HOUSTON – As Houston prepares to welcome visitors for the FIFA World Cup 2026, city leaders are investing $7.5 million to improve safety along one of the city’s most heavily used hike-and-bike corridors: the Columbia Tap Trail.
The project includes the installation of more than 300 solar-powered lights, along with additional safety enhancements aimed at making the trail safer for cyclists, pedestrians, students, and commuters.
While officials say progress is underway, many trail users believe the improvements are only part of the solution.
Longstanding safety concerns
For years, safety concerns have followed the Columbia Tap Trail, particularly after sunset.
District D Councilwoman Carolyn Evans-Shabazz says residents have repeatedly raised concerns about crime along the corridor.
“Back a couple of years ago, people were robbed, riding their bikes, walking,” Evans-Shabazz said.
Trail user Eric Ishimwe says darkness remains one of the biggest challenges.
“When it’s dark, you don’t feel safe,” Ishimwe said. “Some people bike without having lights on their bikes, which is very risky for dog walkers.”
New lights already going up
City and regional partners recently secured funding for a comprehensive safety improvement project. Roughly 50 lights have already been installed, with approximately 300 planned along the trail.
For Evans-Shabazz, the issue hits close to home.
“It’s a concern to me that sometimes the students at Texas Southern University get out late and it’s dark,” she said. “Some of them don’t have transportation, so they’re having to walk home.”
Officials expect the full lighting installation to be completed by the fall.
A patchwork of progress
Despite visible improvements in some sections, other portions of the trail remain unlit.
One challenge is ownership. Different stretches of the Columbia Tap Trail fall under different management districts, creating inconsistencies in how quickly improvements can be implemented.
As a result, users may encounter well-lit sections followed by long stretches of darkness.
Residents want more than lighting
Many frequent trail users say lighting alone will not solve all safety concerns.
They are also calling for additional security measures, including:
- Surveillance cameras
- Emergency call boxes connected to Houston police
- Improved signage and traffic controls
- Additional trail amenities
“The stop signs, the call box, the lights, the cameras,” Ishimwe said when asked what improvements are needed.
“Once all the amenities are available, it’s where you can say the trail is safe.”
Cameras expected, call boxes still under review
Evans-Shabazz agrees that lighting is only one piece of the larger safety picture.
She says cameras are expected to be installed as part of future improvements. However, emergency call boxes remain on hold while city leaders work through questions about maintenance and emergency response responsibilities.
“It’s not just paying for them,” Evans-Shabazz explained. “We could do that through our council district service funds, but who’s going to maintain them, and who’s going to be responsible for answering these calls?”
Safer than before — but work remains
Even with unanswered questions about future upgrades, Evans-Shabazz believes the trail is already moving in the right direction.
“I would have to absolutely say that it’s safer now than it was six months ago,” she said.
Whether the multimillion-dollar investment leads to long-term reductions in crime will become clearer after the entire project is completed and officials begin analyzing safety data.
For now, residents say they are encouraged by the progress—but will continue pushing for a fully completed safety plan that includes lighting, cameras, and emergency response tools.