TRANSPORTATION

Gaston Avenue, Abrams Road and Ferguson Road are neighborhood arteries. Instead of blood clots, transportation professionals must address issues of traffic congestion, speeding and crashes. Left unchecked, the cells — drivers — could cause a heart attack.

Blackmon says a consultant has reviewed a list of improvements along Ferguson Road between Loop 12 and I-635. The list covers items such as replacement of four traffic signals, improvements at 19 intersections and updated lighting and signs. That list is being refined and, when completed, will be shared with Blackmon’s office, as well as other relevant council members, before a period of public input.

For much of the past year, the consultant also has been considering data, existing infrastructure and potential improvements along Ferguson from I-30 to Loop 12, Blackmon says.

As far as a study of the Abrams Road corridor, Blackmon says she expects a contract to be put in place with a consultant in the coming months.

The Dallas Department of Transportation hosted a community meeting in July to discuss recommendations for the Gaston Avenue corridor, a 3.7-mile stretch from Washington Avenue near Baylor Hospital to the Gaston-Garland-Grand intersection.

Proposed improvements throughout the corridor included traffic signal upgrades, better sidewalks and dedicated turn lanes. Members of the public had the opportunity to respond to the proposals in an online survey, which was open for several weeks.

A spokesperson with the City of Dallas says staff are finalizing recommendations and developing cost estimates and an implementation plan. The stakeholder steering committee for the project, made of residents appointed by council members, will be able to review the proposed plan before it’s finalized, and that will happen later this spring or early summer.