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Awesome Things

Questions About Jill Jordan’s Bewildering ‘Trinity Lakes’ Briefing

The report appears to be the work of someone who has lost touch with reality.
By Wylie H. Dallas |
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On Friday afternoon, a Facebook post by Robert “Fingers of Fury” Wilonsky captured my attention. Said Wilonsky: “If you read one Dallas City Council briefing all weekend, make it this one: the surreal Trinity Lakes Amenities Design Plan.” How could I resist? To the extent I had any lingering doubts, he helpfully provided two illustrations: one of an alarming number of people crowded under a freeway overpass, evidently engaging in some sort of hyper merry-making; and another of a small tree-lined four-lane boulevard. Hmm … I had the sense this would prove enlightening.

Assistant City Manager Jill Jordan’s cover memo to the briefing document helpfully closed with the statement “Please feel free to contact me if you need additional information.” After reading through the 99-page attachment, I actually had quite a few questions, so I prepared to contact her. Upon closer reading, however, I noticed that: 1) she didn’t provide her contact details; and 2) even if she had done so, the memo was addressed exclusively to “The Honorable Members of the Transportation and Trinity River Project Committee,” and I’m not a member.

Therefore, lacking such access, I am posting my questions here, in the hopes that they might reach Ms. Jordan and Judge Vonciel Jones Hill (the Committee chair) prior to the meeting:

(page numbers correspond to the pdf page)

1)  Page 8: There seems to be something missing in this illustration of the Trinity River. Seems I recall something about an expressway or parkway being built in the Trinity as a part of the project, but I can’t locate it. Please advise.

2)  Page 10: Same issue.

3)  Page 11: “Engineering studies are needed to determine the feasibility of this lake?” Really? I thought we had already spent around $40 million on consulting fees on this project (I can’t remember the exact number right now), why don’t we know the answer?

4)  Page 12: Looks like a lot of stuff is planned. What is the budget for security and maintenance, including clean-up after each time the Trinity leaves its banks? Props on the “Fire Rings,” though. I love fire rings.

5)  Page 12: Will the “Council Circle” be used for outdoor City Council meetings?

6)  Page 14: How will downtown-based users of the “Pop-up Plaza” under the Commerce St. bridge access this amenity, including the boat rental facility, considering that a six-lane expressway, two service roads, and a tall flood wall will stand between the downtown side and the plaza?

7)  Page 15: Why are the three people in the foreground all wearing similar blue/black & white tops with horizontal stripes? How did all the users get there, given the accessibility problems discussed in question 6? Finally, why isn’t anyone watching the juggler? That makes me sad.

8)  Page 17: I thought the planting of trees in the floodway was prohibited by the Corps. Please explain. Also, the parking area adjacent to the Lew Sterrett jail appears to be located on the side and top of the levee — is that allowed? Finally, it appears that one service road entrance ramp, two service roads, a high-speed 6-lane expressway, and a tall flood wall stand between the parking area and the Council Circle. How will users navigate from the parking lot to the Pop-up Plaza, Council Circle, etc.?

9)  Page 18: What provisions have been made for maintaining the Water Maze and Spray Fountain? The spray fountain on the Continental Bridge already appears to be malfunctioning.

10)  Page 20: Why does the illustration depict a 4-lane boulevard when the actual, approved plan for that location calls for the construction of a 6-lane expressway with wide shoulders and adjacent service roads, including a northbound on-ramp to the service road from Commerce St.? Why are trees depicted in the median, when there will be no such median able to accommodate such trees, and even if there were such a median, the planting of trees would be prohibited in such a location by highway safety regulations. (See my comparison.)

11)  Page 21: Why does the illustration omit the depiction of the planned southbound service road that is to run directly adjacent to the river-facing side of the flood wall?

12)  Page 22: Why does the parkway outline avoid depicting the massive Woodall Rodgers & Continental Ave. interchanges that are planned for this location? (See my comparison.) Also, isn’t it a problem that the access road and parking are located in the middle of the expressway alignment? How will vehicles access the amenities once the expressway is constructed? Where will the parking lots be located?

13)  Page 24: The hydraulic studies haven’t been performed yet? Why not? I thought this project has already been through Corps review.

14)  Page 27: How will security be provided for night disc golf activities?

That is all I’ve got for now. Thanks.

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