transit. Voters in Harris County, home to Houston, had approved billions of dollars to improve public transportation.
But after Mayor John Whitmire took office in January, everything changed. The city’s chief transportation planner left, bike infrastructure projects were stalled, and the region’s transit authority — largely appointed by the mayor — delayed parts of a $7.5 billion public transit expansion.
Advocates for transit and “safer streets” in Houston say they now suffer from whiplash, and fear the city is turning the clock back on transportation alternatives. It comes at a critical time for many U.S. cities that want to be part of the climate solution and make a meaningful shift away from reliance on the automobile. Whether America can make this shift could depend on the outcome of city-by-city battles.
{snip}