11th Street Safety Improvements

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Announcements

August 18 2023 - Construction Update

Active Construction Zone! Please drive with care through the work zone and be respectful of roadside workers.

  • Construction Substantially Complete
  • Remaining Construction Activities: Heights Blvd Bus Stop Alterations
    • What: Floating bus stop island removal and installation of bus lane and bike lane barrier. The existing concrete islands will be removed and will be replaced with a bus only lane and a curb-separated bike lane. The existing through and right turn lanes will be maintained. The 40 bus stops will remain where they are currently and the pavement markings will be improved to indicate the shared on-street bike lane and bus stop. For further detail, please see the Heights/11th intersection drawings.
    • Where: On Heights Blvd, approximately 250’ north and south of 11th St.
    • When: Early September



Project Overview

The 11th Street Safety Improvements project proposes to address traffic safety concerns along a 1.5-mile segment from Shepherd to Michaux in the Heights neighborhood. It also includes a neighborhood bikeway along Michaux, connecting from 11th to Stude Park. The project addresses speeding, traffic crashes, and difficulty crossing for people walking and biking along the corridor. It is aligned with the City's Vision Zero commitment to end traffic deaths and serious injuries and improve street safety for everyone. The project is currently in the design phase.

In addition to being identified in the Houston Bike Plan, the 11th Street proposal aims to improve safety for all road users. This includes a protected bikeway for people biking, pedestrian refuge islands to make it safer to cross 11th street, intersection enhancements to increase visibility of crosswalks and bike lanes, and traffic signal adjustments to safely accommodate all modes of travel.

Questions or comments about the project? Please use the general questions/comments tool below.


Announcements

August 18 2023 - Construction Update

Active Construction Zone! Please drive with care through the work zone and be respectful of roadside workers.

  • Construction Substantially Complete
  • Remaining Construction Activities: Heights Blvd Bus Stop Alterations
    • What: Floating bus stop island removal and installation of bus lane and bike lane barrier. The existing concrete islands will be removed and will be replaced with a bus only lane and a curb-separated bike lane. The existing through and right turn lanes will be maintained. The 40 bus stops will remain where they are currently and the pavement markings will be improved to indicate the shared on-street bike lane and bus stop. For further detail, please see the Heights/11th intersection drawings.
    • Where: On Heights Blvd, approximately 250’ north and south of 11th St.
    • When: Early September



Project Overview

The 11th Street Safety Improvements project proposes to address traffic safety concerns along a 1.5-mile segment from Shepherd to Michaux in the Heights neighborhood. It also includes a neighborhood bikeway along Michaux, connecting from 11th to Stude Park. The project addresses speeding, traffic crashes, and difficulty crossing for people walking and biking along the corridor. It is aligned with the City's Vision Zero commitment to end traffic deaths and serious injuries and improve street safety for everyone. The project is currently in the design phase.

In addition to being identified in the Houston Bike Plan, the 11th Street proposal aims to improve safety for all road users. This includes a protected bikeway for people biking, pedestrian refuge islands to make it safer to cross 11th street, intersection enhancements to increase visibility of crosswalks and bike lanes, and traffic signal adjustments to safely accommodate all modes of travel.

Questions or comments about the project? Please use the general questions/comments tool below.


Questions or comments?

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    The 11th street bike lanes that reduced traffic lanes 50% has been horrible. It has increased traffic and delays. It doesn’t make sense given the very few people I see using it vs the immensely greater number of people affected by reduced traffic lanes. Additionally, there are ALREADY so many bike options parallel and close by to this (I.e bike trail..)…Why did the city waste money on this?

    Alexh296 asked 8 days ago

    Thank you for your question.  11th Street had 10% more crashes than similar streets across Texas and vehicles speeding at nearly 40 mph (instead of the signed 30 mph).  Based on a Road Safety Audit conducted by the City, TxDOT, Federal Highway Administration, and others, reallocation of one lane in each direction was identified as a way to make 11th Street safer for all road users, which is considered a valuable use of city funds.

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    Are there any plans to conitnue the path from Durham to TC Jester? It seems like a missed opportunity not to do it as it would perfectly connect with the bike trail that goes along TC Jester.

    OscarV asked about 1 month ago

    Thanks for reaching out.  The Houston Bike Plan includes the segment of 11th Street to TC Jester.  With a plan for 1,800 miles total, we're working to provide safe access citywide as fast as we can.

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    Are there plans to clean these bike lanes? Riding a bike on gravel and glass is going to result in flat tires. Most of the bike lanes in Houston are covered with debris, which makes unusable.

    BT asked about 2 months ago

    Thank you for your question.

    The City is now cleaning protected bike lanes with the new Space City Sweeper (https://twitter.com/HouPublicWorks/status/1593684390890115075?lang=en).  If you see a bike facility requiring additional sweeping, please let us know at https://www.houstontx.gov/311/.

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    As evidenced by the recent damage to the northbound floating bus stop, the signage for these is inadequate. I’d urge you to a) install metal protective crash barriers b) add additional reflective signs, including one with a diagonal left arrow c) consider installing white poles between the ahead and right turn lanes to make it clearer going ahead from the right lane is not an option.

    djenks16 asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your feedback. We are working with METRO to ensure the Floating Bus Stops at 11th and Heights are more visibile and that all directions have advanced indication of the infrastructure. We appreciate your patience as this project is still actively under construction.

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    My partner and I visited several businesses along 11th St for the first time this weekend. We wouldn't have ever visited this area without the new bike lanes giving us a safe and convenient connection. Thank you!

    asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your feedback! We appreciate your support and we're happy to hear you're accessing businesses along the corridor because of the new infrastructure. 

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    I visit 11th street by bus and bike and have always found the speed of traffic very discouraging. The new design is much more inviting to all of a road's users. I'd love to see this safe streets/complete streets program used across the entire city.

    ahspike asked 7 months ago

    Thank you for your feedback and supporting safer streets! We are actively implementing safe streets projects across the entire city. The 11th Street redesign was started before the City committed to Vision Zero, which focuses on safe streets improvements for more vulnerable road users and in more vulnerable communities. To equitably distribute resources, the City is focusing on neighborhoods in Complete Communities and in areas with a high Social Vulnerability Index as defined by the CDC/ATSDR.

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    Very glad that this will slow down speeders on 11th and increase bike and pedestrian safety in our neighborhood.

    Abby asked 8 months ago

    Thanks for sharing your feedback. We're hopeful that this will be the result of the project and that safety for all road users will be improved.

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    I live on a parallel street to 11th (E 10th) with three small children who now are not able to play on the sidewalk during evening hours as we are hosting SIGNIFICANT numbers of cars cutting down to avoid backups along 11th. While I understand the goal of the project, there was not enough planning of impact to nearby residential streets. Cars are now flying down my street (annoyed at traffic) instead of the commercial road that has larger setbacks and less children on the sidewalk. What phase of planning will address this material safety concern that was created by this project? I welcome anyone to come sit on my porch between 7:30-9am and 4-6pm and witness the impact. I can also provide camera footage of weeks before and after implementation for data’s sake if any stakeholder in pedestrian and child safety is interested.

    Amy Barton asked 8 months ago

    Thank you for sharing your observations. Please see this FAQ: 'How will you monitor traffic after the project is constructed?' We also encourage you to email SafeStreets@houstontx.gov to provide any additional information so that we can be sure to collect data on your street. Traffic volume and speed data will help to determine if safety measures need to be implemented, and what type. 

  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    I love the new changes. It makes 11th so much easier to cross on the bike path and makes the neighborhood feel safer. Keep on doing projects like this!

    Ehill530 asked 8 months ago

    Thanks for your feedback, encouragement and sharing your observations. We're happy to hear your experience is safer. The City is shifting its transportation paradigm to implement more projects like this in all types of neighborhoods. 

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    As a road cyclist and resident of the neighborhood a few questions: 1.) why was this bike lane put not put on 14th? 2.) if the traffic study finds this has caused unsafe conditions (eg more accidents), or is found to be not favorable (please advise on metrics for success of this project)… will the city remove this change? Also, is there a proposal in front of the city to remove this change? I am happy to support the removal.

    NCameron asked 8 months ago

    Thanks for engaging with us. Please refer to the FAQ on 'Why are you proposing street safety improvements on 11th?'

    Metrics for success will be determined by decreased vehicle speeds on 11th and decreased crashes, especially those more severe crashes where people are injured. If the data reveals higher speeds and injury crashes than before the project, then we will assess any modifications needed to improve safety including ways to decrease vehicle speeds and crashes. This may mean additional median crossing islands, signal timing changes, and other physical elements to slow vehicle speeds and ensure safe traffic flow. We will not be removing this project.

Page last updated: 18 Aug 2023, 11:04 AM