Two Dallas Chambers Pass Complete Streets Initiative!
March 25th, 2009 § 8 Comments
This is HUGE news!
The Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (50+ business and community leaders) and the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce unanimously voted to push complete streets initiatives (Bike lanes, streetcars, pedestrian paths) for Beckley, and are asking to repeal the current Beckley/Commerce intersection.
Council Members Dave Neumann, and Steve Salazaar are leading the charge on behalf of the Chambers, and a complete public works project is being placed on hold to redevelop the area with “walkable” infrastructure.
This is an amazing turnabout and much of our work, and those heading the Fort Worth Avenue Development Group, and the Oak Cliff Transit Authority, are responsible for this incredible change. There’s other amazing news from the city regarding bicycle infrastructure, and the City and Assistant Managers push for a more bike friendly community that we’ll update you all on shortly. The only thing I can say for now is that things are about to radically change for our city and the bicycle community…and we mean that in a good way.
WOOHOO! Congrats!
When is this “amazing turnabout ” going to come to the City not just one small community?
Who commutes on Beckley?
More importantly will any one see them, what happens when this money is spent and nothing changes?
Great question! Both chambers have recently set in place MMD financing districts for Beckley, and three area developers have purchased the land, as it aligns next to the Trinity Park, and the Coombs Creek trail outlet to the Trinity Strand. All are proposing mixed-use dense urban developments. This also abutts Lake Cliff Park, JPI townhomes, the new FW Ave. TIF area, and is the gateway to Bishop Arts from Downtown. The Oak Cliff Transit Authority has completed an initial feasibility streetcar study using Greenbriar and Beckley as the main thoroughfares, and the Houston Street Viaduct as the access point to downtown.
“There’s other amazing news from the city regarding bicycle infrastructure … that we’ll update you all on shortly.”
Spill the beans! We want to know.
Also, is the Chamber asking the Dallas City Council to repeal Beckley/Commerce intersection? I haven’t heard much on that development recently. Are they still trying to push for heavy changes (traffic) there?
Yes! That’s why this is huge. Not many projects that are that far along get rolled back, but the early intersection plans were made 10 years ago, before all of the interest in New Urbanism, and developing walkable communities. The new complete streets initiative fits with the Forward Dallas! plans that have been formulated over the last two or three years.
How far south will the bike lanes go on Beckley – do you know? All the way to my house maybe?
Not sure. There will need to be a couple of feasibility studies performed before a final footprint is decided on.