Photo by Rachel Stone
A pedestrian island under construction in the Bishop Arts District is one of multiples expected to be popping up in our neighborhood.
“Having crossed this intersection many times, often with my two kids in tow on our way to Cretia’s, it is a harrowing experience,” City Councilman Chad West said in a recent e-newsletter.
Funds from the 2021-2022 City of Dallas budget paid for the feature, from pedestrian safety-funds designated by the City Manager.
More funds are available for these medians that allow pedestrians to cross halfway before proceeding to the sidewalk.
“I look forward to continuing to see these pop up all over the neighborhood,” West said.
Know of a place that could use a pedestrian feature like this? The first step is to call 311 with a service request, “and it gains momentum from there,” according to West’s e-newsletter.
Dallas is notoriously unsafe for pedestrians, and a City of Dallas audit of pedestrian safety released in May found basic pedestrian facilities, such as crosswalk markings, to be lacking and that the city’s transportation department doesn’t have processes in place for reducing the risk of fatalities and serious injuries.
