Less space for parking is a crucial step toward walkability in Houston
URBAN EDGE : August 27, 2020
By design, Houston is car-dependent. Yet, Kinder Surveys have shown that half of Houstonians want to live where they can walk more and drive less. Recently approved ordinances that promote walkability in neighborhoods should help. Importantly, in certain areas, the new regulations will eliminate and reduce minimum parking requirements, which are considered costly, unfair and inefficient by many experts.
From civic pride to slowing traffic, public art for the public good
URBAN EDGE : May 15, 2020
Public art is an important part of urban design that strengthens community identity and pride. It can have cultural and economic benefits for neighborhoods and it’s accessible to everyone. Great and unexpected pieces of public art can be found across Houston. And best of all, it can be enjoyed at a safe distance from others.
What if we spent billions to improve access instead of gridlock?
URBAN EDGE : March 5, 2020
American cities are caught in a cycle that goes something like this: Expand roads to mitigate gridlock, which encourages more people to drive, which produces more congestion, which is addressed by expanding roads, which encourages more people to drive and on it goes. According to a new report, the continual expansion of roads only treats a symptom — congestion — and not the disease — sprawl.
But what if we’re focusing on the wrong thing?
Kinder Institute Forum: Mitchell J. Silver
EVENT : March 4, 2020
New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver discusses how planning and design can create equitable, inclusive and fun places for residents of New York, Houston and beyond.
Near Northside: Safe Streets, Safe Communities
RESEARCH : February 26, 2020
This report is the second in a series aimed to aid efforts to improve street safety in Houston. The first report (Safe Streets, Safe Communities) is linked below.
Many residents feeling far from safe on Near Northside streets
URBAN EDGE : February 25, 2020
Near Northside residents’ perception of safety and the quality of streets and sidewalks are assessed in a pair of new reports from the Kinder Institute. The findings show subpar infrastructure and fears of crime and cars are endangering many in the neighborhood.
How METRO made bus service a priority and became a transit trendsetter
URBAN EDGE : January 16, 2020
In 2015, METRO took its outdated bus network down to the studs and designed an entirely new regional transit system that made bus service less complicated and more frequent along the busiest routes. The results made transportation officials in cities across the country take notice.
Houston doesn’t have zoning, but there are workarounds
URBAN EDGE : January 12, 2020
So, what’s the deal with zoning laws in Houston? While it’s true the city has none, it still regulates development using a complex system of codes. These codes, however, don’t govern land use.
Transit Adjacent Development and Neighborhood Change in Houston
RESEARCH : December 11, 2019
This study explores how land use has changed between 2010 and 2016 in transit adjacent development (TAD) areas of Harris County, defined as census block groups within one mile of light rail stations, transit centers, and Park & Ride locations.