SUSTAINABLE CITY PLANNING & TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT
The Whitmire administration has proved they are intent on turning Houston into a giant parking lot. Neeloy will reshape Houston with policies that aim to prioritize people over cars.
His administration will invest in comprehensive public transit networks, expand safe bike lanes, and implement walkable urban design strategies. By reducing dependency on personal vehicles and focusing on green infrastructure, Neeloy’s vision for Houston includes cleaner air, reduced traffic congestion, and vibrant neighborhoods where residents can live, work, and thrive without relying on a car for every trip, even for something as simple as a 5-minute trip to your local convenience store.
REDUCING TRAFFIC
To tackle Houston's growing congestion, Neeloy will implement a multifaceted traffic reduction plan. This includes working to introduce actually viable alternatives to be able to travel around the city without a car. He will also work with Houston’s major employers to incentivize carpooling and remote work options through targeted tax benefits. Finally, the park-and-ride facilities on the city’s periphery will be expanded to encourage commuters to leave their cars behind when entering the urban core.
HOUSTON METRO
Improving the city’s public transit system is central to Neeloy’s vision. Bus service access points and frequency will be increased along major routes, ensuring buses arrive regularly during peak times. Riders will benefit from real-time arrival data displayed at major stops, making the system more reliable and accessible. Neeloy will reintroduce the MetroNext plan and more. Aside from the 16 miles of Light Rail already planned by MetroNext, Neeloy will begin developing a budgeted plan to have connections to Hobby and Bush. If we're ever going to get trains to the airport, we have to start laying tracks now.
When it comes to buses, Neeloy will advocate for a bus infrastructure ordinance that mandates amenities such as benches, sidewalks, shelters, and more to ensure every ride is safe, accessible, and convenient. Feeder bus routes will also be added to improve access from underserved neighborhoods to METRORail stations. Through these initiatives, Neeloy will ensure that no matter where you are in Houston, you will have the means to walk to a bus stop or rail station to get wherever you want to go in a timely manner at a low cost.
PEDESTRIAN & BIKER-FRIENDLY HOUSTON
Creating a city where walking and biking are safe and convenient is another key priority. Neeloy will require consideration of protected bike lanes in all new and resurfaced road projects, making cycling a viable option for more residents. Sidewalk infrastructure will be expanded, with a focus on ADA accessibility and shaded walkways to improve comfort and safety. Residential areas and school zones will be designated as “slow zones,” with speed limits reduced to 20 mph to protect pedestrians.
A city-sponsored bike-share program with high-density station placement in urban neighborhoods will give more Houstonians access to affordable, sustainable transportation. Combined with his plans to expand Houston METRO, Neeloy envisions a city where people aren’t stuck in traffic for hours a day, where missing a bus doesn’t mean having to wait an hour and a half for the next one, where working families aren’t drained by car costs - where all Houstonians can enjoy more active, healthier lives.
PARKING REFORM
Houston’s parking system should be driven by data. We've all been there - when curb parking is always full, drivers circle blocks searching for spaces, creating unnecessary congestion. The goal should be performance-based parking: managing curb spaces so roughly 85 percent of spots are occupied, leaving one or two open spaces per block.
As mayor, Neeloy will implement three key reforms to make parking less of a pain and introduce a new revenue stream for a more mobile Houston all at the same time.
End outdated parking mandates.
Houston should eliminate remaining parking minimums that force developers to build excessive parking. The current rules are based on arbitrary metrics with no practical application. The elimination of these rules will lower rents, preserve Houston's valuable land and decrease construction costs so you're able to open that business you've always wanted to.
Implement performance-based curb parking.
The city will manage street parking using occupancy data. Meter prices will be adjusted so that about 15 percent of spaces remain available on each block. This reduces congestion and makes parking easier to find so that we're not circling the same block six times.
Earmark new parking revenue for neighborhood infrastructure.
With smarter parking management, Houston could generate $5–15 million per year to support these local improvements. Today, most parking revenue flows into Houston’s general fund with no clear connection to neighborhood improvements. Neeloy will ensure that a portion of these revenues is earmarked within the city budget for neighborhood infrastructure in the areas where the parking is generated. That means investing in sidewalks, transit stops, street lighting, and safer streets.
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