Promises for safety improvements along Columbia Tap Trail remain unfulfilled, advocates say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Advocates claim promises for safety improvements along the Columbia Tap Trail have yet to be fulfilled.

Last year, reported on several individuals who were beaten and robbed on the Columbia Tap Trail. On May 30, 2023, Houston Councilmember Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz held a press conference, highlighting the $100,000 her office allocated for trail safety improvements in 2022.

“If there’s any accountability, it needs to come to me,” she stated.

A year after the press conference, Ed Pettit, founder of Friends of the Columbia Tap, told that few improvements have been made, attributing the limited progress to $50,000 from the Houston Housing Authority.

“Shabazz’s office keeps telling me that they have a plan and things are in the works, but they’ve been saying that since October 2022, a year-and-a-half ago,” Pettit remarked.

In a Monday interview with, Evans-Shabazz expressed her frustration over the lack of progress. She cited the transition from Mayor Sylvester Turner to John Whitmire as a reason for delays, noting that new city staff needed time to get up to speed. However, she emphasized that the $100,000 remains allocated for the improvements.

“Sometimes things don’t go forward like we expect them to. I am still accountable for it. In fact, I’m going to get even more behind it and push to see how we can get this done because these safety measures are certainly needed,” she affirmed.

Delores Ford, president of the resident association at Cuney Homes, a low-income housing complex along the trail, echoed the need for safety measures.

“I’m not walking that trail, and that’s not because I don’t want to. I’m thinking about my own safety. Who is gonna hear me?” she asked.

A survey conducted by Friends of Columbia Tap Trail found that over 80% of Cuney Homes residents share her fears and avoid using the trail.

“The trail is not used for the right reasons,” Ford stated.

She believes the trail should serve as a crucial pathway for her community, providing access to food and laundromats for those without cars. Ford expressed frustration watching wealthier areas secure funding and implement trail improvements while her area remains unchanged.

“It’s significant because if you look at the data, communities of color and low-income communities are three times less likely to have access to green space and city infrastructure, and that’s what we’re seeing on this trail,” Pettit said.

“I can’t disagree. It’s not a good look,” Evans-Shabazz admitted. “But as far as me and my accountability, I will move this forward.”