March 6, 2024 -- Continuing to prioritize public safety and infrastructure, Mayor John Whitmire joined METRO to announce a collaborative effort to repair pavement and improve bus stops on Westheimer Road from Loop 610 to downtown.
"Any decision we make to grow or change infrastructure will be initiated with a customer-first mindset and a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer resources," Mayor Whitmire said. "METRO's new leadership and I are honoring our commitment to immediately get to work providing citizens with mobility options and a best-in-class mode of transit, accountability, and efficiency."
The project, originally planned for repaving only curb lanes where buses run, will now include resurfacing the entire width of the street along certain sections of Westheimer between IH-610 and Bagby. It also includes accessible sidewalk and bus stop upgrades along the route as part of METRO's BOOST program.
"We are proud to collaborate with Mayor Whitmire on making Houston a better place to work, live and play. We will do our part by implementing safe street, sidewalk, and bus shelter initiatives.," said METRO Chairman Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. "The decision to expand this project is cost-effective, causes less disruption for drivers in the long term, and will extend the life of the pavement. An improvement like this is just one of many opportunities we have to put the needs of both our customers and the citizens who commute alongside METRO first and foremost."
The revised project costs $12.2 million and eliminates the need for additional repaving of center lanes as a separate project. As a result, personal vehicle drivers, bus riders, and bike riders will experience better traffic flow, improved streets and sidewalks, and more comfortable bus shelters faster and with less taxpayer money.
The project construction is scheduled to begin in April 2024.