Third Ward to Main Street Connectivity Project
FAQs

When will citizens have the opportunity to provide comments?

Anyone may participate in this project and provide comments by attending public meetings, design workshops and Steering Committee meetings. Soon after project kick-off in early July, three Stakeholder meetings will be held to discuss the community’s vision for each street as well as opportunities and constraints. Check this web page or contact The Third Ward Redevelopment Council (TWRC) for information about meeting dates and times. In addition, people are encouraged to contact the project team directly by phone or email.

Who will determine what improvements are made, what they look like and where they are constructed?

The community will make these decisions. Public meetings, design workshops and Steering Committee meetings will be designed to solicit as much input from neighborhood residents, business owners and other interested stakeholders as possible. The project team will merely act as facilitators and idea generators, and with guidance from agency advisors, will lead the community to a consensus on the best design and implementation of improvements.

What is METRO’s role in this project?

METRO is a partner in this project and will be providing input at various stages throughout the process. A Destination/Origin study that METRO performed for this area is key to assessing potential changes to existing transit routes.

Is this project part of the improvements being made to Almeda Road?

The Third Ward to Main Street Connectivity Project is funded separately through a Federal grant as well as in-kind contributions. However, the project team is working closely with OST/Almeda TIRZ representatives who sponsored the improvements to Almeda. In fact, the consultants hired for this project, M2L and Archi*Technics 3, were both involved in the design and implementation of the Almeda improvements.

How were the streets selected for construction of improvements? How can I provide input for the project?

After several discussions with the TWRC Board of Directors, Blodgett was selected because it provides an unobstructed link between the University of Houston, Texas Southern University and the Wheeler-Blodgett light rail station. Blodgett Street is also centrally located within the community and has a small commercial node where it intersects with Dowling.

The purpose of the first townhall meetings will be to learn from the community what the transit and pedestrian needs are, what are considered important destinations within the Third Ward and what are important destinations for community residents outside the Third Ward.