More and more cities welcome the closure of streets to give more space to pedestrians. That is precisely what will happen in
a major city in Texas
where seven blocks will soon be pedestrianized as part of a pioneering urban project.
This trend is not new and more and more organizations such as the United Nations are encouraging countries to see pedestrianization as one of the strategies to contribute to the fight against climate changesince implementing this measure would reduce the use of private transportation and, therefore, reduce pollution from gasoline use.
Seven blocks will be pedestrianized in a Texas city
The World Bank explains that pedestrianization allows for a redistribution of space proportionally to the type of users.
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For example, in Times Square, New Yorkbefore the pedestrianization process of 2014, 90% of the space was for vehicles, while 90% of the users were pedestrians. After the operation, the distribution of spaces was reversed, making it according to the volume of users, which allowed better mobility for pedestrians.
A similar situation could happen in Houston.where city officials and private enterprise seek to expand the successful “More Space: Main Street” initiative into a permanent, visionary project and economic development program.
This initiative was born to support local bars and restaurants during the first days of the pandemic. But in 2023, the Houston City Council voted unanimously to permanently convert seven blocks of Main Street from Commerce to Rusk on a pedestrian walk.
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A second phase will incorporate four additional blocks to the south (but without additional road closures), which will take it to span a total of 11 blocks, from Dallas Street to Allen’s Landing.
More space on Main Street
The objectives of the project, as explained by Downtown Houston+, are multifaceted and They seek to attract more visitors to the city centeractivate public space during the day and night, improve mobility, ensure safety and “establish a vibrant identity for this stretch of Main Street.”
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The project is currently in the final design and engineering phase until early 2025, with construction to take place between 2025 and 2026. The schedule aims to be completed before the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives in Houston.
