On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the city of Dallas will receive $21.8 million to improve local traffic safety and solve preventable traffic fatalities.
“We are very excited to announce this grant for the City of Dallas, and especially for the south Dallas community. We greatly appreciate the efforts of our legislative leaders and our partner agencies.” said City Councilman Adam Bazaldua, who represents the area. “It is clear that this significant investment will deliver improved safety, community connectivity and growth, and is a major step towards bringing streetcar service to the region.”
The City of Dallas is committed to Vision Zero, an initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities and reduce serious injuries. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard has one of the highest rates of fatal and serious pedestrian crashes in both the City of Dallas Vision Zero Action Plan and the North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. It has been identified as one of the highest places. In the past two years alone, five pedestrians have been seriously injured in traffic accidents along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The award recognizes the city's efforts to reduce crash rates by implementing safety measures such as lane reductions with segregated bike lanes to reduce speeds, crosswalk improvements, lighting upgrades, stronger traffic signals, and enhanced transit access. and help address pedestrian safety. This will be a transformative project in a historically underserved area that supports the city's racial equity plan.
This award would not have been possible without the support of many individuals and organizations, including the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), St. Phillips School and Community Center, Real Estate Council, DART, and the Federal Highway Administration . The project includes $5.25 million in matching funds from the city, as well as $200,000 from DART for bus shelter upgrades.
“The City of Dallas is grateful to our partners for their initial efforts to secure these funds,” said City Manager TC Broadnax. “Today is a great day for improving mobility and safety for pedestrians in Dallas, and we look forward to getting started on this project.”
