Dear friends and community members,

Houston has the highest bicycle fatality rate in the country and one of the highest pedestrian fatality rates. Our area is no different, with many near misses of individuals speeding down Montrose or West Gray.  Many of our students skip walking due to safety concerns. With this campaign, we can help reinforce our values that every kid should have a chance to walk to school and support vital infrastructure that supports our walking kids and parents.  

We are writing to request your help and endorsement for a cause that is near and dear to our hearts, and pivotal for the safety and well-being of our children: The Montrose Safe Routes to Schools Connections Project.

This transformative project seeks to renovate and enhance the pedestrian routes to the Wharton Dual Language Academy and other nearby schools in Houston's Montrose neighborhood. The proposal includes replacing dilapidated sidewalks with new, wider 6-foot pathways, ensuring a safer journey for our young students. Furthermore, we plan to add sidewalks in strategic locations to form a comprehensive network, providing children with safer, unbroken routes to school.

A key aspect of the project is the improvement of crosswalk visibility, with the introduction of three rectangular rapid flashing beacons on the historically accident-prone West Gray Street. Both sides of the following roadways will also see sidewalk enhancements: West Clay Street, Columbus Street, West Bell Street, Marconi Street, West Pierce Street, West Dallas Street, Crocker Street, Stanford Street, West Gray Street, Peden Street, Taft Street, and Bomar Street.

At present, the TXDOT grant application supporting this project is in its second phase with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). But, we need your help to propel this initiative forward to approval.

This is where we call upon you, our community members, for assistance. By signing this petition, you will demonstrate your support for this indispensable project that will benefit our neighborhood and its future generations. Your signatures can bolster our application with TxDOT, helping us receive the necessary funding for this much-needed initiative.

Our children deserve to travel safely to and from school each day. It is our collective responsibility to ensure they have this basic right. Please sign and share this petition to help us make this vision a reality.

Thank you for your time and support.