I’m back — Here’s what I missed. Plus, we already have a BIG traffic-calming update 👀

OK, Heights. Catch me up. 😂

And wow…I have a LOT of you to get back to!

If you sent me a message while I was gone (or just before I left) and I haven’t gotten back to you yet, thank you for being patient with me! I’m working my way through what feels like a million emails, DMs and story ideas today, so please know I’m not ignoring you. I’m just catching up and honestly...it will probably take a few days.

I also submitted some open records requests and sent many emails to folks before I left, so I’m hoping there are some gold nuggets waiting for me in my inbox. Fingers crossed.

🚙 One week -- three BIG stories, all involving cars?!

1. Several of you sent me photos of a crash that happened at 600 West 11th Street a little over a week ago. Police say it all started as a burglary call where a man was breaking into cars at an apartment complex. Once caught, Police chased the man in his car. He ran through several intersections before driving over a bike lane, losing control and crashing into a tree. His vehicle caught fire and he died at the scene.
2. I also am very aware of the crossing guard who was hit during dismissal Thursday at Harvard Elementary School. It happened at the intersection of East 9th Street and Harvard Street. The crossing guard was alert and responsive after the incident and was transported by EMS for further evaluation. I reached out to HISD for more information, including an update on the crossing guard’s current condition and additional details about the driver, but they did not provide those details today. If you know the crossing guard or anyone involved and they need support, please let me know.
3. Lastly, I genuinely cannot make this one up. An Uber driver in the Heights was suddenly recruited into a police pursuit over the weekend. The driver, Anthony Baines, was stopped near East 7 1/2 and Oxford when he saw a man running with two HPD officers chasing him. The officers got into Baines’ Uber and told him to “Go, go, go!” He then picked up the second officer, drove them around the area as they looked for the suspect, and eventually dropped them back near their patrol car. Woah.

So yeah, those are the major stories I came back to.

🚗 Traffic calming

Meanwhile, this is another question I keep hearing from people around the Heights: How does a street actually get traffic calming measures?

So I asked the City how requests are evaluated and prioritized, whether there’s a backlog, and what determines whether a street gets things like speed cushions, stop signs or other traffic-calming measures.

We already know these projects can be VERY expensive, but I’ve gotten enough questions about them that I wanted to understand how the process actually works, and why some streets get improvements while others don’t.

I’m also looking into Arlington Street near Heights High School, where residents have raised concerns about long-term street and drainage issues, along with increased traffic and parking impacts.

One resident, sent me City street-assessment data showing portions of Arlington received a D and F rating for street condition back in 2011.

More than 15 years later, residents say they’re still dealing with many of the same issues.

I asked the City whether there is updated assessment data, whether those assessments are used when deciding which streets get improvements, and whether Arlington is currently being considered for any work. Another question here: When a neighborhood street becomes a school route, how does the city account for the extra wear and tear?

More to come.

🚗 And we actually have an update on North Norhill’s speed cushions!

I am told Council Member Mario Castillo recently met with Houston Public Works Director earlier this month, and the speed cushions I covered a while back— was one of the major topics discussed.

Here’s the big takeaway: Houston Public Works says about $22 million has been programmed to address the current NTMP backlog, and the North Norhill project is part of that backlog.

The department says its goal is to complete all currently funded speed-cushion projects in the construction queue — both in District H and across Houston — by the end of next year.

That means projects that have already been submitted, approved and funded, including North Norhill, are supposedly first in line as the department works through the backlog.

Now we need to see when it actually gets built.

I’ll keep an eye on this one.

But first…

What else did I miss while I was gone?! What are you seeing, hearing or wondering about?

Send it my way. I’m back and already pouring my diet coke. Ready to dig back in.

Nicole