Sealy’s mission statement can be found on their website. It reads: “The City of Sealy will strive to assure the highest quality of life for those who choose to live, work, and play here while protecting the City’s economic well-being for current and future generations.”

Their vision is found beside it, stating: “The City of Sealy is dedicated to preserving our history of excellence while continually investing in our future of progress.”

With this petition, we are calling on the City of Sealy to be true to its mission statement and vision and choose to invest in its future by installing the following:

• A sidewalk on Highway 90 between Meyer Street and Sealy High School
• A lighted crosswalk at the intersection of the high school and elementary school
• A lighted cross walk at the intersection of HWY 90 and Town Park Drive (which leads to the park and splash pad)
• A lighted crosswalk from the Gordon Memorial Library to the neighborhood across 

In the photo below, the red line indicates where we are asking for a sidewalk on the south side of the road. Each orange rectangle indicates where a flashing crosswalk should be installed.

There are several reasons these should be installed, primarily for the safety of the school children of Sealy, and additionally for walkability, promoting healthier lifestyles, alleviating traffic, and promoting local businesses.

Safety for children and other pedestrians and cyclists

Pedestrian deaths are increasing every year. In Texas, pedestrian deaths account for 1 in 6 fatalities annually. It goes without saying that crosswalks and sidewalks create safer walking conditions for pedestrians, but if you need the proof, there have been multiple recent studies that show the benefit of these resources.

The Governors Highway Safety Association reported over 7,100 pedestrian deaths in 2024.

Texas is one of the highest states in the country for pedestrian deaths, and Sealy is no exception, with three pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in 2023.

 A recent 2021 study showed that the biggest hotspots for pedestrian deaths were road corridors longer than a half-mile long, near commercial zones, and speed limits over 30 mph. The mile stretch of Highway 90 between Meyer Street and Sealy High School meets all of that criteria. Yet there is only a side walk on one side, and not for the entire length. And there are no crosswalks. 

Extensive research shows the best way to combat this risk for pedestrians is through sidewalks and lighted crosswalks. 

Our children’s safety should be TOP priority. Adding in sidewalks and lighted crosswalks can help to put parent’s minds at ease as their children walk to school alongside a highway. 

Increased walkability

Our city’s mission statement claims to strive for the “highest quality of life” for its citizens. Having a walkable city increases quality of life exponentially. A city’s walkability boosts quality of life by promoting healthier lifestyles, building community, and benefits the environment.

There are several studies to show the social and physical benefits of living in a walkable city. The National Library of Medicine has collected studies that show how beneficial a walkable city is for physical health, mental health, and social well-being.

We already have the houses, shops, and schools in close proximity to each other that help to make a walkable city, but we lack the sidewalks and crosswalks to make that walkability possible. Sealy, Texas currently has the lowest possible walk-score of 0. We are heavily car-dependent.

A recent Forbes article highlights several studies showing how closely linked the walkability of a city is to residents’ happiness and physical health. Researchers have found that “a significant number of people are happier if they live in attractive, walkable places that enable social connections and trust in others.”

Better for traffic

Traffic during drop off and pick up hours can be horrendous. Imagine if there were safer pedestrian conditions how many more parents and children would choose to commute to school by walking or biking. Traffic would alleviate, and vehicle emissions would go down, improving air quality. 

Great for business 

Having a more walkable city means easier access to local stores, thus improving business. A concern of the City of Sealy for installing these sidewalks and crosswalks is money. Yes, it costs money. But we believe the cost will be worth it. By more walking traffic coming to local businesses, local economy will be supported, increasing the amount of sales tax coming back to the city government. 

Civic Well highlights the economic benefits of walkable cities. They describe and prove through multiple studies that the walkability of a city is a good investment, boosting businesses and increasing property value.

Conclusion

Sealy is long overdue for safer walking conditions for pedestrians. We can’t change the whole city overnight, but we can start where it matters the most, with our children. By investing in sidewalks and crosswalks near our schools and libraries, we are protecting our young generation and providing a happier and healthier lifestyle for the whole community. 

Imagine how amazing  it would be if the stretch of schools along Highway 90 had a beautiful sidewalk with trees on either side for shade and safe, lit crosswalks. It would look less like an abandoned stretch of highway, and more like home.