Provided
An image showing one of the 300 solar-powered lights being installed along the Columbia Tap Trail.
The Columbia Tap Trail in Houston is getting a bit brighter with a new investment from city and neighborhood officials. More than 300 solar-powered lights are being installed along the trail, beginning Monday.
The lights are being installed along the entire 4-mile trail, according to a news release. The Columbia Tap Trail, which runs from East Downtown through the Third Ward and to the Brays Bayou south of downtown, is being touted as one of the walkable paths to NRG Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Houston hosting seven matches between June 14 to July 4.
“The Columbia Tap Trail is more than a bike path,” Brian Smith, board chair of the Greater Southeast Management District, said in a news release. “It is a vital artery connecting communities that have shaped Houston’s history. This project demonstrates what’s possible when districts, city officials, and federal partners work together to create safer, more accessible public spaces.”
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Adam Zuvanich/Houston Public Media
A man rides a bicycle along the Columbia Tap Trail in Houston’s Third Ward on May 30, 2023.
Officials are labeling the light installation as “Phase 1” of a $7.5 million investment in the trail, led by the Greater Southeast Management District in collaboration with the East Downtown Management District. The solar-powered lights will “provide consistent illumination along the 10-foot-wide paved pathway,” according to the news release.
“The improvements along the Columbia Tap Trail reflect my administration’s commitment to creating safer and accessible public spaces for Houstonians,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. “The new lighting, cameras, signage, and crossing enhancements will improve visibility, increase security, and make it easier for people to use the trail. Whether people are exercising, commuting, or simply enjoying the outdoors, these investments help ensure the Columbia Tap Trail remains a welcoming and connected space for everyone.”
The Columbia Tap Trail is part of the “Green Corridor,” an investment in a more walkable and accessible loop around Houston. The trailhead begins near Shell Energy Stadium, and the Houston World Cup host committee’s FIFA Fan Festival in East Downtown. The walkable portion of the Green Corridor then follows along the Brays Bayou Greenway before moving on to NRG Park.
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An image of one of the 300 solar-powered lights being installed along the Columbia Tap Trail.
Though the light installation is beginning prior to the World Cup, the Greater Southeast Management District predicts it won’t be fully completed until this fall.
Future planned phases taking place later this year and running through 2027 include intersection safety improvements, emergency callbox installation and expanded wayfinding and interpretive signage.
Funding for the Columbia Tap Trail improvements came from the Houston-Galveston Area Council, administered by the Federal Transit Administration.
Daniel Ortiz/Provided
An image of one of the 300 solar-powered lights being installed along the Columbia Tap Trail.
On Friday, Air Alliance Houston announced it would permanently install a community air monitoring network along the Columbia Tap Trail to monitor air quality along the trail.
“This project reflects what responsible global event planning should look like —investments that leave communities stronger than they were before,” Juan Flores, director of programs at Air Alliance Houston, said in a Friday news release. “As Houston prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026, we have an opportunity to ensure the benefits of hosting extend beyond stadium walls and into the neighborhoods that make this city vibrant. This air monitoring network is a legacy investment in public health, transparency, and environmental justice.”