Houston leaders approve crosswalks and safety upgrades on 11th Street after complaints, aiming to protect families near Sinclair Elementary.
HOUSTON — Residents in northwest Houston’s Timbergrove area say long-standing safety concerns along 11th Street are finally being addressed.
Houston City Council on Wednesday approved new pedestrian safety measures at 11th Street near Shirkmere and Shelterwood, following repeated complaints from neighbors and coordination with Harris County officials. The improvements include adding marked crosswalks and related safety features to help families—especially students walking to nearby Sinclair Elementary—cross more safely.
The issue gained urgency after a crossing guard at Sinclair Elementary stepped in front of a vehicle to protect children in the roadway, highlighting the risks in the busy corridor.
“11th Street is a pretty busy road, there’s a lot of huge trucks that come through, people fly by all the time,” said resident Sean Christopher.
Christopher said previous efforts focused on drivers, not pedestrians.
“They had a speed monitor thing set up there, and it seemed like people were just using that to see how high they can get, which is crazy,” he said.
According to city agenda documents, the project is part of a broader push to improve pedestrian infrastructure in high-traffic residential areas, particularly near schools.
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said the project reflects joint efforts between the city and county after numerous complaints.
“We united, joined forces, to get the work done because that’s what our kids and families deserve,” Briones said.
For residents, the upgrades offer reassurance.
“There’s a lot of families here, lots of children, lots of dogs… the fact we don’t have a crosswalk here is kind of insane,” Christopher said.
City officials said data on pedestrian crashes in the area was not immediately available.
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