Dear Friends,
In Harris County, our roads carry more than just traffic. They carry a grim truth: one person dies nearly every day of the year on our roads. We can’t bring those we’ve needlessly lost back, but we can build smarter and safer infrastructure, and we must.
Every life lost on our roads leaves a lasting impact—shattering families, unsettling communities, and casting shadows of grief. As we commemorate World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims this week, we face these painful realities together and renew our commitment to ending the daily devastation on our roads.
When we became the first county in Texas to adopt a Vision Zero Plan in 2019, we knew it would be a hard road to zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. But in setting that goal, we declared that safe and equitable mobility for all isn’t optional; it’s our promise.
Three years later, progress is taking shape. We’ve updated crash data, identified the top 33 high-injury corridors in our region, and adopted guidelines for traffic calming. We are also seeking state and federal grants to help fund additional safety improvements.
These changes are urgent. Houston’s reputation as one of the deadliest U.S. cities for cyclists haunts our streets. You may have seen the white bikes around Harris County – each marking where a cyclist was killed and vividly reminding us of the need for safe infrastructure for all.
When I became Commissioner in 2017, Houston had only one protected bike lane Downtown and around 9 miles of comfortable bikeways on the street. Since then, we have worked aggressively to invest in infrastructure that makes biking safe and accessible. We have built 45 miles of bikeways and trails, with 55 miles under construction and nearly 115 miles in planning and design. Additionally, 35 miles of wide sidewalks are completed or are being built.
In addition to building life-saving infrastructure, we also host regular bicycle rodeos and bicycle safety trainings at our Finnigan Park Traffic Garden to improve confidence and skills so that those who cycle are prepared for the road.
Every day, we strive to honor the lives lost to roadway fatalities by building safer, more interconnected communities.
Together, we can save lives and create a legacy of safety for future generations.
Sincerely,
Rodney Ellis