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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
www.br-dge.comSTUDIOS
regarding
Trinity Tollway Alternatives
submitted to
Senator Royce West
date
April 3, 2015
The Riverfront Extension
Alternative
Comparing Cost & Time
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
www.br-dge.comSTUDIOS
INTRODUCTION
ABOUT US
BR_DGE is a process-based design studio.
We develop solutions only after thoroughresearch, market analysis and extensive
exploration of possible directions.
We believe the most critical skill one can use
in problem solving is observation.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The Trinity Tollway has long been hailed as
the best solution to the problem of congestion
in the Mixmaster. However, with costs
escalating and economic disparity at an alltime high in the City of Dallas, it’s time to look
at solutions that won’t increase the burden
of Dallas’ most vulnerable citizens and future
generations. The Trinity Tollway will also very
likely compromise the social, economic and
emotional value of the Trinity Park — a park
that will undoubtedly reshape the city as we
know it.
It’s in the best interest of the City of Dallas
to consider alternatives that a) don’t have a
tolling component, b) don’t significantly add
to the massive infrastructural burden that will
face future generations and c) don’t physicallyintrude on the Trinity Park.
WHY RIVERFRONT?
Riverfront directly parallels the path of
the Trinity Tollway. It provides convenientaccess to all major highways and arterials
near downtown and allows traffic to avoid
the Mixmaster entirely. It is currently under
capacity, especially on the southern end
where the street makes an abrupt stop at
Corinth Street.
Furthermore, it presents extensive
opportunities for economic development on
property between Stemmons, the Mixmaster
and the levees. If proper accommodations are
made, this development will be the connective
tissue between downtown and the Trinity. To
add yet another level of separation, such asthe Trinity Tollway, would be detrimental to
the relationship of Downtown and the Trinity
Park.
MULTI-MODAL
Unlike a limited access tollway, Riverfront will
offer accommodations for all modes of transitincluding bikes, buses and pedestrians.
Multi-modal corridors are known to have
significant economic benefit. Recent studies
have shown higher property value for real
estate adjacent to protected bike lanes*.
Most significantly, the extension of Riverfront
creates the opportunity for more efficient
bus routing. We’ll analyze this later in this
document.
Riverfront offers more
flexible and more reliable
access to all centers of
economic activity in and
around downtown and
to points beyond.
*”PROTECTED BIKE LANES MEAN BUSINESS”
How 21st Century Transportation Networks Help
New Urban Economies Boom: A report from
PeopleForBikes and Alliance for Biking & Walking
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
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MEDICAL DISTRICT / STEMMONS CORRIDOR /
MARKET CENTER / LOVE FIELD / OAK LAWN
2 VICTORY / DNT / NORTH BOUND I-35
3 TRINITY GROVES / WOODALL RODGERS / 75
4 WEST DALLAS / OAK CLIFF / DOWNTOWN
5 REUNION / NORTH BOUND I-35
6 WEST BOUND I-30
7 SOUTH BOUND I-35
8 CEDARS/EAST BOUND I-30
9 CEDARS/SOUTH DALLAS/EAST OAK CLIFF
*New cross river connections could be made fromOak Lawn to Coronet and from Coloradoto Belleview to provide new connections
between growing neighborhoods and access to the river.
OAK CLIFF
DOWNTOWN
ARTS DISTRICT
CEDARS / SOUTHSIDE
FUT UR E
HIGH SPEED RAIL
UPTOWN /
VICTORYDESIGN
DISTRICT
WEST
DALLAS
EXISTING RIVERFONT
ACCESS
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
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CASE STUDY
GETTING FROM PLEASANT GROVE TO
PARKLAND HOSPITAL
To illustrate both the effectiveness of TheRiverfront Extension Alternative and the
existing challenges facing the southeastern
portion of our city, we’ve chosen to highlight
a hypothetical journey from John Q Adams
Elementary in Pleasant Grove to Parkland
Hospital in the Medical District/Stemmons
Corridor.
This route from Pleasant Grove to Parkland is
frequently referenced by tollroad proponents,
often with the mention of time savings and
potential penalties/docked pay for being late.
TIME IS MONEY
Like the age-old adage, we’ll ultimately be
comparing trips in terms of the amount oftime they consume. This will keep the analysis
straight forward and simple to understand.
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
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CASE STUDY
MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY?
In optimal traffic conditions, the current
highway system will deliver the fastest results.
However, as anyone in DFW knows, rush
hour traffic can easily double the amount of
time it takes to get somewhere. Rush hour
is unpredictable and limited access means
limited escape.
What if one wanted to avoid the Mixmaster,
Woodall Rodgers and the rush hour hazards
presented within?
In many neighborhoods surrounding
downtown, surface streets offer a reliable
alternative to highways. Unfortunately, in
Pleasant Grove, that’s not the case.
at evening rush hour
at early afternoon
42minutes
21minutes
existing highway system
(off peak)
existing highway system
(rush hour)
*All time data compiled from Google Maps
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
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CASE STUDY
LIMITED SURFACE STREET ACCESS
To make the journey from Pleasant Grove
to Medical District, residents have very few
surface street options compared to other
portions of the city.
The Great Trinity Forest creates a very
significant barrier to the west side of theneighborhood and there are only 4 routes
through the forest: Scyene, Bruton/2nd Street,
Loop 12 and 175.
This funnels much of the traffic to 175, the
perceived fastest route. The downside is that
this locally based traffic is funneled into the
mixmaster along with regional traffic.
So, what are the options that don’t involve
having to get into the mixmaster?
1 7 5
175
1 7 5
BRUTON RD.
SCYENE RD.
LOOP 12
L O OP 1 2
2 N D
A V E .
Pleasant Grove has
very few surface street
options to carry citizens
east and west without
having to get on a
highway.
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
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CASE STUDY
OPTION 1: Scyene
Scyene funnels traffic toward Fair Park and
ultimately through the heart of downtown.If one were looking to avoid any potential
snares, cutting through downtown is not
necessarily the best choice. The amount of
traffic lights and the current traffic patterns in
downtown make a workable but possibly less
desirable option.
OPTION 2: Bruton/2nd to Lamar
One could also choose to cut through South
Dallas and up Lamar. This also cuts throughthe heart of Downtown and is a bit slower.
It’s not easy for Pleasant
Grove residents toskirt the mixmaster
without going through
downtown.
32minutesscyene to commerce
35minutesbruton/2nd to lamar
*All time data compiled from Google Maps
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
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CASE STUDY
OPTION 3: 175 to Lamar to Riverfront
Riverfront is great alternate route for those
with destinations west of Downtown Dallas.Getting to Riverfront from Pleasant Grove is
a convoluted process that many simply won’t
bother making, even if it could save time and
help avoid Mixmaster traffic when its at its
worst.
Even with the existing system, cutting
over to Riverfront from 175 via Lamar
only adds 7 minutes to the optimalfreeway conditions route.
During rush hour, one can save
approximately 14 minutes*.
Without an extension,
getting to Riverfrontfrom Pleasant Grove is
not simple or obvious.
28minutes
175 to lamar to riverfront
*All time data compiled from Google Maps
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
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CASE STUDY
OPTION 4: Using DART
DART’s Green Line provides a direct
connection between Pleasant Grove andParkland. However, because of the layout of
the transit artery through downtown, train
traffic through downtown is slow and train
frequencies are currently maxed out. That
means the fastest one can travel between the
two destinations is roughly 1 hour.
By bus, the situation is even more
complex.
The bus-only version of this trip takes
nearly double the amount of time as
taking the highway at rush hour.
Reliable public transit
is a necessity forneighborhoods such as
Pleasant Grove.
5minutes
1hour
dart bus + green line
30minutes
1hour
dart bus only
*All time data compiled from Google Maps
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
www.br-dge.comSTUDIOS
THE ALTERNATIVE
h a t c
h e r
t x d o t s m
w r i g
h t p r o
j e c t
l a m
a r
r i v e r f r o n t
r i v e r f r o n t e x t e n s i o n
c e d a r
c r e s t
c o r i n t h
c o r i n t h
m l k
b l v d .
m a l c o
l m x
175
FIXING DEAD MAN’S CURVE
TxDOT is already proceeding with the
straightening of Dead Man’s Curve and linking
175 directly to I-45. This will be a very positivefix for the neighborhood as it will allow for the
removal of the elevated S.M. Wright Freeway.
S.M. Wright Blvd. will offer yet another
surface street option into downtown, but still
fails to address optimal east/west travel for
southern Dallas.
A LOGICAL EXTENSION
The Trinity Tollway has always been planned
as a logical extension of 175 after its
intersection with I-45. However, it’s beendocumented in the EIS report itself that
the community can’t afford to pay the tolls
to travel on it. Creating a new connection
between 175 and Riverfront would expedite
travel times while at the same time optimizing
real estate opportunity on the current
southern portion of Riverfront.
Furthermore, it would allow DART to simplify
bus routes and provide more efficient public
transit to residents in need.
The Riverfront Extension
creates a new multi-modal East/West
connection within
roughly the same
boundaries as the
southern end of the
Trinity Tollway.
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
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Dallas Texas 75226
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TIME COMPARISON
TRINITY TOLLWAY TRAVEL TIME
We can estimate the approximate trip time
for the proposed Trinity Tollway by tallying thefollowing:
1) Time from John Q. Adams Elementary
to 175 & Lamar(where the Tollway would
effectively begin)
8 minutes
2) Estimating that one would travel
approximately 6 miles along the tollroad at an
average speed of 55mph
6.5 minutes (approx.)
3) Calculating approximate exit time atHampton Rd (1 minute) & adding it to existing
distance from the foot of the levee (1298
Conveyor Ln) to parking at Parkland Hospital.
6.5 minutes (approx.)
The results show that time savings will be a
wash during off-peak hours. Since we can’t
predict rush hour behavior or unexpected
incidents such as flooding for the Trinity
Tollway, we haven’t included rush hour
estimates.
42minutes
21minutes
existing highway system
(off peak)
21minutes*
trinity tollway
(*estimated off peak)
existing highway system
(rush hour)
What about traveling
on the tollway?
*All time data compiled from Google Maps
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
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TIME COMPARISON
RIVERFRONT EXTENSION TRAVEL TIME
We can estimate the approximate trip time
for the Riverfront Extension by tallying thefollowing:
1) Time from John Q. Adams Elementary to
175 & Lamar(where the SM Wright Project
would start)
8 minutes
2) Time from I-45 to Corinth St. along S
Lamar St. as a comparison
4 minutes
3) Adding the existing travel time from the
intersection of Riverfront and Corinth toParkland Hospital
13 minutes
IMPROVING TRIPS BY BUS
As stated before, public transit is extremely
important for Pleasant Grove residents.
Bus travel times tend to vary depending on
frequency and number of transfers. Assuming
two transfers, we can calculate that a route
along the Riverfront Extension would be about
double the amount of time it currently take for
the #63 bus to go 4.5 miles along Riverfront
and Irving Boulevard
34 minutes
Then we add the trip time it takes to get from
John Q Adams to Lake June Station on bus
#592
9 minutes
Then we’ll add a bit of contingency for
transfer time, delays, etc.
7 minutes
42minutes
21minutes
existing highway system
(off peak)
25minutes*
riverfront extension
(*estimated)
existing highway system
(rush hour)
riverfront extension
(by bus - estimated)
50minutes*
*All time data compiled from Google Maps
30minutes1hourexisting bus only travel time
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
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MONEY SPENT PER
MINUTE SAVED
trinity tollway
estimated overall costs
estimated minutes saved (vs rush hour on existing system)
minutes
riverfront extension
trinity tollway
riverfront extension
0 $300m $600m $900m $1.2b $1.5b
0 5 10 15 20 25
COMPARING SOLUTIONS
Since off-peak travel time is a wash for the
Trinity Tollway, we’ll compare the amount of
money spent (for the project as a whole) to
the minutes saved during rush hour on the
existing system. Some statements regarding
Trinity Tollway vary, but for this purpose we
are going to assume $1.5 billion overall. We’ll
also say worst case scenario, the Riverfront
extension costs $150 million to build.
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
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42minutes
21minutes*
trinity tollway
(*estimated off peak)
trinity tollway riverfront extension
millions spent per minute saved (vs rush hour on existing system)
millions of dollars
overall travel time
trinity tollway
riverfront extension
existing highway system
(rush hour)
25minutes*
riverfront extension
(*estimated)
$71.4million spent per minute saved
$8.8million spent per minute saved
17minutes saved
$150million spent
÷
21minutes saved
$1.5billion spent
÷
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
All costs based on estimates only. All time data compiled from Google Maps
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BR_DGE Creative Studios LLC
2919 Commerce Street Suite #212
Dallas Texas 75226
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CONCLUSION
NOT MONEY WELL SPENT
If we compare the amount of money spent per
minute saved, it’s easy to see that the TrinityTollway is not a wise investment. Since there
will be little to no time-savings during off-
peak hours, we can expect very little incentive
for use of the Tollway, especially for our most
vulnerable citizens.
MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, MORE UPKEEP
The Trinity Tollway would require 9 new
miles of road that expand up to 10 laneswide including on-ramps, access roads and
travel lanes. To maintain this infrastructure
in a floodplain will surely be an expensive
endeavor that will require an increase in tolls.
Extending Riverfront would necessitate
approximately only 2 miles of new roads and
bridges.
LESS PARK, LESS TRANSFORMATION
Parks and roads have co-existed for quite
some time. These roads have stoplights, sliproads for parking, sidewalks and bike lanes.
Never before has anyone proposed that a park
of this magnitude and importance co-exist
with a high-speed limited access highway for
the entirety of its footprint.
The Riverfront Extension would allow
the Trinity Park to maintain its value and
provide for new access points and economic
development along the way.
We hope that you’ll
take this study into
consideration.
Thank you for your
time.
Sincerely,
ROBBIE GOOD
principal / designer
br_dge creative studios llc
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