Student Health

• More air and noise pollutants

• More sick days from respiratory diseases like asthma

• Reduced academic performance, shorter lifespan and lower quality of life

Environmental Justice

• Poverty around Roosevelt Elementary is 52%, compared to 43% in Houston as a whole

• Persons of color are 94%, compared to 74% in Houston as a whole

• The low income segments in 1 & 2 will be disproportionately be affected by the negative effects of the expansion.

Neighborhood Isolation

• Proposed construction would cut off access between White Oak Bayou Bike Trail and the Spring Street Bike Trail.

• Loss of North Ave. bridge and Cottage St connection will isolate Near Northside from Greater Heights, Houston Ave, Downtown, and Woodland Park.

• Loss of entrance to I-45 and I-610 will be a burden.

• Beautiful views of downtown will be blocked by TxDOT's new placement of I-10 and I-45.

Here’s TxDOT’s take on connectivity, from their Community Impacts Assessment:

“Numerous residential and business displacements would take place in Near Northside, and those would be mitigated appropriately. Between these super neighborhoods, TxDOT will provide a highway “cap” over the proposed depressed lanes of I-45. This configuration would create the opportunity for improved connectivity between the Near Northside and the Greater Heights neighborhoods.”

“TxDOT will provide a highway “cap” over the proposed depressed lanes of I-45. This area will be enclosed by a fence for safety purposes. Future use of the highway cap area for another purpose would require additional development and funding by entities other than TxDOT.”

Other displacements (from north to south)

Enterprise Commercial Paving
Mach Industrial Group – machine shop
Kevin’s Equipment Co – industrial supplier
Western Inn Houston
Iglesias Loans
Fax Service
Floors 2 Luv – flooring store
North Wind Apartments
Modern Alchemy – sheet metal contractor
Hot Water Guys – plumber
Amtex Auto Insurance
Lopez Arnold – attorney
Acme Business Cards & Signs
Vara’s on 45 – sports bar
James Bond Bail Bonds
Love’s Travel Stop
Luxury Inn
Americas Best Value Inn & Suites
Top Brass Military & Tactical
Pyramid Imports Tile & Flooring
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Urbana Recording Studios
American Best Locksmith
Skylane Downtown Apartments
Leonel J Castillo Community Center