Thursday, November 19, 2009
New design for Beckley/Commerce under consideration
By Jeff Herrington
You told us you did not want Beckley Avenue to become an eight-lane speedway.
We conveyed that to the City of Dallas. They listened.
Now, a new more pedestrain and cyclist-friendly design for the streets surrounding the intersection of West Commerce and Beckley has received enthusiastic support from area stakeholders.
At a Nov. 10 meeting at the restaurant Smoke, Don Raines of the urban design firm Wallace, Roberts & Todd presented some 25 area stakeholders with seven options for redesigning the intersection and surrounding streets.
The option preferred by the group has two phases. The first phase involves:
- adding one or two bike lanes to the Commerce Street bridge, hence...
- narrowing the bridge from six vehicular lanes to four
- gently curving Beckley Avenue to the west as it approaches Commerce Street
- creating an intersection with a traffic light and left-turn lane at Commerce and Beckley
- redesigning the curbs at that intersection to better accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.
The first phase also suggests:
- eliminating the ramp that leads from northbound Beckley to the Commerce bridge
- eliminating the current section of Beckley that goes under the bridge
- redesigning Beckley to accommodate vehicles, cyclists, streetcars, parallel parking and more pedestrian-friendly sidewalks
Gently curving Beckley to the west will create more than 120,000 square feet of valuable, developable land immediately adjacent to the Trinity River. The other changes will help slow traffic and make the area friendlier to those who want to get around by bicycle, by trolley or on foot.
The second, "ultimate" phase would also:
- extend Hardwick Street (located just east of the main post office) north
- create a Hardwick Street underpass that would carry traffic under the Union Pacific line
- connect Hardwick Street to Gulden and, eventually, Canada drive on the north
- create a new exit off of westbound Interstate 30, just east of the main post office
These refinements would allow Hardwick to assist Beckley in moving cars carefully through the area. The new I-30 exit would allow those north of the river another easy access to the area's new businesses without their having to wind their way through the post office's property.
Much more vetting must take place before the design becomes reality. We'll continue to work with Samir Goel of the City of Dallas; Wallace, Roberts & Todd; and you, our members; to bring a smart transportation plan to the corridor!