TEI led the devlopment of a comprehensive mobility study for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 15 (TIRZ 15) in Houston’s East Downtown neighborhood. The plan helped the TIRZ establish a set of future-focused goals and corresponding recommendations to improve safety and connectivity for people using all modes of transportation in East Downtown. The final report gives the TIRZ a guideline for developing its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and resulting investments over the next decade.
East Downtown’s was one of the City’s first industrial hubs with many intersecting freight rail lines and a grid of wide streets to move goods from the ship channel to Downtown and the rest of the country. Today, East Downtown is rapidly changing with new residential, commercial, and entertainment developments. Residents, visitors, and businesses want to see future development that supports walking, biking, and transit. The plan gives TIRZ 15 the tools to adapt its streets to meet the evolving needs of the neighborhood.
TEI completed an extensive analysis of baseline mobility conditions, including local destinations, transit activity, crash hotspots, a parcel-by-parcel review of sidewalk conditions, and other key community characteristics. This analysis was used alongside community feedback to develop “Mobility Opportunities” that guided plan recommendations. The final recommendations are grouped into categories based on level of investment and the type of improvements involved. TEI facilitated discussions with key TIRZ 15 partners to support project coordination and implementaion of the recommendations.
