Houston Public Works unveiled a plan to repair 375 high-mast highway lights within city limits by mid-year. According to a plan shared with Houston City Council members, approximately 90% of the high-mast lights are expected to be operational by mid-summer 2026.

The 375 lights are located in the City of Houston limits, where Houston Public Works is responsible for maintenance under a decades-long agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation. Of 478 high-mast highway lights identified as out across every highway in Harris County in early April, 375 fall within the city's jurisdiction. More than 100 of those lights are located in Harris County outside of city limits.

Houston Public Works Director Randy Macchi described how the backlog grew over time. "Really what's happened over the years, is we continued to kick the can down the road. One goes out here, that's okay. Two goes out here, that's okay. Then it balloons to 375. Well, now we've got to solve a major problem." he said.

Houston Public Works said the city and TxDOT are implementing system upgrades to improve long-term reliability and reduce recurring issues, including replacing aging high-mast towers, transitioning to more theft-resistant materials, upgrading fixtures with long-lasting LED lighting, and strengthening interagency coordination. Macchi also described the current coordination between the two agencies. "What you have now is, you do have, a group of people between the city and TxDOT who have put together plans to figure out how to get it done and how to get it done at scale." he said.

The count of out lights in early April was conducted by Jeremy Rogalski and photojournalist Erik Darelius, who mapped the 478 high-mast highway lights across Harris County highways.

A TxDOT spokesperson said Glenn Allbritton, District Engineer for TxDOT's Houston Division, would be available for an interview to discuss the progress of repairs to lights outside city limits. TxDOT holds responsibility for high-mast lights in Harris County outside the City of Houston limits under the same interagency maintenance structure.