More than $22 million in grant funding was awarded for District 4 streets and sidewalks, Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold announced last month.
The funds are courtesy of the North Central Texas Council of Governments, an organization by and for local governments established to assist in regional planning.
The grant announcement comes at a time when Dallas leaders have underscored the need for infrastructure in order to recruit and retain development.
NCTCOG Grant Funding
The NCTCOG grant funds will pay for the construction of more than 30 miles of missing sidewalk around Dallas Area Rapid Transit stations at 8th and Corinth streets, Morrell Avenue, Illinois Avenue, and Kiest Boulevard.
The investments will also improve transit accommodations with new technology and safety features at nearby bus stops on DART’s Route 217 and Blue Line light rail stations, including those at Kiest, the Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Morrell stations, according to a press release.
The funding will cover upgrades for East 10th Street, Hutchins Avenue, and the Lancaster Corridor.
NCTCOG Director of Transportation Michael Morris said partnerships are vital to completing projects that will impact North Texas at the regional, city, and neighborhood levels.
“The Regional Transportation Council is excited to partner with the City of Dallas and Mayor Pro Tem Arnold to advance transportation projects that will help with accessibility and economic investment in the community while promoting neighborhood equity,” Morris said.
Serving District 4
Dallas City Council District 4 covers an area in the southern quadrant of the city, which officials say has historically been neglected.
A recent Dallas Water Utilities presentation revealed that homes in District 4 and other “unserved” areas of Dallas are still operating on septic tanks rather than city water and wastewater utilities.
About 96 percent of the district was populated by “racial/ethnic minorities,” according to data released in 2019. Fifty-eight percent of the households in the district earned less than $35,000 per year, according to the same 2019 council presentation.
The district is home to the city’s Southern Gateway and Dallas Zoo.
“I am overjoyed at the investment the NCTCOG has made in District 4,” Arnold said. “Our residents’ streets and sidewalks will be safer for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages because of these projects.”
