October 30 - Public Meeting Update
The October 30 public workshop at the JCC was attended by 30 neighbors and interested people. In addition to residents, Dallas County, the City of Dallas, Texas Department of Transportation, Bike DFW, the Friends and White Rock Creek Trail and the Friends of Northaven Trail were all in attendance. Dallas Council Member Linda Koop as well Park Board Members Larry Jones and Lee Kleinman also attended. Chris Davis, representing County Commissioner Maurine Dickey's Office as well as Alberta Blair, Dallas County Director of Public Works attended as well.
The county discussed three options for connecting the east end of the Northaven Trail to the White Rock Creek Trail near the Cottonwood Trail. This connection has been named the "Low Five" due to the close proximity to the High Five Interchange and the fact that there will be 5 possible directions of travel from this point.
The options included:
- A bridge over Central Expressway (US 75) from the intersection of Northaven Road and the South bound Service Road landing in the parking lot on the east side of Central an another bridge crossing the creek near the DART bridge.
- A route that follows Valleydale and Park Central Place, then follows the west side of White Rock Creek, goes under all lanes of Central Expressway, and Crosses near the DART bridge.
- A street route that follows St. Michael's to Forest Lane and joins the White Rock Creek Trail.
The most desired option is #1, but it is the most expensive. Dallas County will Apply for a STEP (State Transportation Enhancement Program) Grant from TxDOT to help fund this project. Dallas County has already committed over $2,000,000 to the project.
The reactions from the neighbors was positive and and the questions were mostly points of clarification.