Chewy said:
Thanks for that info. Based on what I know that trail is an abandoned railroad track. Not sure that would be state property.
City planner is probably mistaken. TxDOT has a program where they will fund sidewalk improvements for cities. Railroad likely abandoned the line and the city probably took it over.
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I'm trying to make heads and tails of what the state can control/influence. The City Planner has said they're limited on what they can do there because of "state laws." He's offered to share the codes.
More likely explanation is that they don't want to involve TxDOT in "their" project. Adjusting the trail (assuming TxDOT paid for it) requires TxDOT approval. City officials often think they're above TxDOT and aren't about to stoop to having to ask TxDOT for permission to do something.
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Last night he also said the State controls the speed limits on all roads and the City can't do anything about them. That seems really odd.
City planner is again mistaken. TxDOT controls speed limits on TxDOT roads. TxDOT recently politely asked the city to change the speed limit on the I-10 frontage roads. If the City refuses, TxDOT will change the signs themselves. City controls speed limits on city roads, country controls speed limits on country roads.
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Then when he got into crash data he said the State compiles it all and the city doesn't have any. Once again odd the city doesn't have some level of crash data they use to support a project they want to do.
The city definitely has the data, but don't usually publish it for everyone to see for various reasons. City planner needs to go ask HPD and public works for the data.
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He also said if anyone has any good relationships with the State that would be welcomed because, "The City doesn't have the best relationship with the State right now." I infer that to mean a two year pissing contest over masks is limiting common sense to a project that can have a direct impact on residents. Wonderful. Government at its finest.
Nope, not mask related. TxDOT spent millions of dollars on plans and studies to move 45 to the east side of downtown. Harris County (with unofficial support from the City) is suing them. Environmental considerations didn't stick so now they filed a federal lawsuit since something like 60 minority renters and owners would be displaced by the project. So the $7 billion project has been paused by the feds.
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This is also the same guy that said on one project they failed to get input from emergency services. Not exactly instilling a high level of confidence.
Sounds like TXDOT won't have any jurisdiction but worth asking.
This planner sounds like a complete idiot. Sounds like he was making stuff up if he didn't know the answer or blaming another government agency (future mayor in the making?) Unfortunately there has been huge turnover in the City planning, public works, and engineering departments. Lot of very experienced people have been forced out in favor of young people with little experience but big ideas. Staff now has more experience building bike lanes, light rail lines, and environmentally friendly parks, but less experience in roads, utilities, and drainage.
On this project, make sure to submit all your comments and questions to the city in writing (there should be an email address or website). They will have to publish a written response instead of a junior staffer making something up for the public that might not be true. Then you pass on the inconsistencies between what was said at the meeting compared and the written responses to your city council member and turn them loose on the planning department. That will be the best way to try to get this project shut down.
