In a significant development on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled a $21.8 million grant for the City of Dallas. The funding is earmarked for enhancing community roadway safety and addressing the alarming rise in preventable road-related fatalities.
Councilmember Adam Bazaldua, representing southern Dallas, expressed gratitude, stating, “We are so thrilled by the announcement of this grant for the City of Dallas and specifically the southern Dallas community – enormous thanks to our Congressional leadership as well as our partnering agencies for their efforts.”
The City of Dallas, committed to the Vision Zero initiative, aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and reduce severe injury crashes. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, identified with one of the highest rates of fatal and severe injury crashes involving pedestrians, will be a focal point for safety improvements.
Over the past two years, the boulevard witnessed five pedestrians severely injured in traffic collisions. The awarded funds will facilitate safety treatments such as reduced lanes with separated bike lanes, improved crosswalks, lighting upgrades, traffic signal enhancements, and improved access to transit.
This transformative project aligns with the City’s Racial Equity Plan and addresses safety concerns in a historically underserved neighborhood. The award is a collaborative effort involving the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), St. Phillips School and Community Center, the Real Estate Council, DART, and the Federal Highway Administration.
City Manager T.C. Broadnax expressed gratitude, stating, “The City of Dallas is grateful to our partners for their initial work to secure these funds. It’s a great day for mobility and safety improvements for the pedestrians of Dallas, and we look forward to getting this project underway.” The project includes $5.25 million in matching funds from the City and an additional $200,000 from DART for bus shelter upgrades.
