Montrose Safe Routes to School

On September 15th, 2025 Whitmire’s TIRZ Board unveiled a new plan. It’s terrible.

Gone are

In September of 2022, 80 families did an exhaustive review to determine what safety improvements were needed. The new plan only includes 5 of the 64 improvements.

At no point has the TIRZ board explained how these revisions support the goals of the project.

More sidewalks have been added but Whitmire’s TIRZ board never discussed with the community where this investment should be prioritized.

The TIRZ redesigned the project at a cost of $223,000 to make it worse because the Mayor won’t allow anything which slows down drivers.

We do not have to accept this.

Contact the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Houston Public Works, Montrose TIRZ and Fourth Ward TIRZ to tell them:

  • Restore 4 way stops at three intersections with poor visibility

    • Clay and Crocker

    • Stanford and Peden

    • Stanford and Bomar

  • Restore 16 high visibility crosswalks

  • Restore C Level crosswalks at

    • Columbus at Wharton

    • W. Dallas at Crocker

  • Add raised crosswalks at

    • Taft and W. Bell St

    • Taft and W. Polk St

    • W. Clay and Crocker

    • W. Clay and Columbus

  • New sidewalks on W. Dallas and Taft for Fourth Ward (option 1)

Comments are due by September 29th

Email the Mayor's Office, City Council, Montrose TIRZ and Fourth Ward TIRZ
Map showing proposed sidewalk path in orange, project area shaded in purple, and education centers marked in blue, including Wharton Dual Language Academy, Carnegie Vanguard High School, and Gregory Lincoln Education Center in a city neighborhood.

Safety

The number of crashes in this area is staggering. From the September, 2024 presentation to Whitmire’s TIRZ board:

Map showing crash hotspots in a study area between 2019 and 2023, marked with orange dots, with two yellow-highlighted locations: Wharton School and Carnegie Vanguard High School. A summary table lists total crashes, crashes involving intersections, and other details. The map includes street names and a north arrow.

The Original Plan

The original plan for the Montrose Safe Routes to School project:

  • Improve 4.5 miles of sidewalks

  • Address several dangerous intersections

  • Pedestrian Signal at Stanford/Gray

  • All-Way-Stop Controlled Intersections at

    • Clay and Crocker

    • Stanford and Peden

    • Stanford and Bomar

  • 30 High-Visibility Crosswalks

  • 3 Level C Crosswalks with

    • Crossing Pavement Markings

    • Advanced Warning Signage

    • Additional Pavement Markings

  • Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at Stanford and Dallas

This project is funded 90% by the federal government and 10% by the Montrose TIRZ.

What is Safe Routes to School?

Safe Routes to School is a federally funded program to encourage walking and biking to school for grades K-8. Safe routes are created by funding infrastructure improvements, enforcement, safety education and other incentives.

H-GAC is designated by the State of Texas to manage Safe Routes to School projects in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller Counties.

Other communities in our region with Safe Routes to School programs:

  • The Woodlands Township

  • Pasadena ISD

  • City of Pearland Capital Improvements Plan 2019 - 2023

  • City of Sugarland - Safety and Education

Flyer advocating for safe routes to school in Houston, showing children crossing the street while walking and holding banners, with colorful text and a QR code for more information.