Adam RollinsThe city of Houston will use $43.4 million to improve sidewalks and drainage in the Gulfton and Kashmere Gardens neighborhoods. The project will address historic underinvestment and barriers in the two neighborhoods, providing the local community with greater mobility, resiliency and greenspace.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently provided the funds to the Gulfton and Kashmere Gardens Resilient Sidewalks project through the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) grant program. Construction is expected to begin in winter 2026.
The NAE program is designed to improve walkability, safety and affordable transportation access in disenfranchised communities. The Gulfton and Kashmere Gardens Resilient Sidewalks project is one of 132 nationwide that will receive a portion of the $3.3 billion USDOT awarded for Fiscal Year 2023.
The funds will help the city improve sidewalks, drainage and tree cover in the neighborhoods. These improvements will help create climate-resilient streets and establish a multimodal mobility network for underserved communities. Currently, there aren’t enough sidewalks to ensure residents can safely and easily travel. The lack of tree coverage means there are few ways to relieve heat, improve air quality or restore mental health. In addition, flooding is a consistent concern.
The city will build ADA-compliant sidewalks, high-visibility crosswalks, protected bike lanes and shared-use trail connections. Plans include building a pedestrian bridge, installing lighting, replacing intersection signals and extending curbs to create safety buffers.
The city will add trees and landscaping, storm sewer lines and inlets and enhance overall corridor drainage. In addition, plans include installing intersection green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) curb extensions and corridor GSI tree trenches and rain gardens.
