Dig This: Members of the Westchase District community broke ground Friday on the .6-mile HCC Campus Trail near Westheimer and Hayes Road. (From left): Jack Pidgeon, West Houston Christian Center; James Koski, Office of Mayor Sylvester Turner; Zachary Hodges, HCC Northwest; Tracy Bridge, CenterPoint Energy; Beth Van Winkle, Milestone Management; and Jim Murphy, Westchase District.
Westchase District staff and West Houston civic leaders broke ground Friday morning on the HCC Campus Trail, Westchase District’s third hike and bike trail. The 10-foot-wide concrete path will run north-south between Westheimer Road and Richmond Avenue, with a mid-block crossing at Meadowglen Lane. It will connect to the Houston Community College campus at Westheimer and Hayes Road, as well as to the District’s existing trail network.
The trail is funded by a federal transportation grant and the District’s 380 Area Agreement with the City of Houston. Project completion should be about 100 days after construction begins. It is the first example in West Houston of a larger effort between CenterPoint Energy and the City of Houston to enhance the use of some 500 miles of transmission corridors throughout the city. CenterPoint has allowed the District to maximize the wide swath of greenspace along the transmission corridor running between Westheimer and Richmond.
“We are pleased to be part of this hike and bike trail,” said Tracy Bridge, executive vice president and Electric Division president for CenterPoint Energy. “We recognize that in an urban environment, green space is at a premium. Allowing the public to access our transmission corridors is a great example of how private assets can be used for public benefit.”
“HCC is excited to have this new trail in its back yard,” said Dr. Zachary Hodges, president of Houston Community College-Northwest. “It will connect students and the community to our growing and innovative Westchase campus, future home of the West Houston Institute, which will be a catalyst for innovation and creativity in higher education.”
“This trail has all the benefits and features that add value to create real transportation alternatives,” said Jim Murphy, general manager of Westchase District and Texas state representative, whose legislative bill brought powerline corridor trails to Harris County. “Now we will have the newest addition to our four-mile trail network that runs from Westheimer to Bellaire. Whether for recreation purposes or from getting from point to point, this trail opens up options to new users who can take advantage of what we’ve created and connectivity to lots of great places. It’s really quite an astounding accomplishment.”
