1/30/25 – The effort to build an all weather evacuation route from Kingwood along Northpark Drive has been remarkably accident free – until recently. A large and sudden surge in Northpark accidents has caused the Houston Police Department to step up enforcement.
Speeding or other violations in the construction zone could now result in double the normal fine if you are caught.
Warning signs on westbound Northpark near Woodridge Parkway.Remember: sometimes work goes round the clock.
Factors that Increase Traffic Accidents in Construction Zones
According to ChatGPT, traffic accidents in construction zones are often caused by a combination of environmental factors, driver behavior, and work zone conditions. The primary causes include:
Speeding – Drivers exceeding posted speed limits or failing to slow down in work zones increases the likelihood of accidents.
Distracted Driving – Using mobile phones, adjusting the radio, or other distractions can lead to drivers missing critical warnings or changes in traffic patterns.
Sudden Lane Changes – Unpredictable lane shifts or merging without proper signaling can cause collisions.
Tailgating – Following too closely reduces reaction time, especially when traffic suddenly slows down.
Poor Visibility – Dust, debris, and temporary lighting can reduce visibility, making it harder to see workers, signs, or other vehicles.
Confusing or Inadequate Signage – Improperly placed, unclear, or missing warning signs can lead to driver confusion and unsafe maneuvers.
Work Zone Layout Changes – Narrow lanes, temporary barriers, and detours can catch drivers off guard if they are not paying attention.
Impaired Driving – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs reduces reaction time and decision-making ability.
Construction Vehicle Movement – Large trucks and machinery entering or exiting the work zone can disrupt traffic flow and create unexpected obstacles.
Pedestrian or Worker Presence – The presence of workers near moving traffic increases the risk of pedestrian-involved accidents.
Preventing accidents requires drivers to increase awareness and alertness.
Don’t assume that the conditions you encountered yesterday will be the same you see today.
Don’t assume that everyone has the reflexes of a cat like you do. And don’t become part of the Northpark accident surge.
If you use Northpark, please share this with your family and friends. Remember, insurance rates usually increase with traffic fines. So, violations can be costly…even before car repairs.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250130-DSC_1748.jpg?fit=1100%2C674&ssl=16741100adminadmin2025-01-30 16:27:302025-01-30 23:03:18Northpark Accidents Cause City to Step up Traffic Enforcement
1/29/25 – $863 million in HUD funds sit in limbo tonight. Just last Friday, Harris County Flood Control (HCFCD) finally presented its long-awaited list of flood-mitigation and disaster-relief projects to Commissioners Court. They totaled that amount.
But by Monday, a series of presidential executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs put the future of those projects in jeopardy.
Thousands of homes flooded in Kingwood during Harvey, but after 7.5 years, HCFCD has not constructed one flood mitigation project in the community.
Everyone Scrambles to Understand OMB Memo and Its Impact
On Monday, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that it paused funding for trillions of dollars in grants. Reportedly, the pause affected many HUD programs.
The OMB memo said that Federal agencies “must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.”
On Tuesday, the New York Times reported, “The Trump administration’s order … prompted confusion across state capitols and local government offices, leaving them at a loss on how to even calculate its impact.”
Then late Tuesday afternoon, a federal judge temporarily blocked part of the Trump administration’s grant freeze.
After the flurry of concerns raised Tuesday, dozens of media outlets reported around noon today (Wednesday) that OMB had rescinded the pause order.
Rescission of the Rescission
But less than two hours later, The Hill quoted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as saying, “This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo. … The President’s executive orders on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.”
Before the rescission of the rescission, I talked to official sources at the local, state and federal levels.
A Flood Control District spokesperson thinks that the $863 million is not in jeopardy. She said that everyone is moving forward as though the money were still committed.
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) also feels the chances of the money being pulled back are slim. GLO hopes that any changes made in Washington would improve efficiency in the grant process.
While we sort this out, we should remember that the $863 million in HUD funds come with some very tight deadlines. Not one of the three sources above knew yet whether those deadlines would be extended because of a pause in funding federal grant applications. So uncertainty reigns.
I watched Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis rant about how “Kingwood was getting all the damn money.” Yet Kingwood has received only $230 in capital improvement construction funds while the Brays Bayou Watershed where Mr. Ellis lives has received $206,576,424 between Harvey and the end of 2024 … all in the name of equity. That’s almost a million times more.
But denying aid to predominantly white neighborhoods may have backfired on Mr. Ellis. Only 50% of the HUD money had to benefit LMI residents. But like others who benefitted from DEI initiatives across the country, Ellis kept pushing for more.
He insisted on 70% while excluding projects in predominantly white and middle class areas. And that has fueled resentment among people who received virtually nothing for their taxes.
Of course, Ellis alone didn’t generate a backlash that catapulted Trump into the White House. He had plenty of help nationwide from others pushing the DEI envelope as he did.
And now Trump is delivering on campaign promises – terminating people, policies and programs relating to DEI.
Fairness for All Needed, Not Winner-Take-All Mentality
Perhaps had politicians like Ellis treated everyone fairly and not pushed their advantage so egregiously, we wouldn’t be in this mess. We need a “fairness for all” mentality that replaces the “winner take all” mentality currently pervading our politics.
Long before Abraham Lincoln said in 1858 that “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” Jesus used the phrase. He said in the Gospel of Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”
Surely, there’s a way to divvy up the HUD money that benefits all the residents of Harris County. Withholding it all simply penalizes everyone.
In the meantime, we potentially have $863 million in limbo doing no one any good.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/29/2025
2710 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/20170830-IMG_9552-e1738208930459.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=18251100adminadmin2025-01-29 23:25:142025-01-30 09:40:37HUD’s $863 Million in Limbo Tonight
1/28/25 – To date, members of the 89th Texas Legislature have introduced more than three dozens bills relating to flooding, dredging, and aggregate production operations (APOs) in Austin this year. The deadline for filing additional bills is Friday, March 14, 2025, 60 days from the start of the session. So, more could follow.
But here is a brief rundown on bills flood- and mitigation-related bills with links to the text of the actual bills on the Texas Legislature Online website.
Flooding
Thirty-six bills contain the keywords “flood” or “flooding.” So, I won’t summarize each. Instead, I’ll focus on those that could make the largest impact in the Houston region.
HB 2068 by Rep. Dennis Paul would amend the bill that created the Harris County Flood Control District. It would allow the district to grow beyond the boundaries of Harris County, when and if surrounding counties wish to join the District and coordinate efforts. The expanded District’s board would have five directors appointed by the governor.
HB 1209 by Rep. Charles Cunningham addresses the minimum number of instructional days required by the state’s schools affected by “flood days” or other extreme weather conditions. See also similar bills, such as HB 236, HB 683, HB 1157, HB 1703, HB 276, HB 1889, SB 233, and HB 1257.
State Representative Charles Cunningham from District 127.
HB 866 by Ron Reynolds would create a Climate Change Impact Assessment Council. The Council would assess current and potential effects of climate change and their costs. It would also research ways to mitigate climate change and recommend legislation to minimize its adverse impacts.
HB 941 by Rep. Briscoe Cain and SB 75 by Sen. Bob Hall et. al. relate to the resilience of the electric grid during extreme weather events and other hazards. It would establish a security commission to establish resilience standards, plans and provisions.
HB 798 by Rep. Armando Walle relates to the rights and duties of both residential tenants and landlords involved in disputes that may arise over flooding, broken pipes, sewage backups and other habitability issues. It defines how long the parties have to cure defects or non-payments in the disputes, and what their rights are.
Dredging
Legislators have introduced three bills containing the keywords “dredge” or “dredging.”
HB 1532 by Rep. Charles Cunningham relates to the creation of a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District. It would give the District the authority to issue bonds and sell the material it dredges, but would not give it taxing authority.
HB 1069 by Rep. Chris Turner relates to the classification of construction workers in dredging and other trades, and their eligibility for unemployment benefits.
SB 766 by Senator Judith Zaffirini corrects references, including those related to dredge material and dredging plans, in TCEQ documents and regulations.
Aggregate Production Operations
Four bills refer to “aggregate production operations” (APOs). APOs include sand mines, which have contributed to flooding by increasing sedimentation in the headwaters of Lake Houston.
HB 873 by Rep. Terry M. Wilson relates to permits for APOs. Among other things, it would require APOs to control erosion by revegetating barren land. It would also require them to provide performance bonds to the TCEQ that would cover the cost of violations.
HB1163 by Rep. Charles Cunningham would amend Subchapter E (Planning and Financial Responsibility) of the state water code. It targets APOs operating within 1500 feet of the San Jacinto River or its tributaries. And it would obligate APOs to develop a restoration plan. Among other items, the bill requires APOs to return water quality of the “receiving body” (i.e., the river) to its original condition in the event of an unauthorized discharge. The main focus is on restoration of the mine itself and guarantees that would cover the costs of restoration.
HB 1018 by Rep. Terry M. Wilson establishes a certification program for APO operators, identifying those that do and don’t comply with best management practices.
SB 729 by Sen. Nathan Johnson relates to the operation of rock crushing facilities and monitoring of the air contaminants they generate.
Flood Infrastructure Fund
I couldn’t find anything yet about the state’s Flood Infrastructure Fund. Will the legislature ad to the funding? The State compiled its first flood plan last year. It contained more than $50 billion in project recommendations. What will be their fate? Stay tuned. I’ll try to review the progress of these and related bills as the session progresses.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/28/25
2709 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240919-DSC_0586.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-01-28 16:52:192025-01-28 16:58:4589th Texas Legislature Bills Related to Flooding, Dredging, APOs
Northpark Accidents Cause City to Step up Traffic Enforcement
1/30/25 – The effort to build an all weather evacuation route from Kingwood along Northpark Drive has been remarkably accident free – until recently. A large and sudden surge in Northpark accidents has caused the Houston Police Department to step up enforcement.
Speeding or other violations in the construction zone could now result in double the normal fine if you are caught.
Factors that Increase Traffic Accidents in Construction Zones
According to ChatGPT, traffic accidents in construction zones are often caused by a combination of environmental factors, driver behavior, and work zone conditions. The primary causes include:
Preventing accidents requires drivers to increase awareness and alertness.
Don’t assume that everyone has the reflexes of a cat like you do. And don’t become part of the Northpark accident surge.
If you use Northpark, please share this with your family and friends. Remember, insurance rates usually increase with traffic fines. So, violations can be costly…even before car repairs.
For More Information
See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project web pages. For a history of the project, see these select posts on ReduceFlooding.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/30/25
2711 Days since Hurricane Harvey
HUD’s $863 Million in Limbo Tonight
1/29/25 – $863 million in HUD funds sit in limbo tonight. Just last Friday, Harris County Flood Control (HCFCD) finally presented its long-awaited list of flood-mitigation and disaster-relief projects to Commissioners Court. They totaled that amount.
But by Monday, a series of presidential executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs put the future of those projects in jeopardy.
Everyone Scrambles to Understand OMB Memo and Its Impact
On Monday, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that it paused funding for trillions of dollars in grants. Reportedly, the pause affected many HUD programs.
The OMB memo said that Federal agencies “must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.”
On Tuesday, the New York Times reported, “The Trump administration’s order … prompted confusion across state capitols and local government offices, leaving them at a loss on how to even calculate its impact.”
Then late Tuesday afternoon, a federal judge temporarily blocked part of the Trump administration’s grant freeze.
After the flurry of concerns raised Tuesday, dozens of media outlets reported around noon today (Wednesday) that OMB had rescinded the pause order.
Rescission of the Rescission
But less than two hours later, The Hill quoted White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as saying, “This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo. … The President’s executive orders on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.”
Before the rescission of the rescission, I talked to official sources at the local, state and federal levels.
While we sort this out, we should remember that the $863 million in HUD funds come with some very tight deadlines. Not one of the three sources above knew yet whether those deadlines would be extended because of a pause in funding federal grant applications. So uncertainty reigns.
How Did We Get Here?
Kingwood provides a clue. Ever since the passage of the 2018 Harris County Flood Bond and the County’s first Equity Prioritization Framework, I have tracked the Harris County Flood Control District’s spending by watershed.
I watched Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis rant about how “Kingwood was getting all the damn money.” Yet Kingwood has received only $230 in capital improvement construction funds while the Brays Bayou Watershed where Mr. Ellis lives has received $206,576,424 between Harvey and the end of 2024 … all in the name of equity. That’s almost a million times more.
But denying aid to predominantly white neighborhoods may have backfired on Mr. Ellis. Only 50% of the HUD money had to benefit LMI residents. But like others who benefitted from DEI initiatives across the country, Ellis kept pushing for more.
He insisted on 70% while excluding projects in predominantly white and middle class areas. And that has fueled resentment among people who received virtually nothing for their taxes.
Of course, Ellis alone didn’t generate a backlash that catapulted Trump into the White House. He had plenty of help nationwide from others pushing the DEI envelope as he did.
And now Trump is delivering on campaign promises – terminating people, policies and programs relating to DEI.
Fairness for All Needed, Not Winner-Take-All Mentality
Perhaps had politicians like Ellis treated everyone fairly and not pushed their advantage so egregiously, we wouldn’t be in this mess. We need a “fairness for all” mentality that replaces the “winner take all” mentality currently pervading our politics.
Long before Abraham Lincoln said in 1858 that “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” Jesus used the phrase. He said in the Gospel of Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”
Surely, there’s a way to divvy up the HUD money that benefits all the residents of Harris County. Withholding it all simply penalizes everyone.
In the meantime, we potentially have $863 million in limbo doing no one any good.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/29/2025
2710 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
89th Texas Legislature Bills Related to Flooding, Dredging, APOs
1/28/25 – To date, members of the 89th Texas Legislature have introduced more than three dozens bills relating to flooding, dredging, and aggregate production operations (APOs) in Austin this year. The deadline for filing additional bills is Friday, March 14, 2025, 60 days from the start of the session. So, more could follow.
But here is a brief rundown on bills flood- and mitigation-related bills with links to the text of the actual bills on the Texas Legislature Online website.
Flooding
Thirty-six bills contain the keywords “flood” or “flooding.” So, I won’t summarize each. Instead, I’ll focus on those that could make the largest impact in the Houston region.
HB 2068 by Rep. Dennis Paul would amend the bill that created the Harris County Flood Control District. It would allow the district to grow beyond the boundaries of Harris County, when and if surrounding counties wish to join the District and coordinate efforts. The expanded District’s board would have five directors appointed by the governor.
HB 1209 by Rep. Charles Cunningham addresses the minimum number of instructional days required by the state’s schools affected by “flood days” or other extreme weather conditions. See also similar bills, such as HB 236, HB 683, HB 1157, HB 1703, HB 276, HB 1889, SB 233, and HB 1257.
HB 866 by Ron Reynolds would create a Climate Change Impact Assessment Council. The Council would assess current and potential effects of climate change and their costs. It would also research ways to mitigate climate change and recommend legislation to minimize its adverse impacts.
HB 941 by Rep. Briscoe Cain and SB 75 by Sen. Bob Hall et. al. relate to the resilience of the electric grid during extreme weather events and other hazards. It would establish a security commission to establish resilience standards, plans and provisions.
HB 798 by Rep. Armando Walle relates to the rights and duties of both residential tenants and landlords involved in disputes that may arise over flooding, broken pipes, sewage backups and other habitability issues. It defines how long the parties have to cure defects or non-payments in the disputes, and what their rights are.
Dredging
Legislators have introduced three bills containing the keywords “dredge” or “dredging.”
HB 1532 by Rep. Charles Cunningham relates to the creation of a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District. It would give the District the authority to issue bonds and sell the material it dredges, but would not give it taxing authority.
HB 1069 by Rep. Chris Turner relates to the classification of construction workers in dredging and other trades, and their eligibility for unemployment benefits.
SB 766 by Senator Judith Zaffirini corrects references, including those related to dredge material and dredging plans, in TCEQ documents and regulations.
Aggregate Production Operations
Four bills refer to “aggregate production operations” (APOs). APOs include sand mines, which have contributed to flooding by increasing sedimentation in the headwaters of Lake Houston.
HB 873 by Rep. Terry M. Wilson relates to permits for APOs. Among other things, it would require APOs to control erosion by revegetating barren land. It would also require them to provide performance bonds to the TCEQ that would cover the cost of violations.
HB1163 by Rep. Charles Cunningham would amend Subchapter E (Planning and Financial Responsibility) of the state water code. It targets APOs operating within 1500 feet of the San Jacinto River or its tributaries. And it would obligate APOs to develop a restoration plan. Among other items, the bill requires APOs to return water quality of the “receiving body” (i.e., the river) to its original condition in the event of an unauthorized discharge. The main focus is on restoration of the mine itself and guarantees that would cover the costs of restoration.
HB 1018 by Rep. Terry M. Wilson establishes a certification program for APO operators, identifying those that do and don’t comply with best management practices.
SB 729 by Sen. Nathan Johnson relates to the operation of rock crushing facilities and monitoring of the air contaminants they generate.
Flood Infrastructure Fund
I couldn’t find anything yet about the state’s Flood Infrastructure Fund. Will the legislature ad to the funding? The State compiled its first flood plan last year. It contained more than $50 billion in project recommendations. What will be their fate? Stay tuned. I’ll try to review the progress of these and related bills as the session progresses.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/28/25
2709 Days since Hurricane Harvey