HOUSTON – Harris County Precinct 4 is moving forward with a major pedestrian-safety investment aimed at protecting children and families who walk to school, parks, bus stops, and other high-traffic areas.
Parents across Precinct 4 have long voiced concerns about missing sidewalks, faded crosswalks, and kids being forced to walk in grass or along the edge of busy roads.
County leaders say those concerns are driving the next phase of construction.
As part of Phase 2 of the Sidewalks 4 Precinct 4 initiative, Commissioner Lesley Briones has committed an additional $16 million to build new sidewalks in neighborhoods where they’re needed most.
The Greenhouse Road corridor, where Precinct 4 says 22 crashes have happened in the last five years, including one that seriously injured a bicyclist, is among the areas targeted for improvements. Officials say the sidewalks are intended to give pedestrians safer options as the community grows and foot traffic increases.
This builds on the program’s previous progress. Last year, Phase 1 added more than 50 miles of new sidewalks across the precinct — including nearly 23 miles within Katy ISD and more than 14 miles around Cy-Fair ISD campuses.
The new round of funding aims to close remaining “sidewalk gaps,” especially in school zones, neighborhoods without pedestrian infrastructure, and areas with heavy walking and biking activity.
Commissioner Briones says the mission is simple: make sure children can get to school safely.
“Not on our watch when our kids are walking to school in unsafe conditions,” she said. “We launched Sidewalks for Precinct 4 Part Two — an additional 25 miles — that will be completed before the next school year.”
Some of the construction is already underway near elementary schools, and crews are working toward key school routes first.
Precinct 4 leaders say they want every child in the area to have a safe route to school — and this expanded sidewalk network is a major step toward that goal.