Houston City Council Approves West Loop Shared Use Pathway & Bridge Project

Houston City Council unanimously approved a $22.5 million project to build a shared-use path and bridge connecting Uptown Houston and Memorial Park across Loop 610 near Buffalo Bayou. The project includes a 350-foot suspension bridge, a 300-foot elevated boardwalk, and a 14-foot-wide shared path for cyclists and pedestrians. Fully funded by federal grants, it will also link to Memorial Park's trail network and the Houston Arboretum. No completion date has been set.

## Houston City Council Greenlights Uptown–Memorial Park Trail and Bridge On June 17, 2026, Houston City Council unanimously passed a public improvement development agreement to design and construct the **West Loop Shared Use Pathway and Bridge Project**, a long-anticipated active-transportation link between Uptown Houston and Memorial Park. ### What the Project Does The project will construct a shared-use path and bridge crossing Loop 610 near Buffalo Bayou, running between Post Oak Boulevard and Woodway Drive in the Galleria area. Key infrastructure elements include: - A **350-foot suspension bridge** over Buffalo Bayou - A **300-foot elevated boardwalk** (approximately 10 feet above grade) through the 500-year floodplain - A **14-foot-wide shared path** along the I-610 West Loop frontage road - Improved crossings, wayfinding, signage, and lighting for cyclists and pedestrians - Connections into Memorial Park's existing trail network and the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center ### Cost and Funding The project is estimated at approximately **$22.5 million**, funded entirely by grants from the Federal Transit Administration and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City of Houston carries no funding obligation under the agreement. ### Partners and Planning Context The agreement was developed in collaboration with the **Uptown Development Authority and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) 16**. The project is part of the **Memorial Park Ten-Year Master Plan**, approved by City Council in 2015, and reflects years of community demand for safer non-motorized access to Memorial Park — a destination hemmed in by Loop 610 to the west and I-10 to the north. District C Council Member Joe Panzarella called it "an amazing project" that addresses what Houstonians have been asking for: "better connectivity and better mobility throughout the city." ### Timeline The city ordinance did not specify a completion date. Earlier project timelines had suggested construction beginning in late 2025 or 2026, with completion targeted for 2027. *Reported by Kyle McClenagan for Houston Public Media, June 17, 2026.*