Complete the Streets! And Sell Executive Airport While Yer At It! A Liveblog In Progress.

By Andrea Grimes Mon., Dec. 13 2010 at 2:47 PM

Categories: City Hall

Pin It

A Downtown Dallas 360 rendering, which also graces today's Complete Streets briefing. Because they are, you see, related. Very.

Afternoon, Friends. Thanks for tuning into today's liveblog of the Transportation and Environment Committee meeting up here in City Hall, during which we'll hear about plans to market the Dallas Executive Airport and Dallas's Complete Streets Initiative.

Things kicked off late because the Quality of Life Committee meeting ran overtime -- animal advocacy folks will want to note that yes, that committee has put off voting on reductions and specials in Dallas Animal Services animal adoption fees until they've heard more from the Animal Shelter Commission, which has not yet had time to weigh in on the plans. It'll come back up on agendae in January.

Now, on to matters at hand: getting the word out about Dallas Executive Airport, where the Dallas Airport System hopes to increase traffic and revenue. Assistant City Manager A.C. Gonzalez gave the presentation, which detailed plans to increase takeoffs and landings, but also events and gatherings held at the airport. For example, the airport hosted a Boy Scout "Camporee" and is initiating a "Young Eagles" program that introduces kids to aircraft and pilotry. They're also hosting more corporate meetings at the facility.

Gonzalez says they want to market "in a much more scientific way" using market research from TxDOT, collaboration with the Department of Economic Development and more coordination with fixed-base operators.

You may be surprised to hear that the Dallas Executive Airport hopes to take advantage of that little football game they're playing here in February.

Gonzalez notes, with some pride, that DEA is the closest airport to Cowboys Stadium outside the 10-mile no fly zone, and that this is reflected on the Super Bowl Host Committee's website, on which the DEA has a page. The future is here, you guys!

DEA will be offering some "special services" during the Super Bowl, including de-icing. Which I didn't know was "special" and is more like "totally necessary," but maybe the possibility of dying in a plummeting, icy hail of metal is part of the fun of the Super Bowl. Maybe.

Then, it was time for the committee to ask questions. Join me for updates in the comments. Tennell Atkins got firsties.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Write Comment

Email to Friend

Print Article

Related Content

so Vonciel Jones-Hill likes DEA because people can fly in on thier private jets and play a round of golf for the day at a private club? (with a joke of a golf pro) looks like the food court wasnt so truthful either. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110710dnmetexecairport.2058b35e3.html
Andrea: "Now I'll get in my car and drive through the congested streets back to Oak Lawn because there's no good way to get from Downtown to the Observer offices on public transit." What about Route 29? http://www.dart.org/schedules/w029no.htm Just a short walk from City Hall, and it will drop you right in front of your office 20 minutes later!
Thanks for taking the time to attend and post this. As a 15 year tenant at Deadbird (I keep an aircraft there) I have been disappointed in the general lack of interest and awareness shown by city officials of what is potentially a real economic driver for Dallas and the Southern part of the city in particular. After the spurt of growth when the new terminal and tower were built, it has lapsed back into ennui, with the Dept of Aviation staff lighting out around 3pm and locking the terminal up - hardly conducive to attracting corporate jets. Probably the best thing would be to sell the airport to someone who doesn't spend 95% of their time arguing over Love Field, and who will give this rough diamond the polishing it deserves...
Dallas Executive Airport is on the hit list for potential gas drilling per the 2008 memo from city hall. Wonder how that will affect any commercial development out there. Jus' wonderin...
And now to Natinsky. He's hoping that the complete streets can be an inspiration to other areas that are more resistant to change. Aren't we smug? Shotgun a Guinness. We're adjourned! Hooray! Now I'll get in my car and drive through the congested streets back to Oak Lawn because there's no good way to get from Downtown to the Observer offices on public transit. Excitment.
Oh good, Carolyn Davis has popped in. She'd like to direct our attention to page 52, that of the incomprehensible graph thing. What's D2, she says? Some study. This one: http://www.cubitplanning.com/documents/686-D2-Downtown-Dallas-Transit-Study, in fact. Then, she asked a pretty thoughtful, interesting question. (Take a shot on top of a unicorn while dancing across the aurora borealis.) "The neighborhoods that already have some initiatives that's going on with complete streets, is it part of the completed citywide Complete Streets Initiative?" Some of it, yes, says Gonzalez. They want to work in tandem with existing projects, "encouraging them to continue."
Chacko wants to get some "quick wins!" too--little things that can be done immediately to make a difference. Delia Jasso's up next. She thanks Chacko and O'Donnell for the presentation. "In my area alone, I know our streets are beyond 50 years old, and the needs of the community are so different now than what our streets are giving us and we are way far behind already." She says she looks forward to "the vision, the map, the manual," and she's "very concerned about making sure that we are moving out administrative policies in a way that is in keeping with what's going on in 2010 and not what's going on in 1950." Many restrictions in making streets pedestrian and street car friendly are related to outdated policies.
And now, Chacko and O'Donnell takes questions. "Do you have a time frame for the vision map, the manual and the implementation phase?" asks Koop. "When can we have the vision map? Or do we have that complete?" Says Chacko: "We don't have a specific date at this point." His goal is to complete the entire project in a one year time frame, and at the first part of that time frame will be the vision map. "There will be some degree of overlap between all these activities."
Chacko moves on to public involvement: they're taking an "area-based approach" based on the needs of different neighborhoods and will also put together a stakeholder committee. "We would like to learn from the experiences of the Better Block program," says Chacko, name-dropping the Oak Cliff Biko specialty. First person who can explain what the hell is happening on slide 52, "Project Coordination" gets a beer and a free puppy.
Chacko says the bike plan "has given us a head start" and he hopes to incorporate it "seamlessly" into the CSI. He also hopes that the streetcar plan can "completely transform" the transportation options in the center of the city. Other neighborhood plans will also be incorporated. "We want to be able to facilitate a balance over time," says Chacko. This is an "ongoing process and we want to be prepared to handle it over time." After all this planning and designing is done: they'd like to end up with a vision map, a complete streets manual and a strategic implementation plan. Plans! Chug.
There are some challenges we should be aware of, says Chacko. "It's not going to be an easy process." "There is a fundamental shift that will take place over time," says Chacko, specifically encouraging alternative means of transportation like public transit, bikes, etc. "It involves a fundamental shift with our philosophy in how we manage our right-of-way." "They key feature here is tht we're taking the broadest possible approach," says Chacko. This isn't just a transportation project, but is also a design project. Wait for it: they're going to enlist some consultants to study their process and help make a plan. Drink the whole bottle.
Oh, for chrissakes, I've been spelling Peer Chacko's name wrong. Take a shot?
Chako's showing a slide of Mockingbird Lane to demonstrate how one street can change very much depending on its location. It goes from six lanes to two lanes, to four lanes, all along residential and commercial areas. "This gives you an example of how when the roadway is designed differently along its length, people respond to that change and it affects their behavior." People make decisions about avoiding traffic, taking adjacent roads, and "figure out ways to navigate that area." "There's a balance between driving through an area and getting to an area as part of a destination," says Chako, and that's where multi-directional boulevards can come in. He shows a slide of Barcelona's Las Ramblas, where I have many unpleasant memories of being hassled non-stop by pushy Spanish men. Ah, Europe. Chako presents the idea that "streets can be multi-purpose in their function," for example using part of the street as parking at some times and as an outdoor cafe at some other times. In Dallas he says there's a real demand for this kind of thing, since real estate is so valuable, dedicating a space to one single function at all times isn't sustainable. "This means a transition to a more sophisticated way of managing the public realm."
"Ultimately what makes a place successful is people, because people like to be where other people are," says Chako. They like to go where others gather, and want to be in a place that "feels good." Chako is also "taking a look at how we can be more green." On the storm water management slide, he says there is an "opportunity to take a look at better ways to do that." He then moves on to the street edge, a "public-private zone" that "straddles the right-of-way line." Mmmm. Sexy. The straddle can be the difference between a vibrant area and a "no man's land."
Chako says the cure for the common traffic congestion isn't to build more lanes. "We're actually worse off than we were before in terms of congestion, it's not something that you can solve on the supply side. We can't build our way out of it. He quotes O'Donnell, saying that building more lanes is like "trying to solve a weight problem by loosening your belt," which the committee got a nice little chuckle out of. Chako says streets and their purposes change over time. "Really what complete streets are about is making sure we can respond to these needs over time." You want to "balance the needs" of any particular street and redistribute traffic, which might create more economic opportunity. "You're now going to add more activity that might encourage mixed use development." (Take a shot.)
Now, the Complete Streets Initiative presentation, starring the lovely and stylish Teresa O'Donnell and Peer Chako. "The big emphasis in this project as we move forward is what we hope will be a transition from taking a project by project approach," says Chako, "to a more pro-active approach and a fundamental shift in how we deal with this." The presentation is meant to give the committee "an appreciation of the broad range and scope" of the initiative. But what are Complete Streets, you may be asking? Chako anticipates this. He says: "Looking at streets as not just roads that carry traffic through them" but as entities that "contain a range of functions."
Atkins says the DEA is "an economic engine that drive the Southern Sector." He says, in his trademark purr, "Derr is potential derr" with these urr-craft. Atkins wonders if the DEA suits see their airport as potential competition with Love Field? Sure, says Gonzalez. Maybe. Atkins believes the city's investment in DEA (ahemm: http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2010/jun/30/delta-charlie-dallas-airport-kelcher-metro/) was a fine idea, and is impressed with the kinds of aircraft that are out there--"G5, G4, you talkin' top of the line." Feeling so fly, like a G5? "We gotta figure out a way to make this a mixed-use development," says Atkins, dropping Dallas' developers' favorite drinking game keyword. And it's got potential, he says, and we shouldn't worry about piddly ole' Lancaster airport trying to get up in our winged business. "You got all the amenities there to attract the big people." Sheffie Kadane's turn: says DEA is "one of the best kept secrets we've got in Dallas." He wants to know how much space we've got at the DEA to expand and build out with more amenities. There's more room on the west side than the east. "Would you put mainly airport facilities on the west side? Or would you put a mix? Would you put retail over there or other developments?" asks Sheffie. "We're trying to expand that view a bit more from just strictly aviation-related," says Gonzalez. Some mixed-use (take a shot!) would be nice. "I'm looking forward to see it expand. It's just a great airport," says Sheffie. Just darn good. Really. A peach. Then, to Vonciel Hill-Jones: "I am very, very pleased," with the progress at the airport. "Mr. Atkins gets to do all the work and I get all the benefit," because her district is across the street from the airport, but not within it. She thought the Boy Scout thing "was a good, good, good event for us." "Even though Mr. Atkins has the airport, the golf club, where those folk who fly in to play golf for the day, is in my district," she says. She wants to remind Tennell that there is a "very, very nice golf club," where the affluent flyers can eat, in addition to the restaurant at the airport. Atkins jumps in and mentions the possibility of a flight school and aviation training, maybe associated with UNT, at DEA. Koop likes it: "I would just suggest that y'all try and open up that market," especially since Lancaster has their eye on it, too. One gets the impression that Lancaster might be getting just a little too big for its aviating britches. Ron Natinsky's next, and he wants to talk about slide 5, which includes Growth Opportunity #1. "It seems hard for me to believe that we only have a half of one percent of the aircraft in the country," but maybe that has to do with all those "lost" aircraft: http://homelandsecuritynewswire.com/faa-lost-track-one-third-357000-private-aircraft-us. He's also interested in the airport advertising budget, and wants to know if the $54,000 spent on "all 3 facilities" means what, exactly? Gonzalez says the ad budget promotes the Dallas Airport System (DEA, Love and a heliport) as a whole, not individual airports. "This is our opportunity to put on a good show for them and I urge you not to have any accidents or missteps," during the Super Bowl, says Natinsky. I would add that we should probably not have any accidents regardless of a major sporting event.