Trinity Toll Road 'Dream Team' Disappoints in Dallas

Dallas reached another milestone in its years-long battle over a proposal to build a toll road through a park along the Trinity River on the edge of downtown. The latest version of the proposal so far hasn't cleared any controversies.

2 minute read

March 22, 2016, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"At a meeting of the Transportation and Trinity River Project Committee, 12 of 15 council members heard from urban planner Larry Beasley about his so-called Dream Team’s new plan for the Trinity Parkway," reports Robert Wilonsky, who also offers a critical opinion of the results of their work: "which still looks and feels and sounds a lot like the highway everyone hated so much that Mayor Mike Rawlings called for this do-over."

After a year of work by a collection of planners and engineers, along with an appointed advisory committee, the Dream Team produced the following conceptual proposal:

The road will be four meandering lanes. Traffic will move at 45 miles per hour. There will only be a handful of on-and-off ramps. There will be trees everywhere. There will be U-turns and shoulder pull-over spots for those wanting to enjoy so-called “WOW” views. There won’t be trucks. There won’t be tolls. There will be park access.

Except Wilonsky remains skeptical that the talking points offered by the Dream team will live up to the reality of the proposal, if the proposal should be realized. Wilonsky writes:

Because, you see, that meandering road really doesn’t meander. And the lanes are wide and only getting wider — from 10 and 11 feet discussed last year to 11 and 12 feet in the latest iteration. And the proposed grass shoulders will probably wind up being gravel.

Wilonsky offers additional details about the park planning occurring concurrently as the road planning, and also previews potential next steps for the so-called "Dream Team."

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 in The Dallas Morning News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City