Collaborating for Positive Change

In January 2026, the North Houston District applied for grant funding for a major sidewalk improvement project along West Road. We are pleased to announce that a grant in the amount of $242,500 was recently awarded for the project by Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Garcia’s Office.

The full scope of the project includes building new sidewalks on the north and south sides of West Road from I-45 to Airline Drive. The District will also be adding missing crosswalks on two legs of the intersection of West Road and Sweetwater Lane.

“The West Road sidewalk project stood out to the grant committee because it aims to make conditions safer for pedestrians, especially students walking to nearby schools. Additionally, all details of the project were ready, which meant construction could start sooner,” Precinct 2 Spokesperson Scott Spiegel said of the funding decision.

According to Robert Fiederlein, NHD Vice President of Planning & Infrastructure, the project design should be complete by the end of October 2026, before contractor bids in November, and awarding the construction contract in December (tentatively). Construction is expected to begin in January of 2027.

The Need: A Continuous, Upgraded Sidewalk Network

Currently, most of the sidewalks along West Road do not meet the City of Houston’s standard of  6-foot minimum width. There is also a large section of missing sidewalk on the south side of the road. This sidewalk improvement project will address both once completed, with continuous 6-foot sidewalks on both sides of the street.

This will make it safer for the pedestrians who use the sidewalks to get to school or to the restaurants and stores in the area. The entire north section of the project borders Aldine High School, where students use the sidewalks every day during the school year.

In order to be chosen for funding, the project was reviewed to see how it would benefit the community. Spokesperson Scott Spiegel shared that “Projects are evaluated on the basis of whether they will improve safety, reduce flooding, make it easier for people to get around, and have a positive impact on the area. We also consider how leveraging combined funds to build projects will produce real change, and if this is the best use of taxpayers’ dollars.”

With NHD and Precinct 2 in alignment on the importance of addressing pedestrian safety, the sidewalk improvement project was a strong fit for a funding partnership.

A Partnership Rooted In Common Goals

The main goal of the Precinct 2 grant program is to help communities accomplish more by working together. “When one entity is not solely responsible for the cost of a whole project, it makes the work happen faster. Precinct 2 partners with cities, nonprofits, civic clubs, HOAs, MUDs and any other eligible partners to share costs,” Spiegel said.

Commissioner Garcia encourages Precinct 2 staff to forge inter-agency partnerships and leverage resources with neighboring communities to get things done for constituents. “Put simply, we work best when we work together. Combining resources helps us move more quickly and efficiently. This means improvements for the community come sooner—and when safety is a major motivating factor, the work can’t happen quickly enough,” Spiegel explained.

The North Houston District has a similar position on collaboration. “Partnerships are a big part of how the District accomplishes projects—nobody can do it all. We are fortunate that Commissioner Garcia has prioritized sidewalks and pedestrian safety. This funding will allow us to build new infrastructure that meets current guidelines much quicker than if we had to fund the project ourselves,” Fiederlein said.

With both partners in eager support of the project, the work will be completed within the 2027 calendar year.

“We are excited to partner with North Houston District on this project because it will mean families will experience real safety in their everyday lives once the work is complete. We appreciate the District coming to us to partner, and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship,” Precinct 2 confirmed. Stay tuned for updates as the project progresses.

About the Precinct 2 Grant Program

The goal of the Harris County Precinct 2 Partnership Program is to ensure that the wide array of Precinct 2 communities have neighborhoods that are both safe and easy to navigate. This can specifically include building or fixing roads, sidewalks, or drainage enhancements. Precinct 2 has even helped install ADA-accessible playground equipment and fences at neighborhood parks as part of the program. Ultimately, the grant program serves to help improve the lives of area residents.

Applications for the Partnership Program open once every year in January. After all the applications are reviewed, Precinct 2 selects projects based on how much funding is available that year, how much can be contributed by the partner organization, which projects can start most quickly, and, most importantly, what impact the work will have on the community.