Houston mayor outlines plans to fix broken water lines and potholes ahead of FIFA events

Houston Mayor John Whitmire addressed the city’s ongoing broken water line issues and deteriorating road conditions during his State of the City speech.

HOUSTON — Houston Mayor John Whitmire addressed the city’s ongoing broken water line issues and deteriorating road conditions during his State of the City speech, saying improvements are underway as thousands of visitors are expected for upcoming FIFA events. He outlined progress made over the past two years and detailed plans to repair streets and replace aging pipes across the city.

In his address, Whitmire said Houston is prepared to be in the international spotlight.

“FIFA said we’re the most prepared city,” he said in Thursday’s address.

However, a drive through parts of downtown shows streets are in rough shape.

“We are fixing to pave 85 blocks of downtown,” he said.

According to Houston Public Works, the work will go beyond simple pothole repairs. The plan includes resurfacing rather than full reconstruction, along with curb and gutter replacement and sewer upgrades.

The mayor also added the city will be repaving 1,000 miles around the city. 

Water infrastructure was also a major focus of the speech. The city has dealt with thousands of broken water lines, frustrating residents in multiple neighborhoods. Whitmire said the city has made significant progress and set an ambitious goal moving forward.

“We have a goal now by first of year to have no broken pipes,” he said. “It was 1,900. We have 400 today. We are moving in the right direction.”

Houston Public Works officials said the city plans to replace about 3 percent of its water lines each year, which amounts to roughly 200 miles annually.

Whitmire said the city is prioritizing areas that have been underserved.

“We look at the equality, the equity, where we need to spend our money,” Whitmire said. “Some have been neglected longer than others. Some intense resources. We have got great staff directors.”

Beyond roads and water lines, the mayor also discussed broader infrastructure ideas. He floated the possibility of introducing a water taxi system along Houston’s bayous and reviving plans to connect the city’s airports to downtown through METRORail.

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