A tragic traffic death on Jefferson Boulevard prompted the Dallas City Councilman who represents North Oak Cliff to seek solutions for speeding in our neighborhood.
Mayor Pro Tem Chad West is suggesting a lane-closure demonstration on Jefferson similar to the one on Hampton Road last year.
West sent out a statement this morning in response to the death of Armando Lejia, a professional gardener who was killed Monday while riding a lawnmower in Winnetka Heights after a driver on Jefferson Boulevard lost control and crashed into him.
West says the demonstration could last up to three months:
The Jefferson Boulevard Task Force, led by neighbors in Winnetka Heights, L.O. Daniel, and Sunset Hill, have been meeting for months to discuss statistics and traffic calming options for Jefferson Boulevard. I have asked the Chair to gather letters of support from the respective neighborhood associations so that we can begin a lane-closure demonstration on both sides of Jefferson Boulevard for up to three months. My goal would be to start this demonstration in mid-August, pending neighborhood support and funding.
Sign up for Jefferson Boulevard Task Force updates by emailing West’s assistant Ashley Long.
West says he would also consider “procuring traffic islands” for the purpose of road calming.
Traffic islands, unlike roundabouts (which are intended for arterial busy roads), are intended to slow down speeders within neighborhood streets. Pending approval of the funding mechanism, I hope to launch a demonstration program throughout District 1 to install traffic islands for up to three months. If neighborhoods embrace this concept, we can seek bond funding to install permanent islands in these areas.
Neighbors set up a crowd-funding campaign that has raised more than $24,000 for Leija’s family, and West says his office received dozens of emails requesting action from the city.
