TEI led development of the East End Bike Plan to recommend a comprehensive network of high-comfort bikeways in this historic neighborhood. The Plan serves as a guide for making the East End the most bike-friendly community in Houston. TEI relied on guiding principles as a basis for the Plan:
- serve people of all ages and abilities,
- think about the whole network,
- expand access to destinations, and
- design infrastructure that is both feasible and high-comfort / low-stress.
The 16 square mile study area includes neighborhoods with low rates of vehicle ownership and high poverty rates. It is also home to dozens of schools, beloved community parks, important transit corridors, and landmarks that celebrate the rich cultural history of Houston’s Latino community. TEI recommended meaningful trail and bikeway connections, and safe crossing improvements to help East End residents access those key destinations without using a car.
TEI analyzed transportation and demographic data, identified safety hot spots, detailed current commute patterns of East End residents and workers, and calculated the level of bikeway stress for every street in the study area.
Community input was vital to plan development despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. TEI facilitated a 25-person steering committee and led multiple community outreach efforts, including virtual public meetings with Spanish interpretation, and an in-person bike tour.
TEI compiled the existing data, intimate knowledge of the East End street network, and community feedback to identify 73 miles of recommended trail and bikeway projects that will serve more than 80,000 residents within a half mile.
Projects are prioritized across three phases of implementation, to ensure thoughtful development of the network over time. TEI also helped secure funding commitments for three projects before the Plan was completed.
