VISALIA, CA — City officials have scheduled a public meeting on January 22, 2026, to discuss the early design stage of a project focused on Houston neighborhood street improvements. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Houston Elementary School Cafeteria at 1200 N. Giddings St.
The project covers the residential area located between Mooney and Dinuba boulevards and Prospect and Murray avenues. According to the City of Visalia, the goal is to create safer school routes and improve travel options for residents throughout the neighborhood.
Planned upgrades include:
- Installing protected bicycle lanes
- Filling in missing sidewalk sections
- Making sidewalk corners more accessible for wheelchairs and strollers
- Improving existing intersections
City project manager Rudy Lopez said the work continues a plan first shared with the public in 2022. While the project aims to make walking and biking through the neighborhood easier, Lopez noted that the new street layouts will permanently slow down traffic and remove existing street parking spaces.
A $2.5 million state grant for walking and biking projects, awarded in 2023 by the California Transportation Committee, is funding the work.
The upcoming meeting is intended to inform residents about current plans and gather their thoughts before the design moves forward. City officials are especially interested in hearing from those who live and travel in the area to ensure the final design meets the needs of the community.
Residents who want more information or wish to share their thoughts on the plans can contact Diego Corvera, Visalia senior civil engineer, at (559) 713-4209 or by email at diego.corvera@visalia.gov.
