STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Transportation & Infrastructure
AGENDA DATE: February 14, 2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 7
DEPARTMENT: Department of Transportation
EXECUTIVE: Dr. Robert Perez
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SUBJECT
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A public hearing to receive comments to amend Ordinance No. 20860, “City of Dallas Thoroughfare Plan” to remove (1) Harwood Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; and (2) Harwood Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Al Lipscomb Way; and, at the close of the public hearing, authorize an ordinance implementing the change - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
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BACKGROUND
Forest Forward requested an amendment to the City of Dallas Thoroughfare Plan to remove Harwood Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from the Thoroughfare Plan. This section of Harwood Street is on the Thoroughfare Plan as a community collector in existing right-of-way. Currently, Harwood Street does not connect to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard due to the Texas Department of Transportation’s modification of Interstate Highway (IH) 45 and South-Central Expressway/S.M. Wright Freeway. The developer is requesting the removal of Harwood Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from the Thoroughfare Plan to facilitate the redevelopment of the Forest Theater and foster the revitalization of the area around the theater.
The City of Dallas Department of Transportation staff has requested to extend the limits of this Harwood Street amendment from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Al Lipscomb Way. This section of Harwood Street is on the Thoroughfare Plan as a minor arterial in an existing right-of-way. Harwood Street south of Al Lipscomb Way is no longer a through street serving moderate length trips, carrying significant through traffic volume, or collecting and distributing traffic between local road and arterial roads; therefore, it no longer meets the definition of a collector or arterial road - the classes of streets the Thoroughfare Plan is intended to identify and preserve. For these reasons and to ensure the Thoroughfare Plan accurately represents the role that streets serve in the roadway network, the Department of Transportation staff is recommending that this section of Harwood Street be removed from the Thoroughfare Plan.
The removal of Harwood Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Al Lipscomb Way from the Thoroughfare Plan will not remove the roadway from the local roadway network or abandon the existing public right-of-way. The sections north and south of IH-45 will be considered local roads and would be regulated by the City of Dallas Street Design Manual local roadway standards.
The removal from the Thoroughfare Plan will also not impact the City of Dallas Bike Plan. These sections of Harwood Street do not connect today, and an alternative route will be proposed in the revised draft Dallas Bike Plan to connect recommended bike lanes on Harwood Street north of Al Lipscomb Way to the recommended bike lanes on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The revised draft is expected to be released for public input in 2024.
Staff recommends approval to amend the City of Dallas Thoroughfare Plan to remove (1) Harwood Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; and (2) Harwood Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Al Lipscomb Way.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On December 7, 2023, the City Plan Commission Thoroughfare Committee acted on this item and followed staff’s recommendation to approve the application.
On January 18, 2024, the City Plan Commission acted on this item and followed the City Plan Commission Thoroughfare Committee’s recommendation.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to the City.
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