TEI led conceptual planning and preliminary engineering of 1.5 miles of Cullen Boulevard, from IH 45 to Brays Bayou, though the center of the University of Houston Main Campus (UH). Cullen was previously a four-lane divided roadway which carries 6,900 to 14,600 vehicles per day. It had an existing low-comfort bikeway that was identified as a key corridor between East Downtown and Brays Bayou. The corridor is served by several transit routes from METRO and UH.
While Cullen Boulevard provides primary access to and through the University of Houston, the existing street did not match the context of a university campus. The goal of this pre-engineering process was to develop a great campus street that meets the future needs of the University while maintaining mobility for all modes. TEI partnered with the University of Houston to develop a context-sensitive conceptual schematic design which:
- Reallocated excess roadway capacity to expand the pedestrian realm and enable the street to function as a public plaza for football game day and special events;
- Supported UH’s Campus Master Plan which saw Cullen as a potential segment of a campus running and biking loop;
- Provided directional, off-street bicycle lanes separated from both pedestrians and autos;
- Provided safer crossings for people who walk and bike, in accordance with the NACTO Urban Street Design Guide, and matched the University’s goal of a universally accessible “curbless campus”;
- Improved bus stops for both METRO and University bus routes, and better access to adjacent light rail stops; and
- Included inline stormwater detention and new water lines.
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TEI subsequently prepared roadway schematic, traffic signal, curb ramp, and pavement marking designs for the reconstruction of Cullen Boulevard by Harris County. Construction of segment A completed in 2021.
Cullen Boulevard newly reconstructed
Cullen Boulevard newly reconstructed as a multimodal safe street through the UH campus
Floating bus stops
The new roadway cross section of Cullen Boulevard protects the bikeway with floating bus stops.
Floating bus stops
The new roadway cross section of Cullen Boulevard protects the bikeway with floating bus stops.
