$16M Sidewalk Expansion Connects Katy and Cy-Fair ISDs, Prioritizing Student Safety Across Harris County Precinct 4
Thousands of students across Katy and Cypress-Fairbanks will soon enjoy safer walks to school, thanks to a major infrastructure push led by Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones. A $16 million investment will add 25 miles of sidewalks through the expanding Sidewalks 4 Precinct 4program, bringing the total to 75 miles completed by the end of the 2025–2026 school year.
The new sidewalks will help close long-standing gaps in pedestrian access, including a major project along Greenhouse Road. This four-mile stretch between Morton Road and Kieth Harrow Boulevard sits within Harris County’s High Injury Network — an area with a high rate of serious pedestrian crashes. Over the past five years alone, the corridor has seen 22 accidents, including one that resulted in a serious injury to a bicyclist.
The project will connect routes between Katy ISD and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, making it easier and safer for students to navigate to schools, bus stops, and local community hubs without the dangers of narrow shoulders or open ditches.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
“Every child deserves a safe, clear, reliable path to school, and every family deserves safer streets,” said Commissioner Lesley Briones. “Our community has been asking for these improvements, and we are delivering them with urgency and care. These new sidewalks will improve daily life for thousands of students and strengthen the connection between Katy ISD and Cy-Fair ISD.”
First launched in 2023, the Sidewalks 4 Precinct 4 initiative has already transformed pedestrian safety throughout Alief ISD, Katy ISD, and Cy-Fair ISD, bringing walkable, accessible paths to neighborhoods long in need of safe infrastructure.
This investment aligns with Precinct 4’s broader mission to create safer, healthier, and more connected communities across the region. Serving more than 1.2 million people, Harris County Precinct 4 oversees more than 1,600 miles of roads, nearly 4 miles of bridges, and maintains 62 parks totaling over 14,000 acres of greenspace. In addition, the precinct operates 10 community centers that host more than 700,000 visitors annually.
Katy ISD and Cy-Fair ISD leaders expressed strong support for the partnership and the emphasis on student safety.
Commissioner Lesley Briones joins students and community leaders at Greenhouse Road “This sidewalk is an opportunity for our families to safely get to different places in our community. I really am thankful for the partnership with Commissioner Briones,” said Dr. Doug Killian, Superintendent of Cy-Fair ISD.
“We work with three different counties, subdivisions, political subdivisions, and I can tell you there is not one that is more responsive than Precinct 4. That is because of Commissioner Briones’ leadership. Their mission is always about student safety,” said Ted Vierling, Chief Operating Officer for Katy ISD.
The improvements are more than structural—they’re deeply personal for students like Alexis Woodall, a Cy-Fair ISD high schooler who knows what it's like to walk alongside open drainage ditches just to get to class.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
“These sidewalks to me are a long overdue improvement for our community. And they’re not only going to help the students and keep us safe on our way to and from school but also provide the parents with a lot of relief knowing that their children will have a secure route every day,” she said.
Her classmate Sirron Norris echoed the sentiment. “Being the oldest of two brothers, it brings me a sense of comfort knowing that my brothers can navigate through the community safely, whether that may be going to school or even hanging out with friends. Sidewalks represent opportunities for kids to be able to walk to and from school safely and for people living in the surrounding communities to be able to walk with their families without any worries.”
Commissioner Briones emphasized that the work will continue with a focus on data, safety needs, and strong collaboration with local school districts and civic leaders. The expansion of sidewalks is just one component of Precinct 4’s commitment to investing in public infrastructure that directly improves the quality of life for residents across Katy, Cypress, Alief, and the broader northwest Harris County region.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
