Houston City Council to vote on Polk Street closure for George R. Brown expansion
For many East End residents, Polk Street is a critical route into downtown. Neighbors say losing it would make commutes longer and further isolate their community.
The Houston City Council is set to vote Wednesday on whether to close a section of Polk Street in downtown — a move that would clear the way for the George R. Brown Convention Center’s major expansion and tie into TxDOT’s massive I-45 rebuild.
But not everyone is on board.
INITIAL REPORT: Polk Street closure on the table as GRB expansion and I-45 rebuild reshape downtown traffic
For many East End residents, Polk is a critical route into downtown. Neighbors say losing it would make commutes longer and further isolate their community.
Last week, dozens of residents packed City Hall, urging council members to reject the proposal. They argue that large-scale projects like this have repeatedly come at their expense — from freeway construction to other city developments — cutting them off from key parts of Houston while promising “progress” that hasn’t benefited everyone equally.
Houston First Corporation, which is leading the convention center expansion, defends the plan. The organization says closing Polk is essential to transforming the George R. Brown and is designed to align with TxDOT’s ongoing I-45 reconstruction project.
According to a traffic study commissioned by Houston First, nearly 50 intersections around the area would see “minimal delays” even with Polk closed.
To address concerns, the organization says it will convert Leeland Street into a two-way road within the next year to help maintain access between downtown and the East End.
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If approved, the project would mark one of the most significant changes to downtown mobility in years — with ripple effects likely to be felt across the East End.
