A New Ally in the Fight Against Car-Centric Planning in Dallas: TxDOT

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has envisioned a future for Downtown Dallas that includes more downtown and fewer freeways.

1 minute read

June 10, 2016, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


CityMap Deck Park

A deck park imagined for I-30 at Harwood Street. | TxDOT / CityMAP briefing document.

Brandon Formby reports on a "surprising yet powerful voice" adding to the "joining the chorus calling for a sea change in downtown Dallas’ car-centric infrastructure building":

The Texas Department of Transportation released a report Friday [June 10] that lays out several scenarios for minimizing congestion on the noose of aging highways that chokes off urban neighborhoods from the Central Business District. The study, called CityMAP, offers a stark departure from the agency’s standby approach of adding more highway lanes or re-engineering traffic chokepoints.

Included among the options explored in the CityMAP (short for the Dallas City Center Master Assessment Process) report: tearing down Interstate 345 and moving a stretch of Interstate 30 out of downtown to a new route farther south in Fair Park.

According to Formby, "CityMAP doesn’t suggest one construction option over another. Instead, the report is meant to arm urbanites, city officials and regional planners with data and estimated effects so a holistic plan can be pieced together for the urban core’s transportation network."

Friday, June 10, 2016 in The Dallas Morning News

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Street scene in Greenwich Village, New York City with people walking through busy intersection and new WTC tower in background.

Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility

Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.

April 14, 2024 - Todd Litman

Wood-frame two-story rowhouses under construction.

Fair Housing Cannot Take a Back Seat to ‘Build, Baby, Build’

If we overlook fair housing principles in the plan to build US housing back better, we risk ending up right back where we started.

April 11, 2024 - James Jennings

"No 710" lawn sign on green lawn.

LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan

The newest plan for the 710 corridor claims it will not displace any residents.

April 22 - Streetsblog LA

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size

City planners say the new rules would ensure an efficient distribution of charging infrastructure across the city and prevent an overconcentration in residential areas.

April 22 - Austin Monitor

Green hills with orange California poppies in bloom in foreground in Chino Hills State Park, California.

Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient

A recently released report offers recommendations for keeping state parks healthy and robust, including acquiring additional land for conservation and recreation.

April 22 - Spectrum News 1

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.