Bike Infrastructure

DPatel304
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Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 05 Dec 2020 18:41

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Came across some new(ish) bike lanes along Commerce St that spanned from Good Latimer to Cesar Chavez Blvd. It looks like possibly the plan is to have the bike lanes continue across Cesar Chavez and onto Jackson St? I'm not exactly sure how that is supposed to work since cars aren't (currently) stopping where the future bike lane would be, and there is a median that would need to be changed as well.

DPatel304
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 06 Dec 2020 21:05

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Join The City of Dallas Department of Transportation virtually this Tuesday at 6 PM as they discuss and seek public input on the design of the Union Bikeway project and the proposed amendments to the Thoroughfare Plan that are necessary to implement the project.
The City of Dallas was awarded a federal grant to design and construct the Union Bikeway, which is intended to connect the bike lanes on Houston Street and the Katy Trail to Klyde Warren Park. To incorporate the Union Bikeway into the City’s Thoroughfare Plan, the following amendments are proposed:
1. Nowitzki Way from Houston to Field – 5-lane divided with bicycle facility
2. Field St from Nowitzki Way to Ashland Street – 5-lane divided with bicycle facility
3. Harwood from Cedar Springs to Woodall Rodgers – 3-lane with bicycle facility
The meeting will be held online at:
Sign up here: bit.ly/UnionBikewayProjectInput


I figured it makes sense just to have a single thread consisting of all bike infrastructure related updates (since there generally isn't a lot of them).

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CTroyMathis
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby CTroyMathis » 07 Dec 2020 14:26

I would like to see the on-the-ground detailed solution for the Ashland portion in particular. If you don't walk it a lot - go to google streetview and start at Field and make your way along to where it hits Cedar Springs before jumping onto Harwood. (If I'm understanding the proposed routing correctly.)

Edit in: https://goo.gl/maps/sNiCVmfZEwYPGUUg8

DPatel304
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 07 Dec 2020 15:34

It's really hard to visualize what they have in mind here. Since it's a virtual meeting, I'll probably try and check it out tomorrow and just find out more information about this project.

This seems like a weird area to try and connect, but Dallas needs more bike lanes in general, so I'm not opposed to this at all.

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CTroyMathis
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby CTroyMathis » 07 Dec 2020 15:58

Here's what looks like a direct link before clicking on a Microsoft Teams link: https://dallascityhall.com/departments/ ... Union.aspx

I'll try to join in also.

cowboyeagle05
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby cowboyeagle05 » 08 Dec 2020 10:33

Its one of those times where you wish Harwood District would jump feet first into a true trail connection down Harwood since its not a super busy street and would be pretty awesome with bikers and pedestrians passing between Uptown and Klyde Warren right by their various street level businesses but we have talked about this before.

Harwood street for them is a garage entry and exit so its really an alley for them and would be somewhat problematic trying to dedicate it for some sort of bike/trail while also maintaining car access for all their exclusive tenants. Its just funny they call it the Harwood District yet Harwood for them is a dump street of lack luster infrastructure and back doors for delivery's.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell”

DPatel304
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 08 Dec 2020 10:41

cowboyeagle05 wrote:Its one of those times where you wish Harwood District would jump feet first into a true trail connection down Harwood since its not a super busy street and would be pretty awesome with bikers and pedestrians passing between Uptown and Klyde Warren right by their various street level businesses but we have talked about this before.

Harwood street for them is a garage entry and exit so its really an alley for them and would be somewhat problematic trying to dedicate it for some sort of bike/trail while also maintaining car access for all their exclusive tenants. Its just funny they call it the Harwood District yet Harwood for them is a dump street of lack luster infrastructure and back doors for delivery's.


Agreed. I had high hopes for Harwood St. when I heard about a grand vision of making it a pedestrian corridor from the Katy Trail down to Klyde Warren.

I did the walk not too long ago from the Trail to Klyde Warren and it's exactly as you described it. Even the connection to the trail is very underwhelming.

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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby cowboyeagle05 » 08 Dec 2020 10:58

Someone else mentioned to me that the Harwood Trail connection wasn't even authorized that Harwood just did it and kinda got in trouble for just deciding to connect without any coordination with the Friends of the Katy Trail and or limited talk to the city. I am not sure how much of that is true though, rumors more likely. I would have expected it to make some sort of news if it was true.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell”

DPatel304
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 08 Dec 2020 11:12

That's interesting. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it is there and it is well built, I just feel like they could have been more ambitious with this connection. It feels like they did the bare minimum here, which I don't understand given how popular/successful the trail is.

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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 09 Dec 2020 14:28

CTroyMathis wrote:Here's what looks like a direct link before clicking on a Microsoft Teams link: https://dallascityhall.com/departments/ ... Union.aspx

I'll try to join in also.


I was home not doing anything and this meeting completely slip my mind! Did anyone happen to catch this or know what was discussed during the meeting?

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CTroyMathis
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby CTroyMathis » 14 Dec 2020 14:00

I did the same exact thing. Remembered well after it was over. They did end up putting the presentation online: https://dallascityhall.com/departments/ ... 0Final.pdf

DPatel304
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 21 Dec 2020 16:31

Thank you for sharing! It still feels like a weird area to try and connect, but I know the long term plan is to have more and more bike lanes throughout the city, so I definitely welcome this one.

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gosspl
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby gosspl » 28 Dec 2020 10:36

I think my only hang up about the project is the unwillingness to take away a lane from Field Street. It has four lanes in the southbound direction there, so it could easily donate one without a huge impact to drivers. I also wonder about how street crossings will be handled - will bikes have to hit beg buttons to get a signal to cross?

Otherwise I think it's a great project and much needed. I just wish it didn't take this city 5+ years to essentially restripe some streets and but some bendy poles down. But as they say, progress isn't easy.

DPatel304
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 28 Dec 2020 10:44

gosspl wrote:I just wish it didn't take this city 5+ years to essentially restripe some streets and but some bendy poles down. But as they say, progress isn't easy.


I agree. We're already incredibly behind a lot of other major cities and moving at a snail's pace.

The silver lining to COVID is that it seemed like (for the first few months) it brought a lot of people out biking on the streets. I don't know if that will become a permanent change for some people, but it was nice to see more people getting out there and exploring the city on bike.

DPatel304
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 04 Jan 2021 16:58

Given the importance placed on multi-model transportation, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 adopted
budget includes $1.2M for bike lane projects.

• Union Bikeway Project, which will complete a connection between the Katy Trail and Klyde
Warren Park
• Ross Avenue Shared-Use Path (IH 345 to Greenville Avenue)
• Elam Road Shared-Use Path (Pemberton Hill Road to Jim Miller Road). This project will
provide a bicycle connection between two schools, the future shared-use path along
Pemberton Hill Road, and the AT&T Trail
• West Commerce Buffered Bike Lanes (Fort Worth Avenue to Riverfront Boulevard), which
will connect the bike lanes that have already been installed on Fort Worth Avenue to the
future shared-use path on Riverfront Boulevard, as well as connect to the bike lanes on
Beckley Avenue
• Jackson Street Bike Facility (AT&T Plaza to Pearl Street). The funds set aside for this
project in FY 2021 will bring the City one step closer to a dedicated bike facility between
Deep Ellum, the East Quarter District, and AT&T Plaza
• Lovers Lane Shared-Use Path (Lemmon Avenue to Dallas/University Park City Limits),
which will connect to the shared-use path along Lemmon Avenue being implemented by
the Aviation Department, and onto the Bachman Lake Trail

https://dallascityhall.com/government/c ... 123120.pdf

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sterling
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby sterling » 05 Jan 2021 01:05

Great photos of the evolving neighborhood. I never thought I'd live to see downtown parks taken seriously, or serious consideration given to pedestrians and bikes. And NEVER thought it would get to this "quirky" human scaled neighborhood, one of my all-time sentimental faves. It's been amazing over the last couple of decades, to witness these quality of life projects come to fruition. Thanks dpatel and dallasmetropolis!

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tamtagon
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby tamtagon » 05 Jan 2021 05:47

^it really is happening, Sterling!

DPatel304
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby DPatel304 » 05 Jan 2021 17:12

Jackson Street Bike Facility (AT&T Plaza to Pearl Street). The funds set aside for this
project in FY 2021 will bring the City one step closer to a dedicated bike facility between
Deep Ellum, the East Quarter District, and AT&T Plaza


I'm excited for this particular extension to happen, it'll be a nice little connector between AT&T Plaza and Deep Ellum which are already booming and the East Quarter which will hopefully be a nice success story as well.

Hopefully it'll encourage more foot traffic along this particular route as well.

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northsouth
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby northsouth » 03 Feb 2021 22:06

A bit hard to tell from a distance, but it looks like bike lanes have been striped on the Commerce St. viaduct.
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Tivo_Kenevil
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby Tivo_Kenevil » 03 Feb 2021 23:10

They take you down to lovely Riverfront BLVD!

Tnexster
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby Tnexster » 04 Feb 2021 10:19

Its been a while since I have been over this bridge. Are there bike lane or path connections on either side? I don't recall it but things could have changed.

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LPG
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby LPG » 04 Feb 2021 10:32

They have indeed painted bike lanes on the bridge. Took me by surprise when I drove over the bridge on Tuesday.

There aren’t bike lanes painted headed into downtown after crossing the bridge, but there are bike lanes on Ft Worth Ave (which is really just Commerce) headed away. Part of the reconstruction of Ft Worth Ave is to add on street parking with bike lanes. The part of Ft Worth Ave between the bridge and the most recent re-construction has had some pretty janky bike lanes striped previously. In addition, Sylvan has bike lanes from Sylvan & Ft Worth Ave headed east until 30.

Chad West and staff do a great job of providing weekly updates on bond projects in his district, which covers the Ft Worth Ave reconstruction and related bike lanes. Unsure if the bridge itself is District 1, but in case anyone is interested.

https://dallascityhall.com/government/c ... dates.aspx

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CTroyMathis
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby CTroyMathis » 26 Aug 2021 20:24

Union Bikeway info: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/TABS/Search/ ... 2021022953

Code: Select all


Project Name:
    Dallas Union Bikeway
Project Number:
    TABS2021022953
Facility Name:
    Harwood, Ashland, Field, and Nowitzki
Location Address:
    Various Streets
    Dallas, TX 75201
Location County:
    Dallas

Start Date:
    11/1/2021
Completion Date:
    9/30/2022
Estimated Cost:
    $733,900
Type of Work:
    New Construction
Type of Funds:
    This project involves public funds, public land, or is a Federally funded roadway project.
Scope of Work:
    For the construction of Union Bikeway consisting of pavement markings, sidewalks, barrier free ramps, and signal modifications.

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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby undefinedprocess » 27 Aug 2021 08:44

CTroyMathis wrote:Union Bikeway info: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/TABS/Search/ ... 2021022953

Code: Select all


Project Name:
    Dallas Union Bikeway
Project Number:
    TABS2021022953
Facility Name:
    Harwood, Ashland, Field, and Nowitzki
Location Address:
    Various Streets
    Dallas, TX 75201
Location County:
    Dallas

Start Date:
    11/1/2021
Completion Date:
    9/30/2022
Estimated Cost:
    $733,900
Type of Work:
    New Construction
Type of Funds:
    This project involves public funds, public land, or is a Federally funded roadway project.
Scope of Work:
    For the construction of Union Bikeway consisting of pavement markings, sidewalks, barrier free ramps, and signal modifications.

Ooh getting started soon, nice find.

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CTroyMathis
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Re: Bike Infrastructure

Postby CTroyMathis » 10 Oct 2023 18:36

Not really sure how the end-game is supposed to fully play-out, but, it's currently really freaking weird until later when it gets perhaps less weird. I guess this is part of the Union Bikeway. Harwood by KWP on the Uptown side. This is the spot where I believe you would technically have to dismount and walk through the park and continue along to a future Harwood bike path on the other side. Also, keep in mind, this spot could easily get completely annihilated by future tower construction next to it for a couple or so years. Not to mention, while the tower goes up, it's highly likely that lane would be blocked for site work anyway.
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