Turner commits to building a transit 'system that provides travel choices' during State of Mobility address

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner delivered his sixth consecutive State of Mobility address speech on May 27. 

The event was hosted by Houston's Transportation Advocacy Group.

"To be that destination city we must be able to connect to transit and ride it anywhere we want to go,” Turner said.

During the speech, Turner discussed Houston's future as a "destination city," where people leave the freeway to explore its depth and breadth. Turner said that Houston has transformed from a city where most everyone drives to "a city for all, served by all [transportation] modes," calling Texas's largest city "a multimodal city."

This year’s mobility efforts will be directed toward making Houston a multimodal city by enhancing its walkways, metro bus and rail systems and roads, among other improvements. TAG Houston, the group that hosted the address, states on its website that its mission "is to improve regional mobility by advocating for transportation infrastructure funding." 

“We must keep our vision in mind: Houston is a destination city. Houston is a multimodal city. Houston is not just a city of roads," Turner said.

The city’s mobility project this year has contributed over 50 miles of new reconstructed sidewalks, its first slow streets project in Eastwood, and a connectivity study to ensure appropriate road connections throughout the community. Green spaces and trial connections were also considered for walkers.

The Vision Zero Action Plan was also established to address death and serious injuries caused on roadways. Approximately 1,800 miles of bike facilities are projected to be added to the current 340 miles available to bikers. Thirteen miles have been added so far, with 50 miles to be added soon.  

“Our biggest investments, by a wide margin, is our investment in our roads," Turner said. "And people have taken us up on that investment and mostly travel throughout our region using those roads.”

Metro buses and rails are also undergoing modifications through the city’s partnership with METRO to better connect routes. Its newly launched METRORapid Silver Line and Boost Routes are set to run through the 54 Scott and 56 Airline/Montrose to secure a safer, more sheltered location for bus stops. 

In addition to the Texas Central High-Speed Train Project, also in the works to provide fast transportation from Houston to Dallas, more than 70 lane miles plus overlaying nearly 200 lane miles and traffic signals at 800 intersections will be added, as well as the City's Advanced Traffic Management Central Software to ensure additional road protection. The North Houston Highway Improvement Project is also projected to make large contributions to the city’s transit system.

The mayor’s More Space Program will allow restaurants to use half of their parking spots as additional space to serve customers amid the pandemic, while its More Space: Main Street initiative will enforce the closure of certain blocks to allow food establishments to better serve customers.