I-45 Expansion: Health Impact Assessment and Community Organizing
Supporting Sustainable and Equitable Transportation
TxDOT’s proposal to widen the I-45 could cost Houston in terms of air pollution, congestion, mobility, resilience, and social equity. Rethinking this project is an opportunity to demonstrate that our region is committed to moving toward more thoughtful transportation planning.
The issue
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has proposed to widen the Interstate 45. The planned expansion, known as the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP), will run from the I-45N/Beltway 8 intersection on the north side of Houston to the I-45/I-69/288 intersection just south of Midtown.
TxDOT maintains that the expansion is needed to respond to the Houston region’s projected population growth.
However, in its current design, the NHHIP could harm the public health and quality of life of the surrounding communities due to more pollution, noise, and reduced safety, among other ills. Moreover, the project is anticipated to have a disproportionate impact on communities of color, causing mass displacement, destroying the social fabric of neighborhoods, and making it more difficult for people to reach economic opportunities, perpetuating the legacy of environmental injustices and related health inequities.
By locking our region into a car-centric future, the proposed expansion will further deteriorate Houston’s already poor air quality and jeopardize the city’s ability to achieve the ambitious goals set out in the new draft Climate Action Plan.
What we’re doing
A Health Impact Assessment of the NHHIP
In spring 2018, we were funded by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation under the 500 Cities Data Challenge to conduct a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the NHHIP.
The assessment focused on potential air quality, mobility, and flooding impacts at nine priority school campuses along the I-45 corridor. The study represents eight months of examining data and engagement with stakeholders and community members to evaluate the potential health impacts of the proposed expansion.
Our findings show that if mitigative strategies are not put in place, children and the surrounding communities may experience increased exposure to harmful air pollution, face more traffic safety concerns, and have to deal with aggravated flooding risks.
We are advocating for TxDOT to include adequate mitigations of the project’s adverse health impacts in the Final Environmental Impact Statement of the project.
- See here for a summary of the key findings and recommendations.
- Read here the full Health Impact Assessment Report.
- A comprehensive overview of the HIA and all final products are available on the Urban Institute’s “Putting Local Data to Work” site.
Continuing the Push to #MakeI45Better
We continue to work together with the Make I-45 Better Coalition, impacted residents, the City of Houston, Harris County, the Houston-Galveston Area Council, and TxDOT to make sure community concerns surrounding the project are addressed.
Learn more
TxDOT gives itself go-ahead on $7.5B rebuild of I-45, and critics pounce
Houston Chronicle, February 4, 2021
The Human Cost of TxDOT’s I-45 Expansion Plan
Houston Press, January 4, 2021
Opponents readying for long fight, though key I-45 deadline to TxDOT days away
Houston Chronicle, December 6, 2020
TxDOT extends public comment deadline for $7B planned rebuild of I-45
Houston Chronicle, October 28, 2020
Critics: 30-day window to comment on I-45 project far too short for generation-lasting rebuild
Houston Chronicle, October 9, 2020
Activists sound alarm over Texas highway project
E&E News, August 12, 2020
Critics complain those most impacted by I-45 rebuild left out of group to improve $7B project
Houston Chronicle, July 24, 2020
Transpo council wants TxDOT commitments on I-45 project, but not ready with specifics
Houston Chronicle, June 26, 2020
Houston Chronicle: Bolstered by racial justice debate, critics of I-45 project call for protection of vulnerable communities
Houston Chronicle, June 19, 2020
Houston’s I-45 Project is More ‘Urban Renewal’ Racism
StreetsBlog USA, June 8, 2020
TxDOT’s $7 billion plan to shorten your I-45 commute may displace hundreds of families
Houston Chronicle, June 4, 2020
Houston Chronicle: TxDOT should not rebuild I-45 without major changes to improve transit, flooding and connections
Houston Chronicle, May 10, 2020
Houston Chronicle: Houston seeks more transit, fewer cars as centerpiece of TxDOT’s $7B I-45 rebuild
Houston Chronicle, April 24, 2020
CityLab: The New Age of Freeway Revolts
CityLab, March 11, 2020
Kinder Institute: What if we spent billions to improve access instead of gridlock?
Houston Chronicle, March 5, 2020
KHOU: Protesters raise concerns over I-45 expansion project
KHOU 11, January 28, 2020
Three meetings this week could set course for $7 billion remake of Interstate 45
Houston Chronicle, January 28, 2020
More Highways, More Problems
Texas Observer, August 21, 2019
Houston’s $7 billion solution to gridlock is more highways
Curbed, August 5, 2019
With an unprecedented amount of public input on the I-45 project, now what?
Rice Kinder Institute, July 30, 2019
Community Organizers Decry TxDOT’s I-45 Expansion Plan, Call for Delay in Local Approval
July 27, 2019
H-GAC approves more than $150 million for I-45 project to ‘stay in line’ for TxDOT funds
Rice kinder Institute, July 26, 2019
Houston’s Highway Mega-Plan: An Environmental Justice Disaster
USA Streetsblog, July 25, 2019
Houston-area officials commit $100 million to I-45 widening project
Houston Chronicle, July 26, 2019
I-45 freeway expansion will force people out of homes, group says
ABC13, July 23, 2019
A new vision for I-45. And for Houston.
Houston Chronicle, July 13, 2019
Report lists I-45 rebuild project among nation’s biggest highway boondoggles
Houston Chronicle, June 18, 2019
Boondoggle: A Texas-Sized Mess of a Highway Plan
USA Streetsblog, June 19, 2019
Massive I-45 project will remake Houston freeway spine, but at what cost?
Houston Chronicle, June 14, 2019
Debate Intensifies Over The I-45 North Widening Project
Houston Public Media, June 21, 2019
How the I-45 project will affect two affordable housing communities
Rice Kinder Institute, June 19, 2019
Houston’s historic Independence Heights’ complicated past, present and future with divisive freeways
Rice Kinder Institute, June 17, 2019
TxDOT’s I-45 project could hurt a school and its community. But there are ways to mitigate the harm.
Rice Kinder Institute, June 12, 2019
Accelerating the drive toward a paradigm shift in Houston’s transportation planning
Rice Kinder Institute, June 10, 2019
I-45 expansion impact report may not have considered Independence Heights
Houston Chronicle, June 10, 2019
Jeff Speck Takes On Current I-45 Expansion Plan, Inspires More Action
Rice Kinder Institute, February 28, 2019
Will the I-45 expansion make our air worse?
Houston Chronicle, April 10, 2018
What’s the real cost of new freeways in Houston?
Houston Chronicle, March 2, 2019
Houston, highway builders have a lot riding on I-45 widening project
Houston Chronicle, March 15, 2018
Adding lanes doesn’t reduce congestion. So what is TxDOT doing?
Houston Chronicle, October 18, 2017
Mayor Sylvester Turner’s letter to TxDOT proposing a new vision for the NHHIP – May 12, 2020
Air Alliance Houston: Health Impact Assessment of the North Houston Highway Improvement Project
Air Alliance Houston: Health Assessment of The Bruce Elementary School Community – Final Report
Air Alliance Houston: I-45 N Expansion Health Impact Assessment – Summary of Key Findings
Air Alliance Houston: I-45 N Expansion Health Impact Assessment – Concerns, Impacts, Possible Solutions
Air Alliance Houston: North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) Health Impact Assessment – 3rd Ward/Midtown/Museum District Recommendations
Air Alliance Houston: North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) Health Impact Assessment – 5th Ward Recommendations
Air Alliance Houston: North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) Health Impact Assessment – Greater Northside/Northline Recommendations
Air Alliance Houston: Proyecto del Mejoramiento de la Autopista del Norte de Houston y Evaluación del Impacto en la Salud (NHHIP por sus siglas en Inglés) – Recomendaciones para Greater Northside/Northline
Air Alliance Houston: North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) Health Impact Assessment – Aldine/Greenspoint Recommendations
Air Alliance Houston: Proyecto del Mejoramiento de la Autopista del Norte de Houston y Evaluación del Impacto en la Salud (NHHIP por sus siglas en Inglés) – Recomendaciones para Aldine/Greenspoint
Recent Posts
Our Campaigns
- I-45 Expansion: Health Impact Assessment and Community Organizingairalliancehou2021-02-24T23:21:16-06:00
- Transportation Planning to Improve Air Quality and Address Climate Changeairalliancehou2021-02-24T23:22:37-06:00