We have a new threat to our neighborhood’s beautiful trees! At a recent public meeting about the West Alabama redesign, the same well-funded contingent of bike lobbyists and road diet advocates who almost succeeded in getting 10-foot sidewalks installed on Montrose - by taking down every tree on both sides of the street – was back at it.  

These groups are pressing hard for a redesign that would add bike lanes, requiring the removal of many of the beautiful mature oaks that line West Alabama from Shepherd to the 527 spur.  There is only 60 feet of right of way on Alabama, so the addition of bike lanes would require  cutting down trees and/or eliminating traffic lanes.

A few small but vocal special interest groups are hell bent on having bike lanes installed everywhere - trees and common sense be damned!  They are even trying to get the new TIRZ board president removed because they are unhappy that they no longer have the board in their back pocket, ready to do whatever the bike lobby wants.   They want people to believe they are the majority.  We know they are NOT.  Montrose wants to keep its trees.  Shady sidewalks are critical to walkability, and our tree canopy helps lower temperatures in our community.  

Currently, the planned design for West Alabama will preserve all of the existing trees. It also includes:

• New curbs, gutters and pavement
• Clearly marked continuous center two-way-left-turn-lane with left turn lanes at key cross streets
• New traffic signals plus additional signal at Hazard
• Expanded 6-ft sidewalk on both sides of the street, navigating around trees
• Major drainage improvements which will contribute to street ponding reduction and neighborhood resiliency

In other words: a better, safer West Alabama without sacrificing its heritage oaks.

But the design is still subject to change, and the TIRZ will be weighing public input. They count every comment — both for and against. The bike lane advocates are already submitting theirs, asking for a redesign that puts trees at risk.

We need YOU to speak up! Let the TIRZ and the City of Houston know you support the current design that improves the street while preserving its iconic trees.

Your voice matters! The more people they hear from, the stronger the message.

SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS TODAY —  Tell the TIRZ you want a West Alabama that is safe, walkable, and fully lined with its historic live oaks.  Inform them that you support the current design, which protects trees and maintains the existing traffic lanes.  

Send email to: 

info@montrosehtx.org   (Montrose TIRZ)

mayor@houstontx.gov

savemontroseliveoaks@gmail.com

We’ve saved our oaks before. Together, we can do it again!  Thank you for standing with us and for making a difference in preserving the character and beauty of our neighborhoods!

Thank you,

Jonna Hitchcock

Save Montrose Live Oaks