GREAT NEWS!  At their Nov 1 board meeting, the Montrose TIRZ board voted to move forward with the revised compromise plan!  Their engineering firm, Gauge, will now make changes to the engineering plans, seek any required variances from the city, and then move forward to begin construction.

But as we’ve learned more than once, it’s not over until it’s over!  We know that our opposition will keep fighting in any way they can to block these revisions and try to force the TIRZ to go back to the original plan, which would take down all trees along both sides of Montrose, install 10-foot sidewalks, and chop the medians by 10 feet. 

We are a grassroots group of ordinary citizens up against some well-funded non-profits and real estate developers.  We are trying our best to represent all of you who want the trees to be protected and a common sense plan.  With the revised plan in place, this is finally close to being a reality. 

But our opponents are spreading a lot of misinformation in the media and online. They have started a post-card writing campaign to the mayor and will be showing up at many upcoming city council meetings.  Bike Houston’s new deputy director, along with many real estate developers who want the TIRZ-funded wide sidewalks and lots of concrete in front of their new high-rise buildings, are playing to win.  

On Sunday November 10th at 9am, they are having a bike ride protest down Montrose Blvd from 59 to Allen Parkway and onto City Hall   Stay tuned for counter-protest plans. 

WE MUST NOT BACK DOWN OR GROW WEARY!  

Below are some verifiable facts about the revised plan.  Share this info wherever you can and stay tuned for additional actions you can take to make sure this well-orchestrated opposition is not successful.

The revised plan is a true COMPROMISE

• Maintains all essential drainage improvements from the original plan.
• Provides safe pedestrian access and crossings.
• Preserves our irreplaceable live oaks.
• Meets the City's commitments to meet the Ismaili Center construction schedule.

The plan FULLY ADDRESSES DRAINAGE

• Includes the planned 10x10 culvert under the roadway exactly as designed in the original plan.  (Note that the TIRZ engineering firm has confirmed that culvert installation will NOT harm the trees)
• The TIRZ is also coordinating with Public Works on new curb and sewer improvements to improve street drainage all the way south to the Mecom fountain.  This does much more to address Montrose's street ponding and drainage issues than the original plan provided for. 

The plan PRIORITIZES SAFETY

Includes new ADA-compliant sidewalks.

• A pedestrian bridge provides safe access to Buffalo Bayou trails.
• Maintains the current roadway width for emergency vehicle access to the Medical Center
• Preserves median width, offering a safe refuge for turning vehicles and crossing pedestrians.
• Adds new HAWK signal at Clay Street complementing existing Safe Routes to School improvements.
• Protects neighborhood streets from cut-through traffic.
• Studies show that tree-lined streets reduce traffic speed and the number of fatal accidents.

https://www.texasblossoms.org/benefits-of-urban-trees

https://caseytrees.org/2023/01/trees-for-traffic-calming/

https://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/trees-are-a-tool-for-safer-streets-2/

https://www.treesforstreets.org/how-street-trees-help-make-our-roads-safer/

https://www.naturewithin.info/Roadside/Tree&Driver_ITE.pdf

The plan delivers SMART MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION

• Connects to existing bikeways on parallel streets.
• A pedestrian bridge connects Montrose to Buffalo Bayou trails.
• Maintains adequate lane width for heavy bus traffic.
• Prevents projected 500 car/day increase in cut-through traffic in residential areas.

 The TREES are HEALTHY & THEY MAKE US HEALTHIER TOO!

• The TIRZ's own tree report and independent master arborist Matt Latham confirm the trees' good health.  The opposition’s propaganda about widespread tree disease is simply untrue.
• CenterPoint will install taller power poles along Montrose, allowing for future tree canopy growth. 
• Studies show that mature trees have a significantly stronger beneficial effect on our health vs. saplings. "The association between tree planting and mortality: A natural experiment and cost-benefit analysis": https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412022005360