Commentary: The downtown Dallas I-345 connector is a lifeline for many, so handle with care
Crews inspect a freeway near Deep Ellum. A study of the future of I-345 is being expanded to included all of downtown Dallas’ freeway system.When the Interstate 345 connecter was built in downtown Dallas in the 1970s, it cut through the street grid and destroyed important Black neighborhoods. But simply removing this bit of highway, as some have proposed, will not bring those neighborhoods back to life nor magically create equitable and sustainable development.
Over the past decade, there has been much debate about whether to demolish, repair or replace this key roadway in an effort to make downtown more friendly to pedestrians and new residents. Various replacement options continue to be vetted. Some urban planners reasonably argue that regional traffic should be routed around and not through the center city. Consequently, those alternative corridors will need additional capacity that doesn’t exist. Nevertheless, given the well-documented impact that highways and through traffic have on cities , this is a valid point that should be thoroughly explored by a broad range of stakeholders.
Small businesses have a stake in this decision, too. They form the backbone of any city and community, and existing support for entrepreneurial activity must continue and grow. Public policy must wrap around the central importance of business owners. The promise of better mobility also looms large over planning efforts. Possible alternative transportation corridors via a reconnected local street grid could offer a compelling argument for removing the highway. Plus, removing I-345 and rerouting traffic is expected to improve air quality.
Much has been discussed and written about the promise of land development and job creation awaiting removal of I-345 for both the surrounding neighborhood and residential areas to the east and south. However, demolishing 1.4 miles of highway won’t be enough to maintain downtown as an employment center. Increasing jobs downtown will require more comprehensive approaches to community and economic development.
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