Upper Kirby District Street Talk  

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In This Issue:
UK Ped Projects up for Grant Funding
District Construction
Levy Park Renovation Update
Free Metro Rides in August
Upper Kirby Streetscape Initiatives

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August 18, 2015
We Need Your Help!
Support Pedestrian Improvements In Upper Kirby
Shepherd and Bissonnet up for Federal Funds

Existing Pedestrian Access to Transit on Bissonnet
H-GAC is announcing the opening of a public comment period for candidate transportation projects for state and/or federal funding assistance.

The Upper Kirby District has two candidate projects up for consideration: Shepherd between Westheimer and US 59 and Bissonnet between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway. 

Funding such as this is what has allowed Upper Kirby the ability to implement successful pedestrian streetscapes alongside drainage projects on major thoroughfares throughout the District. No single pedestrian improvement project is successful on its own. As these corridors continue to be improved with alternative modes of transportation in mind, we are creating a network of safe, accessible corridors that connect people with transit and ever growing multi-use destinations. Your support will help us continue to implement aggressive capital improvements for all modes of transportation.
Shepherd: Current Pedestrian Condition
 
The public comment period began on Monday, July 27, 2015 and ends on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. 
 
All written comments may be submitted to Transportation Public Information,Houston-Galveston Area Council, P.O. Box 22777, Houston, TX 77227-2777, emailed to publiccomments@h-gac.com, or faxed to (713) 993-4508. For more information, please visit  http://www.h-gac.com/taq/tip/2015-tip-call-for-projects.aspx. Comments received during the public comment period will be provided to the Transportation Policy Council for its consideration.

For more information on these projects, please contact Travis Younkin 
at 713.524.8000 or travis@upperkirby.org.   
Upper Kirby Construction
Center Lanes Open- Greenbriar to Shepherd

  

Westheimer Reconstruction: Kirby to Shepherd
Sidewalk Installation- North Side of Westheimer

Work on Westheimer has been focused primarily on concrete placement along the center of the roadway over the past three weeks. This work will continue roughly through the first part of September pushing west from Greenbriar to Kirby. 

This week, crews were able to complete pavement placement along the center of the roadway in two sections. The first between Greenbriar and Westgate and the second between Kirby and Dickey. Crews were also able to open the section poured last week between Shepherd and Greenbriar. As concrete cures, these sections will continue to be opened to traffic. 

It is anticipated that with favorable weather over the next week, workers could finish the center section of the roadway between Kirby and Shepherd and it could be reopened as early as the following week throughout the length of the project. 

Work also continued this week on concrete sidewalk placement along the north side of Westheimer. Crews were able to pour concrete sidewalk between Greenbriar and Kingston and set forms between Shepherd and Persa. This activity will continue next week as well. 

Bissonnet Reconstruction: Kirby to Buffalo Speedway

There has been no development this week on the Bissonnet project between Kirby and Buffalo Speedway. Please find last week's update below:

Since completion of the underground utility duct bank work on Bissonnet several months ago there has not been any significant activity on the street. Utility poles are still up as some of the communications providers needed additional design work to complete the transfer to underground service. 

The plan for the final reconstruction of Bissonnet is to bid the project this fall with the aim of beginning construction around the first of the year. This will allow ample time for the remaining utility transfers to be made and the poles to be removed. It will also allow the roadway to be unobstructed over the holiday season. 

Shepherd Reconstruction: Westheimer to US 59

The Upper Kirby District is preparing to begin design on the drainage and pavement improvements project on Shepherd between Westheimer and US 59 over the next several months. This construction will provide storm drainage improvement, new pavement, utility relocation and complete streetscape and pedestrian improvements. 

Construction will likely follow Westheimer work in the 2017/2018 time frame. 

For more information on Upper Kirby construction and related activities or for construction related issues or concerns, please contact Travis Younkin at 713.524.8000 or travis@upperkirby.org.   
Levy Park Renovation
Watch Construction Live via LevyParkHouston.org's Webcam

  

View From New Wakeforest Frontage
Burton Construction is continuing to mobilize on site at the six-acre site at Levy Park. 

Initial demolition activity continued this week breaking out concrete along the north side of the park and clearing a path that will soon take shape as a northern park road. The road will provide additional street parking for the park as well as additional access and cross-flow between Eastside and Wakeforest. Park staff will have the ability to close the road for markets, festivals and other regular and seasonal events.

You can follow construction progress live 24/7 via the project's online webcam by clicking here. 

The renovation will entail an improved community garden, expanded dog park facilities, an event lawn and performance pavilion, one-of-a-kind children's play area, an activity lawn with outdoor games, interactive water, food and drink and curated, year-round programming.
 
Temporary Dog Park Will Remain Open During Construction
There will be no public access to the park during construction, however, the active dog walking community in Levy Park will still have access to the temporary dog run facilities as the permanent improvements are constructed. 

For more information on the renovation of Levy Park, visit levyparkhouston.org.
METRO Offers Free Rides in August

   
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Upper Kirby is a constantly evolving urban area marked by an outstanding location, great shopping, unique residential neighborhoods, smart development and a small town feel. It is an area of successful businesses, involved communities and a synergy between the public and private sectors. It is the heartbeat of Houston and everywhere you want to be.