As CenterPoint Energy continues to work on upgrading its infrastructure after the fallout of its Hurricane Beryl response, one Houston-area woman is worried the energy company might be cutting corners.
She believes CenterPoint Energy’s latest utility pole is in violation of the Texas Accessibility Standards and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
At the intersection of North Durham and West 11th St., a utility pole put up earlier this month caught the attention of Michelle Colvard. Colvard lives two blocks away from the intersection and uses a wheelchair.
SEE ALSO: CenterPoint releases independent third-party review of company’s Hurricane Beryl response
She reached out to the KPRC 2 Help Desk with concerns over the pole.
The state requires that sidewalks provide at least 32 inches of clearance, but measurements taken near the pole suggest a width of only about 30 inches, raising questions about accessibility for all pedestrians, especially those using wheelchairs or strollers.
“I think that they’re looking at it and thinking, ‘I can just walk around it. You know, somebody else could walk around and that’s plenty of room,’” Colvard said. “You get somebody in a power chair, there’s no way they’d be able to do it to get through here.”
KPRC 2 reached out to CenterPoint for clarification regarding the installation. A spokesperson confirmed that the utility pole was part of an ongoing project. They said they weren’t entirely to blame.
“The locations of the new poles were shared in advance with City of Houston representatives, and no concerns were raised. The original pole is scheduled to be removed as soon as other third-party non-CenterPoint attachments are moved to the new pole,” the statement reads. “We have asked those other parties who have equipment on our pole to expedite their removal. Once the original pole is removed, the area will be ADA compliant.”
As Colvard waits for a permanent fix, she hopes the company considers retraining its staff.
“I see it so often all throughout the city and I’ve heard of this so often throughout the city at various locations,” she said. “I think it’s a retraining that needs to happen CenterPoint wide.”
CenterPoint Energy Statement
“We appreciate the feedback from this customer and the public. CenterPoint Energy was asked to relocate utility poles to accommodate continued construction and relocation of sidewalks in support of the TIRZ 5 Shepherd Durham Improvement Project (Phase 2). The locations of the new poles were shared in advance with City of Houston representatives, and no concerns were raised. The original pole is scheduled to be removed as soon as other third-party non-CenterPoint attachments are moved to the new pole. We have asked those other parties who have equipment on our pole to expedite their removal. Once the original pole is removed, the area will be ADA compliant. CenterPoint will continue to work with the city, TIRZ 5 and Ms. Colvard until the work in this area has been completed.”
If you’re experiencing issues in your community, reach out to the KPRC 2 Help Desk here.
