HOUSTON – Hello and welcome back! I hope everyone had a wonderful week...especially now that it’s R O D E O S E A S O N!!! I’ll be bold enough to assume, it’s most Houstonians’ favorite time of the year! What’s not a favorite: the crazy traffic around NRG Park during the 20-plus days of western magic.
First things first, have a plan!
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Houston’s most popular museums will be packed this spring break. Couple that with all the rodeo-goers heading to NRG Park, and it could be a perfect recipe for a traffic disaster. So all drivers in general -- heading to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo or anywhere within a five-mile radius of NRG Park-- should do their homework and be flexible. You better have a game plan way in advance.
Pro tip: if you’re on the West Loop heading southbound toward the South Loop, exit Braeswood to avoid the South Loop backup.
METRO services to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Rope a ride on METRO to the HLSR and leave your horseless buggy at home. From METRORail to local bus and METRO’s Maxey Road Park & Ride service, there are several options to fit your schedule, check them out here.
Designate a sober driver for Rodeo season
This year, the City of Houston’s Vision Zero program along with the Texas Department of Transportation encourages all Houstonians and guests from across the globe to safely enjoy the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo through Sunday, March 19. The Rodeo is always a fun-filled event for the entire family and we want to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities safely and gets back to their families safely.
In 2021, 331 people died, and 1,620 were seriously injured on Houston streets. This means nearly every day someone lost their life and close to five people every day suffered a serious injury in a traffic crash. One of the top contributing factors to traffic deaths and serious injuries was impaired drivers, representing 28% of fatal crashes and 14% of serious injuries.
We encourage everyone to enjoy rodeo season responsibly by making smart choices, if drinking do so in moderation, and eliminating distractions while they are driving.
According to TXDOT, one person in Texas dies every seven hours and 43 minutes in a DUI-alcohol (driving under the influence) related traffic crash. In 2021, 1,134 people in Texas were killed and 2,565 seriously injured because someone chose to get behind the wheel while impaired. During spring break of 2021, Texas recorded 874 DUI-alcohol-related traffic crashes, resulting in 31 deaths and 107 serious injuries.
Drive safely my friends,
KPRC 2 traffic expert
This is the Rodeo stuff we’ve got cooking on Click2Houston.com. Help yourself and save some money, time and effort getting around and enjoying all the best the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has to offer:
- The family-friendly guide to the Houston Rodeo>> Make the mega-spectacle manageable, affordable and fun for people with families.
- What’s new at the Houston Rodeo in 2023 >> Drone show, Cheeto chicken sandwiches, a high-speed coaster and more
- 5 ways to save on your trip >> Planning your trip now can help save money in the future.
- Kings, queens and singing cowboys >> The most influential entertainers in Houston Rodeo history.
- Test your Houston Rodeo knowledge >> Our quiz lets you put your rodeo knowledge to the test.
- View the 2023 entertainment lineup >> The lineup features a mix of genres, including country, EDM, hip-hop, Norteño, pop, rock, and Christian.
- Elvis, bucking broncos and the Astrodome >> We can’t stop watching this archived footage of the Houston Rodeo.
Have a traffic question? I can help.
What do you want to know about Houston traffic? Ask here! And if you want your question answered live on TV, send me a video of yourself asking your traffic question in a private message on my Facebook page here!
Airports
- Bush Airport: Installing five 85,000-pound steel beams in an active airport environment is not an easy task, according to Bush Airport. This is the foundation of the International Central Processor, where the new check-in lobby, security checkpoints, and baggage claim will modernize the travel experience.
Recent headlines
Weekend construction
- East Freeway: One eastbound lane on the I-10 East Freeway will be closed between Gregg and Waco, until 5 a.m. March 6.
Houston’s big projects
Get your traffic news, maps and route planner 24/7 at Click2Houston.com/traffic.