U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Dallas yesterday to celebrate the multi-billion dollar Interstate 30 project meant to help historically disadvantaged communities by reconnecting neighborhoods divided by highways.
“You have neighborhoods that were really harmed by some of the past decisions that are going to benefit, everybody’s going to benefit, from these,” said Buttigieg in a statement. “It’s even going to mean cleaner air because they’re adding park land.”
The Biden Administration recently dedicated $80 Million to North Texas through the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhood Grant Program, funding that’s part of President Biden’s Investing in America initiative.
Buttigieg said the projects, which will include bridge parks, will provide a benefit to safety, a benefit to economic development and an equity benefit, as some of the previous divisions left neighborhoods without direct access to essential resources such as schools, employment opportunities, medical facilities and places of worship.
The project will build pedestrian "caps" for four highways in the area and will be rolled out in phases.
According to the project's fact sheet, the first phase is I-30, which will install support structures for three pedestrian caps/parks to be constructed across the interstate.
The second phase involves Klyde Warren Park -- extending an existing pedestrian cap/deck park further south to create additional access, connections, and to complete the community vision.
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Source: WFAA News
