The Steering Committee for the Northwest Highway Urban Design Study was informed on 12/08/99 by Chief Planner Peer Chacko that our TxDOT request for $1.28 million was not approved for STEP grant funding.

This request included funding for trees, shrubs, planting, irrigation, median work, sign toppers, bridge painting (Denton overpass), ramp construction for our pedestrian bridge, etc. This is almost half of the total financial need for our Urban Design Study.

We were told that we still have an opportunity to make a presentation at the Commissioners meeting in Austin on December 15th for final-round funding.

The City of Dallas has a lobbyist in Austin who will assist us with our secondary request.

Any information you have that might help us will be very much appreciated. Please email Linda Neel at LinNeel@aol.com.

Watch for updates.




By Linda Neel

NW Hwy Urban Design Study UPDATE

Wednesday, December 15, 1999.

I received an email from Peer Chacko, Chief Planner for the City of Dallas, at 7:30 last night stating that the City pulled together a team around 4:30 to present Dallas' top fourteen projects for TxDOT funding requests. (Ours was 14th on the list.)

So I set my alarm for 5:00 am and met Peer at Love Field. Three other City reps met us at the hearing in Austin. Most of the Dallas projects were scheduled for late afternoon. Ours was #109 (out of 109). We presented at 5:30. I always liked presenting last. Our project will stay freshest in the Commissioners' minds.

Peer made an excellent presentation and I made an excellent assistant, pointing out the areas on our visual board as Peer described them. Each project was allowed only three minutes total. Being last, the Commissioners asked some questions and we had extra time to answer. I believe it was very favorable. Peer introduced me as the representative for the Bachman neighborhood. He related that we have all been involved from the beginning and have shown complete support through two community information meetings.

It is my understanding that of the $46 million to be funded through today's hearing, approximately $15 million will be awarded to Dallas projects. Of the fourteen representated today, the total requests are just under $15 million. We won't learn which projects were selected until after the Commissioners' meeting in January, probably around the 27th.

I am very optimistic that our NW Highway Urban Design Study will be funded. I fully believe that having our City representatives there will have made the difference.

The Bachman / Northwest Highway Community Association is very appreciative that the City of Dallas arranged this professionaly representation for our Northwest Highway Urban Design Study TxDOT funding request. To all City Officials that participated in making this happen, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. As we continue to struggle for improvements in Bachman, assistance like this goes a long way.

Thank you.

Linda Neel, President
Bachman / Northwest Highway Community Association


By Linda Neel

NW Hwy Urban Design Study LOST


I AM SAD TO REPORT THAT OUR REQUEST FOR TxDOT FUNDING WAS NOT APPROVED. IN AN EMAIL DATED TODAY, COUNCIL MEMBER VELETTA LILL WROTE:


Dear Linda,

Larry Casto called me yesterday to let me know which projects received funding. Unfortunately, the Northwest Highway project did not. I am sorry, but I do believe that with some carefully defined strategies and a little persistence we can win in the long run.

Larry has given me some ideas and I will ask a few more questions. Then the interested parties should probably all sit down and begin work for the next call.

Keep the faith.

Veletta


By Linda Neel

WOW

Hi. This posting is over a year old, I know, but I want to see how this community bulletin board works. It's a great service.
How's that pedestrian bridge coming along?