A $1.5 million study will look into how to reconnect the Alief community that is currently divided by the Westpark Tollway.

The study will involve a community-driven planning process to focus on roadway safety, flood mitigation, bicycle-pedestrian access, transit options, parks and open spaces, and art. Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher said the study will consider community members first.

“Alief was here before the toll road was, and we want to make sure that we are thinking about all the different ways that we can increase access and reconnect Alief. And so, that’s what this funding will enable us to do,” she said.

The Reconnect Alief study is one of 132 of its kind across the nation, with most of the study federally funded and the rest covered by Harris County Precinct 4, according to Commissioner Lesley Briones’ office. The Reconnecting Communities Pilot program is the first-ever federally dedicated initiative focused on communities that were divided by past infrastructure choices and reconnecting them for a better future.

Dr. Anthony Mays is the Superintendent of Alief ISD and spoke at a press conference at Alief-Amity Park, right next to the Westpark Tollway.

“For a long time, people have talked about the eyesore of Westpark Tollway that exists right behind us,” said Superintendent of Alief ISD, Dr. Anthony Mays at the Thursday press conference next to Westpark Tollway. “But we know there’s power in what it does for our city. … I think for those of you that are familiar with Alief, you know that community is core and built into its founding.”

Gulfton will also benefit from a grant from the Reconnecting Communities Pilot program. Gulfton is considered a heat island, and one of the warmest areas of Houston because there’s little greenery, but a lot of concrete. A recent study identified both communities as two of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Houston when it comes to traffic injuries and fatalities in the city.

Roberto Treviño is the Executive Director of the Harris County Toll Road Authority. He said his team will not be working on designs for the Alief neighborhood, but concepts.

“It gives the community a sense of security and trust that we’re not interested in entering design, because after design is construction,” he said. “We want to share a lot of concepts from all across the world and all across the U.S. with the community. And then have them take a look at all those concepts and say, ‘these are the concepts we want to apply in this corridor, in our community.'”

Treviño said air and noise pollution are some of the bigger concerns with the Westpark tollway currently. In Near Northside, some community members have shared similar concerns over the Hardy Downtown Connector, another toll road authority project.

“In the Hardy Downtown Connector, we had a lot of community input on what they’d like to see (in) the project,” he said. “And we worried about the community and their requests first. And then, we said, ‘Hey, how can we weave a toll road along that corridor as well?”