Angela Hunt Launches Effort Against Toll Road Placement

On Wednesday, Dallas City Councilwoman Angela Hunt and a group of community advocates came out to launch a campaign against the proposed Trinity River Parkway.  The parkway is part of the larger Trinity River Corridor Project.   Ms. Hunt, flanked by members by a coalition known as Trinity Vote announced their plans to gather 50,000 signatures and force a vote to move the toll road outside the levees of the Trinity.

When the toll road was first announced as part of the 1998 $246 million bond package, it was billed as a "low-speed" roadway running near the Trinity River levees.  No one ever imagined that the roads would wind up inside the levees and next to the lakes and parks that were received top billing during the campaign phase.  Since the passage of the package, the roadways has gotten wider, closer to the parks, and faster, with speed limits expected to be 55 miles per hour.

There have been rumblings over the toll road from day one.  The noise has gotten louder since the project's cost has risen from $690 million to over $1 billion.  Ms. Hunt and the folks at Trinity Vote said enough is enough at a press conference today at made their intentions known.  According to the group's website, "Our goal is to place a referendum on the ballot in November to let Dallas voters decide whether they want a high-speed toll road in the Downtown Trinity Park."

The Dallas Morning News says that Laura Miller and Ron Kirk both oppose Ms. Hunt, and will come out with a joint statement regarding the issue.  It's got to be tough for Ms. Miller because if she were a council member instead of mayor, I'm sure she would have been standing with Ms. Hunt.  Instead she may again find herself on the wrong side of the Dallas electorate in the coming months.  What was troubling about the quotes in the News from Ms. Miller and Mr. Kirk were that they seem to be dismissing the effort.  If one thing is sure, the folks Dallas are up for a good fight (Strong Mayor, Stronger Mayor, New Fine Arts). 

We want parks, flood protection, and economic development from the Trinity Project.  Sure the toll road was voted on and will be welcomed.  But in the many Trinity River Corridor meetings I've attended since 1998, there has been objection to the placement of roadway at EVERY ONE.  I look forward to debate, and I look forward to signing the petition.