Houston, Texas (June 30, 2021) — Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee—who represents Harris County in its lawsuit against the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)—gave the following statement in response to TxDOT’s announcement that it will take the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) back to public comment:

“My hope is TxDOT will use this newly announced public comment period to engage residents, and reconsider its plans for I-45. While this is a good first step, we’ve also seen this show before—TxDOT had several public comment periods leading up to its adoption of the current, flawed design, which disproportionately harms Black and Brown communities.

The solution to this problem must incorporate input from local communities and partners, including Harris County and the City of Houston. This additional public comment period means little unless TxDOT meaningfully considers the new and past public input and exhibits a willingness to reconsider this project.”

About the Harris County Attorney’s Office 

Christian D. Menefee serves as the Harris County Attorney, the County's chief civil lawyer. The Harris County Attorney's Office is committed to protecting and proactively advocating for the interests of Harris County residents and government through the civil justice system. Menefee continues to be a voice for the people, standing up for vulnerable communities and using civil actions to ensure our rights are protected and expanded.