Houston Mayor John Whitmire suspends Montrose flooding project, citing doubts about actual flooding in the area

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A group of Montrose residents fighting for drainage improvements said they are tired of waiting for the mayor to acknowledge that flooding is a problem in their area. They are worried about the rains that are expected to increase.

“We have 60-year-old drainage infrastructure, so a little rain causes a lot of flooding,” said resident Mehdi Rais.

Alexander Spike’s 90-year-old grandmother passed by.

“Her car got flooded and she was trapped in the vehicle,” Spike said. “She had to be rescued by nail technicians who saw it happen, and she sat there for hours and hours waiting to be rescued.”

Spike and Rais both attended meetings in support of what is called the Montrose Boulevard Improvement Project.

It was supposed to repair sidewalks, remove trees, add bike lanes and replace Montrose Boulevard’s outdated drainage system.

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The work was due to start in February, but this has not yet happened.

THE Montrose Tax Increase Reinvestment Zoneor TIRZ, is a long name for a special tax collection zone that promotes growth in specific areas.

Taxes funded the first segment of the $14.7 million Montrose Boulevard project, but it requires mayoral approval because it is a TIRZ.

Mayor John Whitmire put the project on hold, along with several other similar city projects.

In an interview in May, he told Houston Public Media: “It’s very debatable whether Montrose, at its high elevation relative to Houston, is a major drainage problem.”

ABC13 reached out to Mayor Whitmire’s office Tuesday but was told he was busy.

However, ABC13 understands that the plan is on hold and has not yet received an answer on how long it will take.

“‘Under review.’ He’s the mayor of transparency. I think that’s what he campaigned on. I don’t see transparency,” Spike said. “Our concerns are not being heard and they’re not being translated into action. You know, I thought we built things here. Let’s get building. Let’s get to work.”

“Houston will continue to flood, and if we don’t actively seek drainage solutions, we won’t have a chance of keeping pace with Mother Nature,” Rais added.

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SEE ALSO: ‘It’s hell’: Montrose residents fed up with problems caused by construction project