Last summer, Adolphus Hotel employee Lisa Jordan was struck by a car as she walked to the employee parking lot at Commerce and Accardo streets in downtown Dallas. Jordan died from his injuries shortly after the collision.
Some Dallas residents say accidents like the one that killed Jordan happen too often downtown. That's why Akard Street resident Hexel Colorado started a Change.org petition to create a pedestrian mall on Akard between Elm and Commerce. In pedestrian malls, cars only have access for essential activities such as emergencies and trash service.
His petition has gathered nearly 1,000 signatures since it was created on February 27th.
Colorado, a software developer who runs the Dallas Urbanists social media account, tweeted about the accident in August. He has spent time thinking about how he can make the area safer. His friend's close call put an end to the problem and challenged Dallas officials to do more about pedestrian safety.
Courtney Hunter was crossing Commerce Street in Akard with her dog in late February when she was hit by a Chevrolet Suburban. She only suffered minor injuries to her hands and wrists, but knows the accident could have been much worse.
“We were able to jump out of the way. The only contact was like they hit my hand as I was running out of the way on my scooter.” said Hunter. “But if it's a child or someone with a disability who can't jump, it's a different story.”
She was familiar with Jordan's accident — Hunter's neighbor worked with him downtown.
Calls for more attention to public safety have also been echoed by residents in several parts of the city. Residents on Ferguson Road in east Dallas have all cited speeding, running red lights and a lack of pedestrian safety, while neighbors on Mockingbird Lane have called traffic lights after a fatal crash at a nearby intersection. We are requesting the installation of
KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported in November that Dallas has a higher traffic fatality rate than any other U.S. city of its size. Although only 2% of Dallasites walk to work, 30% of traffic fatalities are caused by pedestrians. Experts speculate that road design serves to promote speed rather than safety.
Officials want to make the city safer. It has been 18 months since Dallas launched its Vision Zero plan, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and halve the number of serious injuries by 2030. The number of pedestrians injured in Dallas crashes last year was the highest since 2019, preliminary data shows.
Some city leaders have been outspoken about the lack of progress in rapidly advancing the plan's goals.
The area of Akardo where Jordan was killed is not among the 15 worst places for pedestrians identified in the plan, but Pacific Avenue, which runs from Akardo to Interstate 45, is one of the worst places for bicyclists. It has been identified as one of the most dangerous locations.
The top 15 road segments with the highest number of serious and fatal accidents involving pedestrians are:
- Maple Avenue on Hudnall Street to Oak Lawn.
- SM Lite from MLK Jr. to Botham Jean Blvd.
- Drive the Great Trinity Forest Way in Ledbetter to Interstate 45.
- From Wheatland to Kernwood in the Duncanville city limits.
- Ledbetter Drive from Lancaster Road to Great Trinity Forest.
- Prairie Creek Road from Bruton Road to Masters Drive.
- John West Road from Buckner Boulevard to Interstate 30.
- I-635 Jupiter Road to Garland.
- Dallas North Tollway from Cedar Springs Road to Turtle Creek.
- From Forest Lane on Audelia Road to Garland city limits.
- Edgefield Avenue from Jefferson Boulevard to Zang Boulevard.
- From Jefferson Boulevard to Zang Boulevard to Fleming.
- Great Trinity Forest Way (Jim Miller Road to US Highway 175)
- Turtle Creek Boulevard from Cedar Springs Road to Field Street.
- From Northwest Highway to Timberline Drive at Harry Hines Boulevard.
Colorado offers limited access to Akado's sections because there are no parking lots with entrances and exits, and motorists do not have to detour more than a block onto nearby Elm Street, Main Street, or Commerce Street to reach their destination. He said he did not think access was necessary. .
The changes could also improve downtown's walkability and create flexible public spaces that benefit nearby businesses, Colorado said. Closing roads could be as simple as installing traffic barriers, such as those used for temporary construction closures.
Dallas leaders welcome ideas from the public on how to improve safety, but a formal process is needed to implement changes, said Transportation Commissioner Gus Hunkari.
“Generally speaking, we have to go through a due diligence process, and that due diligence includes our partners at Downtown Dallas, as well as property owners, Dallas Fire and Rescue, Dallas Police Department, etc. We also get input from emergency personnel,'' Hankarli said. “And of course you have to look at things like what ordinances apply or may have limiting restrictions. These are all things you need to consider if something is viable. These are elements that need to be included in the process.”
Khankarli said a parliamentary request must first be submitted to the Department of Transportation to begin the process. Hunter contacted Councilman Paul Ridley's office, but Ridley said last week that he had not yet seen the petition.
Evan Sheets, vice president of planning and policy at Downtown Dallas, said it's not that far-fetched to reimagine downtown as a more pedestrian-friendly space. City leaders and officials have been talking about doing just that.
“The city has long recognized that there is an opportunity for Akard to be reimagined to be more functional, safer and more pedestrian-oriented,” Sheets said. “What that solution is, is that people who are using it to access hotels, access restaurants, use it as a program space, or just to get to and from work. I need to meet you then. [figuring out] How can we balance all these needs and come up with a solution that meets the overall goal of a vibrant, attractive, and safe public space? ”
Downtown business owners have their own concerns. Sam Tucker, director of sales and marketing for the Adolphus Hotel, said he has seen nearby Pegasus Plaza bring more crime to downtown.
“I'm a big proponent of adding more usable, friendly spaces and reducing traffic, but we already have that kind of space in Pegasus Plaza, and it's causing more problems than good.” said Mr. Tucker.
Instead, Ms. Tucker wants to see an increased police presence downtown to combat dangerous driving.
“I think it makes more sense for us to have a little bit more security patrols, police patrols in these places, because we see them a lot on all four corners of the city, we see them at traffic lights. Because you see people running with lights on, you see people “illegal parking, crossing pedestrian bridges, street racing, speeding,'' Tucker said. “That's a real problem.”
The Dallas Police Department responded to an initial email request for comment, but did not respond to questions in time for publication.
If Dallas city officials aren't proactive about building pedestrian malls, Hunter and Colorado said they need to take concrete steps. According to the Federal Highway Administration, certain measures, such as raising median strips, can reduce pedestrian crashes by nearly 50%.
“Projects range from the very far end of the spectrum, all the way to cars, to the other end of the spectrum, which is completely pedestrian,” Sheets said. “I think it’s a wide range that requires a significant amount of input to understand what the right solution is for the space.”
Jordan is survived by her husband, Stephen, and their 20-year-old daughter, Savannah.
Stephen, who also works downtown, said he supports the petition because he has seen firsthand how dangerous the area is for pedestrians.
“she [Jordan] I did everything I was supposed to do and still the same thing happened,” he said.
Kundin Nadue, who was driving the car that hit Jordan, was charged with a second-degree felony. Nadeau's case is expected to enter the pretrial discovery phase this summer, according to court records. of dallas morning news requested the August crash report earlier this month, but has not yet received it. Police said an investigation is ongoing.
Advocates hope Jordan's death is the last, but stress that intervention is needed.
“That wasn't the only close encounter,” Hunter said. “A woman literally died, and she was following the rules, she was following the design, and she's still not safe.”
