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Trinity River Corridor Project

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This project addresses a number of regional concerns, though flood protection remains the essential element of this multi-faceted effort. The five inter-related components of the project are:

Flood Protection
Environmental Management
Recreation
Transportation
Community/economic development

Flood Protection

This project addresses flood protection through:

Levees
Wetlands
Interior drainage improvements

The flood protection components will involve these areas of the corridor:

Dallas Floodway Extension
Dallas Floodway
Elm Fork

For a high resolution image (2MB pdf) that details the "Trinity River Parks" that are included in the plan
- Click Here -
For a lower resolution jpeg image click on the project map above.

Environmental Management

While flood control is a key element of managing the environment, the additional focus is on:

Great Trinity Forest

The Great Trinity Forest has over 6,000 acres in the one of the largest urban forests in the country. Great Trinity Forest amenities will include:

Interpretive/Equestrian Centers
Land Acquisition/Forest Management
Gateway Park
Hike/Bike Trails

Related articles by the Dallas Morning News:

1.) March 8th, 2008, Dallas Morning News, "Texas Buckeye Trail Project Begins to Blossom".

Recreation

Parks, Lakes, and Trails

Multiple parks, lakes, and recreation facilities are included in the Trinity River Corridor Project. Some are identified above in the Great Trinity Forest. Others are included along the length of the corridor.

Trinity Interpretive Center

The City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department has contracted with Brown Reynolds Watford (BRW) Architects to provide a feasibility study and master plan for the Trinity Interpretive Center, equestrian centers and other associated components. This project is a component of the Great Trinity Forest, a part of the Trinity River Corridor Project, which is being managed by the Trinity River Corridor Project Management Office.

As the Trinity River Corridor Project progresses, additional definition of the included parks will be announced. The Trinity River Corridor Project's "Project Map" (2MB pdf) highlights the currently planned park locations associated with the Trinity River Corridor Project.

You may also like to visit The Trinity Center at 1444 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 200, Dallas, Texas 75207. There are comprehensive project and bridge models, informational videos and other media provide an overview of the Trinity River Project, orienting visitors to the river just minutes away from The Trinity Center. The Trinity Center is sponsored by The Trinity Trust.

Transportation

The Trinity Parkway Corridor Transportation Improvements will be implemented jointly by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) and the City of Dallas.

This includes a number of interrelated projects by multiple agencies and private development funding. The goal is to relieve traffic congestion in the I-35 corridor and the area known as the "mix-master" where I-35 and I-30 come together in downtown Dallas.

The specific transportation elements of the Trinity River Corridor Project are the new bridges and a new toll road to help relieve the traffic congestion in the I-35 corridor in downtown Dallas. The toll road is the element of the project that has been questioned by the "TrinityVote" Political Action Committee championed by Angela Hunt, City of Dallas Councilwoman from District 14. District 14 includes the proposed tollway and a portion of the downtown area that is included in the Trinity River Corridor Project.

Bridges

Woodall Rodgers Extension Bridge

The Woodall Rodgers Extension Bridge will be a reliever route that extends the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway across the river to Singleton Blvd. It provides a connection from West Dallas to downtown venues and major freeways. The new bridge will allow Continental St. to be used for pedestrian/bicycle only.

"Public Art" with significant funding by private monies
400’ tall transverse arch
Cable-stayed bridge
1,200’ center span

IH-30 Bridge

The IH-30 Bridge is under currently design.

300 ft. height
1,200 ft. span
11 main lanes
1 reversible HOV lane
4 lanes of collector /distributor road

I-35 twin-bridges

The I-35 twin-bridges are the major north / south gateways over the Trinity. The 50-year old design and structure have become obsolete. Number of lanes will be doubled to reduced traffic congestion and associated noxious emissions.

Reliever Road

Multiple studies have been conducted and they have yielded the current design concept for the Reliever Road to be included in the Trinity River Corridor Project. The Reliever Road is called the "Trinity Parkway" and will be a tollway designed and built by the North Texas Tollway Authority. Reported cost estimates are from $690 million to $900+ million for the Reliever Road. It is due to go out for bid in It is estimated that the Reliever Road will have upwards of 100,000 cars per day using the new route.

The Trinity Parkway will extend from S.H. 183 in the area of IH-35E in the north and connect with U.S 175 south of downtown. It will initially be built as 6 lanes north of Continental and 4 lanes south of Continental with a maximum of 6 lanes for the ultimate build-out. It will be a 55-mph toll road that includes "context-sensitive design" that will allow the road way to be compatible with a park setting while providing vehicular and pedestrian access into the downtown park adjacent to the parkway.

Alternate 3B of the Trinity Parkway

The City will participate in the financing of the Trinity Parkway. The locally preferred alternative, identified in the Trinity River Corridor Balanced Vision Plan, proposes that the Parkway be constructed with all lanes on the inside of the levee closest to downtown. Dallas City Council approved this alignment on April 13, 2005, and it was adopted by the NTTA Board of Directors on April 20, 2005. The roadway will be built on an embankment which will raise it above the 100-year floodplain, or will be protected from the 100-year flood by floodwalls in those areas where the roadway must fall below the 100-year floodplain to go below the various bridges.

Trinity Corridor Aerial View - Click Here for More . . .

Artist concepts of the Trinity Parkway at the narrowest and widest portion of the corridor. A picture is worth a thousand words! Click Here

The NTTA is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate this alternative and its environmental impacts. This EIS is being done in conjunction with the Corps of Engineers Dallas Floodway EIS, which looks at the combined impacts of the roadway, lakes and river channels in the downtown floodway area. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is available on the NTTA Tollway Project Web Site.

Conceptual Aerial View of the Proposed Parkway, Park and Lakes
(Courtesy of the North Texas Tollway Authority)
(Click here for a larger version)

Construction of the parkway will utilize material excavated from the proposed lakes and wetlands identified as part of the City of Dallas' master plan for the existing Dallas Floodway. An official "Record of Decision" is expected for the Parkway EIS in 2008, and construction could be completed in 2013, barring unforeseen delays prompted by the actions of the TrinityVote Political Action Committee and Councilwoman Hunt.

The TrinityVote Political Action Committee" was successful in acquiring enough signatures on a referendum to place a proposition on the a ballot in the City of Dallas election in November 2007 against the Trinity Parkway as planned. Their proposition, if approved, would negate the planning and expenditure of funds that have been expended and remove the Reliever Road from the project. The proposition was defeated by the voters of Dallas on November 6th, 2007.

What was on the ballot in November?

Ballot Wording and Proposed City Ordinance.

Related articles by the Dallas Morning News:

For more see the Dallas Morning News Archive

“Proposed” Trinity Parkway Simulation (Sept. 2007)
(Courtesy of the North Texas Tollway Authority)

This visual aid depicts a preliminary design concept for one proposed alternative currently being evaluated as part of the project’s comprehensive environmental impact study process. The environmental process evaluates alternatives to build, as well as not to build, the proposed Trinity Parkway, as required by law. The final selected alternative and its features will be identified at the conclusion of the environmental process. This visual aid was created for illustrative purposes only and is an approximation of the appearance and design of the proposed Trinity Parkway and certain park features. The information used for this visual aid is still under development, and is subject to comment, change, and approval by various federal and state agencies, as well as the Dallas City Council and the NTTA Board of Directors.

Play Video
(Requires Windows Media Player)

Community/economic development

It is forecast that completion of the planned Trinity Parkway will create 7,500 jobs and generate over $10.3 billion in economic development over 20 years.

Raising existing levees will increase protection for 10,000 businesses in the Dallas Central Business District, along Industrial Boulevard and the Stemmons Corridor.

Dallas Floodway Extension will protect 2,500 structures in Rochester Park, Cadillac Heights and the Lamar Street area.

And, the Comprehensive Land Use Plan will provide guidance for future development along the the Trinity River Corridor

American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2007 Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design

In April of 2007 the City of Dallas’ Trinity River Corridor Project received the 2007American Institute of Architects highest award - the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2007 Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design. The award was given for the Trinity River Project’s “Balanced Vision Plan” that is guiding the development and land use along the Trinity Corridor.

Trinity Trust Foundation

The Trinity Trust Foundation is raising private funds that will supplement the significant public funding already committed to The Trinity Corridor Project. Notable individual landmarks are being created through this major civic undertaking to address the most important connections between Dallas, its residents, and its physical environment. They include

art and design (Calatrava bridges, major water features and public art)
water-related activities (two lakes, whitewater courses and boating facilities)
the natural environment (the Trinity River Audubon Center and nature observation and interpretation features)
sports and recreation (the Texas Horse Park and ball fields)
urban design (promenades, overlooks, an amphitheater and a central island)

Visit the Trinity Trust Foundation web site at: http://www.thetrinitytrust.org/

For More Information on the Trinity Corridor Project

Trinity Corridor Project Web Site	City of Dallas Web Site "Trinity River Corridor Project"	http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org/
My Trinity River News	A monthly newsletter by the Trinity River Corridor Project - a place for you to find the latest updates and to read stories about the river.	Click Here for the Trinity River Newsletter
North Texas Tollway Authority	NTTA "Trinity Parkway Project Web Site"	http://www.ntta.org/
For the Tollway	The Trinity Commons Foundation Web Site "Sink the Petition Save the Trinity"	http://savethetrinity.net/
Against the Tollway	TrinityVote Political Action Committee Web Site "TrinityVote"	http://www.trinityvote.com/
Ballot Wording and Proposed City Ordinance.