For Immediate Release
December 19, 2022
CONTACT: Riikka Pohjankoski, 713-589-7079, [email protected] 

HOUSTON, TX – This morning, staff from Air Alliance Houston attended a joint press conference hosted by the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Local and state leaders announced the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) related to the embattled North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP). 

Affected communities were not involved in the development of these MOUs. The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) investigation into civil rights complaints against the project is still ongoing, and, at this time, it is unclear whether and to what extent these concerns have been addressed. 

TxDOT has yet to adequately demonstrate its commitment to meaningful community engagement and to ensuring sustainable and equitable outcomes in this project. 

In the coming days, Air Alliance Houston looks forward to examining the details of these MOUs, along with our partners and community members, to better understand how these agreements were reached and what they mean for the community.

Given our working relationship with the City and County, we have every hope they will have reached understandings that protect affected communities by mitigating the negative effects of the I-45 expansion. We will wait to comment, however, until the MOUs are released and we can study the details.

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Air Alliance Houston is a non-profit advocacy organization working to reduce the public health impacts from air pollution and advance environmental justice through applied research, education, and advocacy. For more information and resources, please visit www.airalliancehouston.org.