Calhoun/Griggs/MLK Safety Improvements

Project Overview

The Calhoun-Griggs-MLK Corridor is a planned project to improve street safety and connect people to work, school, parks, and other destinations in a way that supports a healthy lifestyle as outlined in the Martin Luther King Corridor Healthy Connections Study. The corridor is currently proposed as an approximately 7-mile street redesign encompassing three street segments:

Calhoun Rd from Wheeler Ave to Griggs Rd
Griggs Rd from Tierwester St to Beekman Rd
Martin Luther King Blvd from Griggs Rd to the Sims Bayou

Street improvements are proposed on three key corridors from Brays Bayou to Sims Bayou, including:

Sidewalk and curb ramp improvements
Adding and restriping crosswalks
Intersection improvements for all road users
New wider, protected bikeways
Transit improvements such as rebuilt, better-placed bus stops and improved connections.

This project is a partnership between the City of Houston and Harris County Precinct 1. In addition to being identified in the Houston Bike Plan, the Calhoun-Griggs-MLK Healthy Connections Corridor aims to improve safety for all road users. The proposed corridor redesign is aligned with the City's Vision Zero commitment to end traffic deaths and serious injuries and improve street safety for everyone who walks, bikes, uses a wheelchair and drives. This includes street redesign to slow vehicle speeds, a barrier-protected bikeway, intersection enhancements to make it safer for people walking and biking to cross the street, and transit improvements to make bus stops more comfortable and to improve route efficiency.

To learn more, view the public meeting presentation and exhibits of the corridor in the "Documents" section of the webpage.

Please review, comment and ask questions about the Calhoun-Griggs-MLK Healthy Connections Corridor proposal using the "Questions and Comments" section.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will these improvements stop dangerous speeding?
This proposal includes vehicular lane narrowing (AKA a road diet) and converting vehicular lanes to high comfort bikeways. These are proven safety countermeasures by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to improve safety and decrease vehicular speeds on a corridor.
Will these improvements increase vehicular congestion?
No, it is not expected that the Level of Service will drop below an acceptable level at any point along the corridor due to these changes.
Will this project address the stoppages at railroad crossings?
Unfortunately, this project will not be able to address the issue of freight rail traffic inhibiting pedestrian, bike, vehicular, and transit traffic flow. Harris County and the City of Houston continue to have conversations with Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF regarding the significant delays caused by freight rail stoppages on city streets.
Will this project improve the signal timing at intersections with METRORail?
Yes, this project will provide the opportunity to review signal timing throughout the corridor including improvements for pedestrian safety as well as to keep vehicular traffic flowing.
Can these safety improvements be continued along MLK south of Sims Bayou?
Yes. Gulfgate TIRZ 8 has authorized a feasibility study for MLK from Sims to Orem. This will include an evaluation of the drainage along that corridor as well as reviewing what safety improvements are necessary and feasible.

Project Overview

Calhoun Rd from Wheeler Ave to Griggs Rd
Griggs Rd from Tierwester St to Beekman Rd
Martin Luther King Blvd from Griggs Rd to the Sims Bayou

Street improvements are proposed on three key corridors from Brays Bayou to Sims Bayou, including:

Sidewalk and curb ramp improvements
Adding and restriping crosswalks
Intersection improvements for all road users
New wider, protected bikeways
Transit improvements such as rebuilt, better-placed bus stops and improved connections.

To learn more, view the public meeting presentation and exhibits of the corridor in the "Documents" section of the webpage.

Please review, comment and ask questions about the Calhoun-Griggs-MLK Healthy Connections Corridor proposal using the "Questions and Comments" section.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will these improvements stop dangerous speeding?
This proposal includes vehicular lane narrowing (AKA a road diet) and converting vehicular lanes to high comfort bikeways. These are proven safety countermeasures by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to improve safety and decrease vehicular speeds on a corridor.
Will these improvements increase vehicular congestion?
No, it is not expected that the Level of Service will drop below an acceptable level at any point along the corridor due to these changes.
Will this project address the stoppages at railroad crossings?
Unfortunately, this project will not be able to address the issue of freight rail traffic inhibiting pedestrian, bike, vehicular, and transit traffic flow. Harris County and the City of Houston continue to have conversations with Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF regarding the significant delays caused by freight rail stoppages on city streets.
Will this project improve the signal timing at intersections with METRORail?
Yes, this project will provide the opportunity to review signal timing throughout the corridor including improvements for pedestrian safety as well as to keep vehicular traffic flowing.
Can these safety improvements be continued along MLK south of Sims Bayou?
Yes. Gulfgate TIRZ 8 has authorized a feasibility study for MLK from Sims to Orem. This will include an evaluation of the drainage along that corridor as well as reviewing what safety improvements are necessary and feasible.

Questions

Questions and Comments

Share Will these plans include the option or study to build. A bike line in old Spanish trail and wayside Dr on Facebook Share Will these plans include the option or study to build. A bike line in old Spanish trail and wayside Dr on Twitter Share Will these plans include the option or study to build. A bike line in old Spanish trail and wayside Dr on Linkedin Email Will these plans include the option or study to build. A bike line in old Spanish trail and wayside Dr link

Will these plans include the option or study to build. A bike line in old Spanish trail and wayside Dr

Sam00001 asked 10 months ago

Thank you for your question. This project will not include improvements to OST or Wayside Dr except at the OST/Calhoun Rd and the OST/Griggs Rd intersections. OST and Wayside Dr are state highways and TxDOT should be contacted to request multimodal facilities on those corridors (www.txdot.gov/about/contact-us.html).
-VL
Share Why is there such an emphasis on bike lanes. The bike lanes do not serve the community. on Facebook Share Why is there such an emphasis on bike lanes. The bike lanes do not serve the community. on Twitter Share Why is there such an emphasis on bike lanes. The bike lanes do not serve the community. on Linkedin Email Why is there such an emphasis on bike lanes. The bike lanes do not serve the community. link

Why is there such an emphasis on bike lanes. The bike lanes do not serve the community.

Mark Thierry asked almost 2 years ago

Mark Thierry,
Thank you so much for your question. Since 2017, the City of Houston has adopted Resilient Houston, Vision Zero Houston, and the updated Bike Plan. These three major plans seek to make our city more resilient to extreme weather events, support and strengthen communities, achieve zero traffic deaths annually, and provide a safe and comprehensive bicycle transportation network. The Calhoun/Griggs/MLK Safety Improvement Project brings us closer to an equitable city where all people in all communities have safe and efficient transportation options. This project includes not only protected bike lanes but also improved sidewalks, safer intersections, better bus stops, and new crosswalks. We believe this project must serve the community and would love your input to make sure that it does. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at safestreets@houstontx.gov or call us at 832-395-3277 with your comments, questions or concerns.
-VL
Share When will mlk rd improvements be completed? on Facebook Share When will mlk rd improvements be completed? on Twitter Share When will mlk rd improvements be completed? on Linkedin Email When will mlk rd improvements be completed? link

When will mlk rd improvements be completed?

Kjg asked about 2 years ago

Thank you for your question. The ongoing milling, overlay and temporary re-striping of MLK Blvd between Griggs Rd and 610 is expected to be completed by the end of next week. There is no current construction timeline for the safety improvements along MLK Blvd as design for that segment has not yet begun. We will include construction timelines for all roadways on this project on this page as they are available.
-VL
Share Are you going to widen the road or reduce create more traffic? on Facebook Share Are you going to widen the road or reduce create more traffic? on Twitter Share Are you going to widen the road or reduce create more traffic? on Linkedin Email Are you going to widen the road or reduce create more traffic? link

Are you going to widen the road or reduce create more traffic?

Dominique asked about 2 years ago

Thank you for your interest in this project and your question. In the MLK Healthy Connections Study traffic was measured and it was determined that Calhoun Rd, Griggs Rd, and MLK Blvd are wide enough to handle significantly more traffic than is currently present. If you have the time, please check out the recording of the December 8^th, 2021 virtual public meeting. In that meeting, we reviewed the capacity of the roadway and summarized how the conversion of one lane in each direction to high comfort bikeways will not increase traffic.
However, there are currently causes of traffic that are unrelated to roadway width such as signal timing and freight rail roadway blockages. As part of this project, signal timing will be reviewed and improved. Unfortunately, this project will not be able to address the issue of freight rail traffic. Harris County and the City of Houston continue to have conversations with Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF regarding the significant delays caused by freight rail stoppages on city streets.
-VL
Share Will this project include mlk to 610 . on Facebook Share Will this project include mlk to 610 . on Twitter Share Will this project include mlk to 610 . on Linkedin Email Will this project include mlk to 610 . link

Will this project include mlk to 610 .

iva jeanjacques asked over 2 years ago

Yes, this project will include MLK from Griggs Rd to Sims Bayou. The intersection of MLK and 610 is included in that segment.
Thank you for your question.
-VL
Share I'm so excited to use this new bike corridor! I'll be especially grateful for the intersection improvements at the IH-610 frontage roads. on Facebook Share I'm so excited to use this new bike corridor! I'll be especially grateful for the intersection improvements at the IH-610 frontage roads. on Twitter Share I'm so excited to use this new bike corridor! I'll be especially grateful for the intersection improvements at the IH-610 frontage roads. on Linkedin Email I'm so excited to use this new bike corridor! I'll be especially grateful for the intersection improvements at the IH-610 frontage roads. link

I'm so excited to use this new bike corridor! I'll be especially grateful for the intersection improvements at the IH-610 frontage roads.

NealEhardt asked over 2 years ago

Thank you so much for your feedback. We will make sure to include improvements to those intersections as part of this plan. Please reach out to me at virginia.lynn@houstontx.gov if you have specific safety concerns at those locations that we can make sure to consider and respond to in the design phase.
-VL