Proposed bond program would yield much-needed street, alley repairs in North Dallas

Neighbors wanted alley reconstruction, and they’re getting it – well, some of it anyway.

I interviewed District 12 councilmember Sandy Greyson back in February about the proposed 2012 bond program, originally estimated at around $550 million, and what improvements our neighborhoods might see. Not surprisingly, she stressed the importance of streets and alleys.

Responding to residents’ concerns, the city has since found an extra $50 million to put toward those needs. In District 12, there are 27 alleys marked for reconstruction. See if yours made the list. Alleys were not included in the original proposal.

“The city manager changed her mind,” Greyson said at a town-hall meeting last night at Campbell Green Recreation Center. “That’s because in all the meetings at City Hall, it was alleys, alleys, alleys.”

The alleys were chosen based on rankings done by city staff a couple of years ago. However, there are more than just 27 alleys that are in complete disrepair. Greyson says that more alleys may be added to the list if more funding becomes available between now and the city council’s final vote in August.

The entire bond program totals $600 million with three priorities: Streets ($221.2 million), flood control ($323.8 million) and economic development ($55 million). Each district received about $13 million for neighborhood-specific projects. Most of the flood control improvements are in East Dallas, economic development will focus on the Southern sector, and street repairs are scattered across the city and include 47 miles of bike lane facilities outlined in the 2011 Dallas Bike Plan.

If you remember, Meadowcreek was identified as one of the city’s pilot projects for Complete Streets, and neighbors voiced concerns at a town-hall meeting in November. The verdict: No bike lanes. Several homeowners face Meadowcreek and wanted that space reserved for parking. Funds in the proposed bond program would go toward rebuilding the sidewalks and calming traffic with striping to make the road one way in each direction. Improved lighting will have to wait.

Another much-needed street improvement will be at the tortured Preston/Keller Springs intersection. The city will construct a roundabout on the portion of Keller Springs that goes underneath Preston. (Stay tuned for more on that later)

Other street projects include reconstructing Hillcrest from Wester Way to McKamy and resurfacing several neighborhood streets.

The council will vote to call the bond program election on Aug. 15, and the election is Nov. 6.