Wednesday afternoon the Mayor of Dallas will weigh in on a controversial tollway plan. Mike Rawlings hasn’t reveled his opinion on the proposed Trinity Parkway, until now.
NTTA says it would connect Interstate 35E to U.S. 175 looping around the west and south sides of the city’s central business district.
Drivers had mixed opinions on a tollway. Some were in favor of relief at any cost while others thought tax dollars should be used to improve the current infrastructure.
Darnell Edmondson, from Arlington said traffic around Dallas is terrible and that he’s sick of sitting in slow traffic trying to get around Dallas. He believes a tollway to relieve back-up can’t come fast enough.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
“I think we pay enough road use taxes every year that some of these freeways could be widened and expanded,” said Donald Ulm, from Oak Cliff.
Many people said the city should improve existing roads before spending money on a tollway that the NTTA now estimates could cost up to $2 million to build.
“I don’t want to pay for it, it’s expensive,” said Donna Kindle from Dallas.
The mayor asked for feedback on his Facebook page and the opposition is overwhelming.
If the tollway will be built and when is still up in the air. One preference is building it between the Trinity River and East Levee. Some residents worry if the roadway can work in a flood plain.
“It keeps downtown and Oak Cliff from flooding. I think it needs to be left as it is,” said Ulm.
The mayor is meeting with residents, local leaders and developers Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
A public hearing on the Trinity Parkway is planned for next Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dallas Convention Center, 650 S. Griffin Street.
