We asked this year's candidates for Houston City Council what they
think about several transportation policy issues that affect neighborhoods.
Most questions included background information. Our questions and
the candidates' responses are presented in six sections:
Mobility is multi-modal. Roadways are used by cars, buses, and
bicycles. Sidewalks provide access to pedestrians, wheelchairs,
scooters, and transit users. Reconstruction of a single highway
overpass or intersection can affect access for all of these uses.
As the suburban and rural population outside the City of Houston
increases, there is growing pressure to widen freeways and build new
ones to allow more cars from outlying areas to access the central city.
However, this approach increases traffic congestion and pollution in
the central city, requires conversion of real estate into parking areas,
and often requires condemning Houston homes and businesses for right
of way acquisition.
|
| Q4a: Support policy to preserve/enhance all modes? |
Q4b: How should City respond? |
| Mayor |
| Anthony Dutrow |
|
|
| Jack Terence |
|
|
| Bill White (I) |
|
|
| At large #1 |
| Peter Brown |
Yes. |
We need to find new alternatives to widening freeways, especially in already urbanized areas (very expensive and destructive.) The City must aggressively promote more development and redevelopment within the City limits, with home and work in close proximity. Not only would this reduce congestion on area freeways, it would expand the City's tax base. The City should provide incentives for employers to expand vanpooling, "telecommuting" and flexible work hours among its employees. |
Michael Griffin |
|
|
Rogelio Morales |
|
|
| At large #2 |
Hipolito Acosta |
|
|
Jay Aiyer |
|
|
John Elford |
I am in favor of a balanced approach if it includes elevated mass transit systems which will leave space for auto, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. |
I am not in favor of the use of imminent domain in neighborhoods. The City should protect all the neighborhoods form this use and take a larger role in determining where new roads and mass transit systems are placed with a priority towards the preservation of our neighborhoods. |
Sue Lovell |
I support the concept - but I would want to make sure that in each case the mobility use is appropriate for the project. |
I do not believe our city should be encouraging suburban development, period. |
James B. Neal |
|
|
| At large #3 |
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (I) |
Consideration of all modes of transportation in all city projects is a reasonable goal and City Council should support a vigorous and sincere dialogue between agencies to achieve these results. |
The interests of local residents must take precedence over out of town drivers. However, with new people moving into the Houston area every day, our own population demands more mobility. Mass transit must be part of a solution in order for Houston to be a world class city. |
James Partsch-Galvan |
|
|
| At large #4 |
| Ronald Green (I) |
No. Inevitably these projects would conflict with each other. I would rather support an initiative to encourage complementary multi-modal projects. |
I believe the City of Houston should place more emphasis on creating a balanced multi-modal transportation system. This would encourage citizens to return to the City and lessen the emphasis on expanding road construction. |
| At large #5 |
| Michael Berry (I) |
|
|
| Michael Stoma |
Yes. |
Stop, right now, in pouring tax dollars in freeway expansion and invest in a rail mass transit infrastructure. |
| District A |
| Toni Lawrence (I) |
|
|
| Dennis Carter |
|
|
| District B |
| Tommie Ruth Allen |
|
|
| Angle Bush |
|
|
| Felicia Galloway-Hall |
Yes. |
Multi-grade separated freeway construction is the only other construction option we will eventually have if population growth trends and regional behavior patterns continue. The only option seems to be to "build up" rather that "out". |
| Robin German-Curtis |
Yes, the preservation and/or enhancement of the full spectrum of mobility uses is critical to effective implementation and long term benefits to impacted communities. |
I think it is very important that we devise a plan that would allow for expanded bus service to many of these outlying areas and charge fares that would support the additional costs. |
| Anna Gray |
|
|
| Willie J. Hunter |
|
|
| Charles Ingram |
|
|
| Jarvis Johnson |
|
|
| District C |
| Anne Clutterbuck |
Not necessarily. |
Dealing with these competing pressures requires a balanced approach that includes input from the communities affected. Implementing Mayor White's Mobility Plan, sequencing road repairs, improving traffic management, encouraging a shift in the peak travel times, and mass transit, will go a long way in improving our area's transportation needs |
| Brian Cweren |
In general, yes. |
This is a matter that must be examined on a case-by-case basis. Condemnation should not be taken lightly. |
| George Hittner |
|
|
| Ray Jones |
|
|
| Mark Lee |
Yes |
The City of Houston need to be a lead participant in coordinating a regional transportation plan. Houston is quickly reaching its limit with regard to widening freeways and building new ones, our focus needs to be on reducing the total amount of cars traveling on our freeways. |
| Herman Litt |
|
|
| Judith Siverson |
The goal should be to make sure that every project preserves and/or enhances the full spectrum of mobility uses. |
The City should put its best minds to work on the problem and commit itself to reducing traffic congestion and pollution. We sent men to the moon, surely, we can find ways to balance population growth and traffic. |
| District D |
| Ada Edwards (I) |
|
|
| District E |
| Addie Wiseman (I) |
|
|
| District F |
| Khalid Khan |
|
|
| M.J. Khan (I) |
|
|
| John Shike |
|
|
| District G |
| Pam Holm (I) |
|
|
| District H |
| Adrian Garcia (I) |
Yes, this makes sense. I would like to see more bike trails serve a workforce that chooses to commute to work by bike that live close to the Central Business District. |
Homeowners and neighborhoods should be given the highest consideration and respect and such projects should be done through careful planning with the affected communities and projects should take into account reasonable alternatives before continuing with standard practices. |
| Larry Williams |
|
|
| District I |
| Carol Alvarado (I) |
|
|
| John Parras |
|
|
Last updated Fri Nov 4, 2005.
