Proposed Developments
Will Power Line Bike Trails Come to Harris County?
by Allyn West
Quicklink, Utilities
WILL POWER LINE BIKE TRAILS COME TO HARRIS COUNTY? Approved this week and sent on to Gov. Perry was a new draft of that bill proposing bike trails along CenterPoint utility rights of way. CenterPoint didn't seem too crazy about the first draft of the bill, saying back in February that it wouldn't allow the trails unless it was assured it wouldn't be liable should something shocking happen. This revised draft, the Houston Chronicle' s Mike Morris reports, covers CenterPoint all the way up to "willful or wanton acts or gross negligence." And Morris writes that as many as 142 miles of right of way in Harris County could be available for trails if Gov. Perry signs off on the bill, many of them providing missing north-south connections between the existing trails that run primarily east-west along the bayous. (Houston Chronicle ($); previously on Swamplot) Photo: StateImpact
Bicycles, CenterPoint, Recreation, Trails, Utilities
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ZAW May 3, 2013 at 2:40 pm
I do hope they can work out the legal end of things and build hike and bike trails on power line rights of way. I you look at a map of Houston, we have hike and bike trails running east/west on Bayous, but not much running north/south. The power line rights of way run north/south.
JB May 3, 2013 at 3:19 pm
I live off of Willowbend next to the transmission lines that go north through Bellaire, West U, and cross Westheimer at Highland Village. This would be a great thing because for now I only have access to the Bray's Bayou trail (which is nice, but as others have pointed out only goes E-W).
heightsite May 3, 2013 at 3:21 pm
If Perry can sign this, it really would not change my mind about him, but at least it would be one less mark against him!
Alec May 3, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Great news! The liability language seems fair and should protect all parties involved, so hopefully that issue is put to bed.
It's hard to believe, but this project could make Houston one of the most bike-commuter friendly cities in the US. We may not have as understanding of drivers as Portland or Boulder, but that doesn't matter when cyclists aren't forced to share the same roads.
Anse May 3, 2013 at 3:37 pm
This idea is too good and opposed by too few for me to trust the governor to go ahead and sign the bill.
purdueenginerd May 3, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Somehow, I'll expect Rick Perry to connect the dots to communism, hippies, and libruls and reject this…
Where's commensense to help make the connection? ;)
I kid I kid…
Old School May 3, 2013 at 4:03 pm
Anything that limits the liability of big business gets signed by Gov. Perry. This is a good deal. Now we just need to get the funds to cut some trails.
Superdave May 3, 2013 at 4:13 pm
It's really positive to see how this issue has been transformed. The legal resistance was a deal breaker, but once they got enough power to unplug the concerns, they charged right ahead. Now we'll see if there will be enough capacity in public interest to generate the funding for the trails.
Higher Density May 3, 2013 at 4:26 pm
@Superdave- I am shocked by all of the electrifying and hair raising puns. I really got a charge from them
heyzeus May 3, 2013 at 4:31 pm
@purdueenginerd: All you have to do is say "UN Agenda 21" and the bill is as good as dead. It's the new Cruz/Perry mantra.
JT May 3, 2013 at 5:49 pm
I wonder how Dallas managed to construct a trail in an Oncor/TXU Power line easement that runs though a residential swath in North Dallas.? It opened last year.
commonsense May 3, 2013 at 5:55 pm
@purdueenginerd, once in a while you gotta throw the hippies a bone, especially if it doesn't cost anything ;)
Benny Cargill May 3, 2013 at 6:24 pm
I'm excited, finally someone is NOT building a luxury apartment complex with retail on 1st floor on this land!!
Hdtex May 3, 2013 at 10:24 pm
He'll find a way to monetize it and make a buck for his wealthy keepers. Asshat.
Patrick May 5, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Good ole boy, Tricky Dicky Perry won't sign the bill. Par for the course. He's a total douche nozzle.Hopefully next election he's the loser.
Jason C. May 6, 2013 at 10:01 am
Now we just need to get the funds to cut some trails.
I assume it will largely be paved, right? But if not, psh, just get us the right to use the land and I'm pretty sure the existing groups of Houston cyclists and commuters would love a project such as this and would contribute in kind—we all have tools lying around and trail maintenance comes with the territory.
ZAW May 6, 2013 at 11:11 am
Jason – that's a great idea! Then if the ad-hoc trails get enough use, we can make the case to Houston, Harris County, and/or the Management Districts to pony up the money to have them paved.
The only real centralized expense you'd need is to map them so that people know where to go. But compared to paving trails, that's minimal.
Pffft May 6, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Funny how even the mention of Rick Perry's name gets the cyber children flopping down in the grocery store isles throwing temper tantrums. haha
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