Highways & infrastructure

What if we could build a future where cars, highways and outdated infrastructure don’t dominate our lives?

Which highway and infrastructure projects our government spends money on can shape our communities and have a direct impact on the quality of our lives. But far too often we are cut out of those decisions, or lack the information we need to make sure bad projects are stopped, and the right investments get made. Together we can make sure our leaders are making the right choices, and building a better future for all of us.

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Statement: Department of Transportation puts another brake on Houston’s proposed I-45 expansion

Highways & infrastructure

Statement: Department of Transportation puts another brake on Houston’s proposed I-45 expansion

The United States Department of Transportation has reportedly told Texas transportation officials on Wednesday to stop eminent domain activities around a proposed multi-billion highway widening project that would cut through downtown Houston.

Media Statements  

United States Department of Transportation puts another brake on Houston’s proposed I-45 expansion 

Highways & infrastructure

United States Department of Transportation puts another brake on Houston’s proposed I-45 expansion 

The United States Department of Transportation has reportedly told Texas transportation officials on Wednesday to stop eminent domain activities around a proposed multi-billion highway widening project that would cut through downtown Houston. Estimated at $7.5 billion, the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) would widen I-45 in three sections, impacting more than 70 miles of interstate, worsen Houston’s already poor air pollution, and displace more than 1,000 residents, businesses, multiple houses of worship and schools.  Bay Scoggin, executive director of TexPIRG, issued the following statement:   “As one of the nation's worst highway boondoggles, the North Houston Highway Improvement Project would bring nothing but more cars and dirtier air to a city already drowning in traffic and pollution. The federal government’s recognition that Texas has not done its due diligence on a project which, by TxDOT's own admission, would displace thousands of Houstonians, is a crucial next step in the years-long advocacy against the widening of I-45. Let’s take a different approach to fix our congestion problems by taking cars off the road and investing this $7 billion in public transit.”

Media Statements  

United States Department of Transportation puts another brake on Houston’s proposed I-45 expansion 

Highways & infrastructure

United States Department of Transportation puts another brake on Houston’s proposed I-45 expansion 

The United States Department of Transportation has reportedly told Texas transportation officials on Wednesday to stop eminent domain activities around a proposed multi-billion highway widening project that would cut through downtown Houston. Estimated at $7.5 billion, the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) would widen I-45 in three sections, impacting more than 70 miles of interstate, worsen Houston’s already poor air pollution, and displace more than 1,000 residents, businesses, multiple houses of worship and schools.  Bay Scoggin, executive director of TexPIRG, issued the following statement:   “As one of the nation's worst highway boondoggles, the North Houston Highway Improvement Project would bring nothing but more cars and dirtier air to a city already drowning in traffic and pollution. The federal government’s recognition that Texas has not done its due diligence on a project which, by TxDOT's own admission, would displace thousands of Houstonians, is a crucial next step in the years-long advocacy against the widening of I-45. Let’s take a different approach to fix our congestion problems by taking cars off the road and investing this $7 billion in public transit.”

Media Statements  

2021-22 legislative session ends with progress on health care, transportation

Health care

2021-22 legislative session ends with progress on health care, transportation

As the state legislative session wraps up, the advocacy group TexPIRG says that while the Legislature delivered for Texans on prescription drug price transparency and the expansion of telehealth, on the whole, lawmakers didn’t do enough to help their constituents. “Given the high-profile opportunities to  winterize our electrical grid, hold companies liable for mistreating consumers and prevent the spread of COVID-19, Texans expected better results from the Legislature,” said Bay Scoggin, TexPIRG director.

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