A $2.9-million project plans to rehab sidewalks and road pavement along a few blocks of Truxillo and Isabella streets in Midtown. Officials say the repairs will enhance the connectivity of the area.
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A small hooray for Midtown residents—a stretch of local sidewalks and roadway could soon get a much-needed facelift.
A six-month endeavor could tear into a portion of Midtown this fall, with the hopes of remedying 110,000 square feet of sidewalks in poor condition, according to a recent filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
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The project targets roughly six blocks along Truxillo Street from Main Street to U.S. 59, and another eight-block stretch along Isabella Street, from Main Street Almeda Road. In addition to rehabbing and replacing existing sidewalks, crews will also repair associated roadway pavement.
The corridor is one of seven in Midtown set for a phased makeover, according to the Midtown Redevelopment Authority (MRA), the agency behind the rehabilitation.
“As Midtown continues to grow, these infrastructure investments will help ensure that every resident and visitor can experience a community that is safe, inclusive, and built for connection,” Madison Walkes, senior marketing and communications manager with MRA, told Chron in a statement Wednesday.
A $2.9-million project plans to rehab sidewalks and road pavement along a few blocks of Truxillo and Isabella streets in Midtown. Officials say the repairs will enhance the connectivity of the area.
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Midtown as a ‘Walkable Place’ pilot
Poor sidewalks along the two corridors will be replaced with new five-foot-wide sidewalks, according to the filing. While details submitted to the TDLR are subject to change, construction could kick off this October and last through April 2027.
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New ADA-compliant ramps will also be installed at intersections and crosswalk markings will be improved, according to the MRA website. As for the roadway, worn streets will get a mill and asphalt overlay with enhanced pavement markings.
“These improvements are part of MRA’s long-term Capital Improvement Plan, which focuses on enhancing public infrastructure to support sustainable growth and make Midtown a safer, more enjoyable place to live, work, and explore,” Walkes said. “Condition assessments performed by Midtown and the City of Houston found that many Midtown streets needed resurfacing, and several sidewalks were too narrow, uneven, or missing altogether.”
Walkes said public feedback from nearby businesses and residents reinforced a need for better connectivity between Midtown’s residential, cultural and commercial areas.
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“Together, these efforts ensure that Midtown’s infrastructure is not only safer and more durable, but also aligned with the City of Houston’s Walkable Places Pilot Program, which prioritizes people-centered urban spaces,” the MRA website reads.
Alongside Emancipation Avenue and Hogan-Lorraine, Midtown is one of three areas selected for the Walkable Places Pilot Program—launched by the City of Houston in 2020. The program aims to “build upon Midtown’s potential” and “encourage walkability and promote better, more human-scaled public spaces, according to the city website.
How is the project funded?
The project has an estimated cost of $2.9 million, according to the filing.
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Funding comes from local, federal and district sources, according to the MRA. A HUD Community Project Fund totaling $1.14 million is dedicated to Truxillo and Isabella Streets, awarded by late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
An additional $179,000 will go towards the identified corridors, provided by Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz and the Council District D Service Funds.
A $2.9-million project plans to rehab sidewalks and road pavement along a few blocks of Truxillo and Isabella streets in Midtown. Officials say the repairs will enhance the connectivity of the area.
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What other corridors are set for a future makeover?
The MRA identified five additional key corridors that will be rehabbed in the future:
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Cleburne Street between Main and LaBranch streets
Caroline Street between Wheeler Avenue and Hermann Drive
Chenevert Street between Pierce and Elgin streets
Jackson Street between Pierce and McGowen streets
Hadley Street between Smith and Austin streets
The rehabilitation of Cleburne and Caroline streets is backed by a $1.56 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration, according to the MRA. MRA Tax Increment Funds will support the redevelopment of the remaining corridors.
Phased implementation of these projects will continue into 2027.
“These projects reflect Midtown’s ongoing commitment to public safety, accessibility, and long-term sustainability,” the MRA website reads.
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A familiar problem
Houston’s sidewalk troubles are nothing new. An October 2024 analysis from the Houston Chronicle found that only 61 percent of the city’s sidewalk network was in ‘good’ condition.
Between December 2024 and December 2025, Houston Public Works received more than 2,600 street and sidewalk hazard complaints city-wide, according to the Houston Business Journal.
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Last September, the Houston Forward Times went as far as labeling the city’s lack of sidewalks a “crisis,” calling out city officials for promoting city plans that prioritize cars over people.