The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $25 million grant for upgrades to the Shepherd Drive/ Durham Drive corridor in central northwest Houston, including improvements to safety, traffic flow, drainage, and transit options, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced.
Completion of the project is expected in 2025 under the supervision of Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 5, whose contribution of an additional $25 million in property tax revenue will bring the cost to a total of $50 million.
Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 5 applied for the grant with the support of the city, local organizations and elected officials at the federal, state and municipal levels.
“This breakthrough grant award is the result of teamwork by the redevelopment authority, city government, our congressional delegation and neighborhood civic groups, which is a great formula for success,” Mayor Turner said. “Just as important, the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program puts federal taxpayers’ money at the street level, right where it’s often needed.”
The project between 15th Street and 610 Loop North will provide better traffic flow through the addition of turning lanes at designated intersections, a designated bike lane, improved sidewalks, drainage upgrades and better Metro transit stops.
“The Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority is ecstatic to have been selected for this very competitive grant. Our team worked closely with City staff from several different departments in order to make this possible,” authority board Chair Ann Lents said. “We are looking forward to continued close coordination to complete this first section of the project and to jointly identify funding for the second phase of the project, which will finalize the improvements south of W. 15th to IH-10.”
For more about the grant go to https://memorialheightstirz5.com/build-grant/