a bayou runs through it

What should Houston's waterway be? Buffalo Bayou Partnership sparks a dialoguefrom Shepherd to Sabine

An aerial view of the proposed pedestrian bridge
Construction of new paths between Memorial Drive and Buffalo Bayou

Change is afoot along Houston's most iconic waterway, and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership wants to imprint the city's voice into its future paths. The organization has invited Houstonians to attend two upcoming community meetings to share their ideas and recommendations for enhancing the Shepherd to Sabine stretch of Buffalo Bayou.

Attendees will also give input on restoring the Shepherd-Sabine flood channel in an environmentally sensitive area, reintroducing native landscapes to adjacent parkland and adding amenities to enhance the safety and comfort of users.

Also at the meetings, updates will be provided on projects currently underway and planned for the near future, including construction of a new pedestrian bridge and trails, Harris County Flood Control District's "pilot project" that seeks to restore a small stretch of the bayou channel and the City of Houston and TxDots' rebuilding of bike trails that have fallen into disrepair.

Guy Hagstette — who recently stepped down as Discovery Green's founding president and park director to focus on the Buffalo Bayou — will moderate the meetings.

"Much of the organization's planning work hasn't even started," Hagstette told CultureMap. "We wanted to have some meetings with Houstonians about what should — and shouldn't — be done. I want to make sure the process works for everybody.

"The plan is to go back out into the public sometime in the fall."

In addition to managing the overall planning, design and construction of Discovery Green, Hagstette also served as the special assistant to the mayor for urban design for a period, and was a key player in the redevelopment of downtown in a previous position at the Houston Downtown Management District.

The summer meetings will take place on June 28 and June 29, from 6-8 p.m. at the Mt. Horeb Missionary Baptist Church and United Way of Greater Houston Community Resource Center, respectively.Regarding the Bridge formerly known as Tolerance just east of Studemont, the Partnership says the structure will boast three landings (most bridges only have two) and that small shaded and lighted plazas with benches will provide spots of respite. The brushed stainless steel bridge will be 100-percent fabricated and erected by Houston companies, including the designer, Kevin Shanley with SWA Group.

The 700-foot lighted sky-walk will offer a place to pause and celebrate the downtown skyline and the Buffalo Bayou corridor.

Also on the table will be the impending connection of Memorial and Spotts parks to the bayou trail system for the first time. Crossing under the Shepherd Drive Bridge, a new trail will allow bicyclists and joggers to safely connect to Memorial Drive sidewalks and on to Memorial Park.

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Sobering statistic

Texas ranks as one of the deadliest states for New Year’s crashes

Courtesy

Be sure to arrange a safe ride home on New Year's Eve.

At more than 314,000 miles, Texas boasts the largest system of public roads among the 50 states. It also holds the unfortunate distinction of being one of the deadliest states for New Year’s car accidents.

An analysis of 2014-2023 traffic data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows Texas is the ninth worst state for traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

During the 10-year period covered by the analysis, commissioned by AutoAccident.com, Texas tallied 280 traffic deaths on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — the highest total of any state. The 280-person toll in Texas works out to 9.61 deaths per one million residents, a rate that’s 37 percent above the national average of 6.99 deaths per one million residents.

The analysis reveals that nearly three-fourths (64 percent) of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traffic deaths in Texas were drivers, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) were pedestrians, and 16 percent were passengers.

“New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights on American roads,” says Edward Smith, managing attorney at AutoAccident.com, a personal injury law firm.

“With impaired driving incidents spiking during holiday celebrations, every driver has a responsibility to make smart choices that protect themselves and others sharing the road,” Smith adds. “Even in states with strong safety records, one preventable death is too many.”

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), more than 2,000 drunk driving-related crashes happened during the 2024 holiday season. Last year, December ranked as the No. 1 month in Texas for wrecks caused by drunk drivers.

“The holidays are a wonderful time to be with family, and yet they can also be a painful reminder for those who have lost loved ones to preventable crashes,” says Marc Williams, executive director of TxDOT. “Let’s make a new holiday tradition to drive like a Texan: kind, courteous, and safe. That means always getting a sober ride.”

TxDOT offers these four tips for staying safe on the roads as the calendar switches from 2025 to 2026:

Designate a sober driver before the celebrations start.
Ask a sober relative or friend to pick you up if you’re too tipsy to drive.
Use public transit or rideshare services.
Stay off the roads until you’ve sobered up.

traffic fatalities crime holidays new year's day new years eve traffic