3/21/07  Trinity Toll Road

Back in the fall of 2006, council member Mitch Rasansky suggested that Dallas voters have the chance to re-approve the 3 designer suspension bridges for the Trinity River as they are significantly over budget.

I recall back in October that consideration had been given by the city for the funds for the I-35 mixmaster improvements to be transferred to the bridges because of cost overruns of the project.  Unlike Fort Worth, Dallas just has to have suspension bridges over a mostly dry river.

Now, council member Angela Hunt is working to get the toll road inside the Trinity River levee put before the voters of Dallas since the nature of the project has significantly changed.

In 1998,  voters approved by just over 50% transforming the Trinity River into park area in a $246 million project with lakes, sail boats, bike trails and promenades gracing the area.  Since then, little has occurred to show progress on this vision.  

Instead we have plans for a 6-lane toll road inside the flood levees that the Army Corps of Engineers warns will flood.  The levees are to be built to pre-Katrina standards.  Almost 33% of the promised park would be eliminated, too.  Such a toll road will delay the issue of a more permanent cure for the existing I-35 mix master and it’s problems.

Last Fall I opined that the only reason the voters would not get a chance to vote was because elected officials were concerned that the project and the 3 suspension bridges would not be re-approved by the voters.

Let the taxpaying voters of Dallas decide.  Unless you admit it will fail if put before the voters.

David W. Tuthill