In 2007 at a neighborhood meeting discussing area sidewalks and walkability, the state of the sidewalks on Richmond Avenue were discussed, and all agreed that they were to be added to a list the city was developing for a major sidewalk improvements in the near term. The next year, changes were deferred pending total rebuild of the street to support the University Line rail. The next year the rail line was cancelled (no work was done), and I was informed by the city that they were delaying any sidewalk repair or replacement until a major roadway improvement was completed. They said maybe by 2011.
Here is the same sidewalk in 2021. Other parts of the street
are little better.
Note that Richmond is a bus route, connects to a major Transit Center with rail access, and also a significant cross-city travel route. The neighborhood density is over 12,000 ppsm and still growing. There were people who would await buses in wheelchairs on this road when I lived nearby, blocking a car lane occasionally.
Houston just doesn't care. Any walkable improvements are all just for show, with no connectivity or consistency. The car is king, even in neighborhoods that are crying for walkability improvements.