Issue: The City of Houston Public Works and Engineering Department has submitted the Memorial Drive project for federal funding through the Houston-Galveston Area Council. H-GAC prioritizes regional projects for federal funding based on benefits. The prioritization process includes opportunity for public comment. Public comment is taken into consideration before final approval of funding decisions. It is important for H-GAC to understand that there is strong public support for the Memorial Drive project.

Requested Action: Submit public comments in support of the Memorial Drive reconstruction project during the 30 day open comment period which runs from March 6, to April 5, 2013.  Sample templates are in the files at the bottom of this article, and points to include in your comments are below the line. Please personalize you comments to point out a benefit that may be specific to you or your HOA. There are examples below for residents whose children need to cross Memorial to go to elementary school.

• Comments can be submitted electronically to the following email address:

publiccomments@h-gac.com

• Comments can be submitted in writing to:

Please cc: the Memorial Super Neighborhood at memorialsn16@gmail.com so that we can make sure your comments are incorporated in the public comment for the project.

Visit the Memorial Drive CIP project page if you would like to review what has happened to date or look at project documents. 

There are also two in-person meetings being held on Tuesday, March 19^th at H-GAC.  One meeting is from noon until 1:00 pm and the other is from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Please share this information with others. More information on the H-GAC Transportation Improvement Program and the meetings.

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Below is important data to reference in public comments.

Regional Significance

• Project limits encompass Memorial City and the Energy Corridor, the fastest growing real estate submarket in the Houston region.

  • Memorial Drive is central to the community and the focal point for retail development connecting the 2 commercial activity centers.

• Memorial Drive runs parallel to the Katy Freeway from SH 6 to downtown.

  • Every day Memorial Drive functions as an alternate and reliever to the Katy Freeway.

Travel Times

• Today, during the morning and evening rush hours, it is not uncommon to wait through several traffic signal cycles to cross any of the intersections in the project area.

• New office buildings and apartment complexes being built in the area will add to existing congestion.

• There will be delay benefits with Memorial Drive reconstruction.

• Turn lanes at Eldridge, Dairy Ashford and Kirkwood will improve throughput and decrease congestion.

Safety

We have worked closely with the City of Houston in the design of the Memorial Drive reconstruction project.

• Residents requested a bike lane and sidewalks. They were added.

• Residents requested medians for safe pedestrian crossings and safer turning movements. They were added.

• Turn lanes were added at intersections in lieu of more lanes.