News from the River (Cont.) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gives TxDOT and the City a Green Light to Continue the Approaches for Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (con't) “We set out to build a significant public project for the City and to provide a new bridge resulting in an improved transportation corridor between Singleton Boulevard and Woodall Rodgers Freeway. We never lost sight of this goal, and I’m pleased to announce it is going to happen. Not only will the construction continue without delay, but the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge will open in 2011.” TxDOT and the City have plans to restore the crest height of the levees to their original design elevation under the cross beams of the bridge piers. In addition, part of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge construction design has been an at-grade intersection at the West Levee, which will provide the fill (dirt) needed to act as a seepage berm; the Corps’ letter confirms this plan as acceptable remediation for any concerns on that side. On the East Levee, there will be project modifications to address a slope stability issue identified through the geotechnical investigations. The approved plan includes a two tiered berm to provide reinforcement of the east levee side slope to minimize the possibility of slope failure. Also a seepage collar will be installed on one of the ONCOR towers, and three seepage collars are recommended for existing bridge piers. Visit the Continental Avenue Bridge soon to see all the construction progress on the Margaret Hunt Bridge which is being built alongside it.
The Trinity Center Welcomes Ray LaHood, The City of Dallas and DART joined Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson in hosting the United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in our hometown on November 30. A luncheon was sponsored for him by The Trinity Trust Foundation and Trinity Commons Foundation. Secretary LaHood is the 16th Secretary of Transportation for the United States. He was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009 and he leads an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a $70 billion budget that oversees air, maritime and surface transportation missions. Formerly, he spent 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives from the 18th District of Illinois. It was a proud moment for the Trinity River Corridor Project to showcase the plans to Secretary LaHood. Time was spent with him discussing the project by utilizing the large wall map of the corridor and the twenty foot model. The Trinity River Corridor Project Managing Director, Rebecca Rasor gave a comprehensive presentation of the project and then DART’s president and executive director, Gary C. Thomas was on hand to deliver a presentation featuring the new 28 mile long and $1.8 billion Green Line rail that now takes commuters right to the stately gates of Fair Park. The chairman of the DART Board of Directors, William M. Velasco, II, was also at the meeting to welcome Secretary LaHood to the luncheon. For this meeting to take place immediately after the Thanksgiving Holiday, indicates the dedication of Congresswoman Johnson and Secretary LaHood to improve cities, improve the way we live in them, and to bring into focus options on commuting in big cities. Mayor Tom Leppert said, “As the Mayor of a City located in the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, the people of Dallas show their spirit and zest for a new future everyday because they continue working hand in hand with us no matter what the issue or the challenge.”
Newly Appointed Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy Toured the Dallas Floodway and the Trinity River Corridor Project The sun was out and it was a cold but perfect day in Dallas to take Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jo-Ellen Darcy for a tour. The day began with a Texas-style breakfast at The Trinity Center. Although Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson could not be in attendance due to her obligations in Washington, D.C., she was instrumental in the Secretary’s decision to include Dallas in her tour of Texas on December 7-8. Melanie Alvord, Congresswoman Johnson’s senior policy advisor was in attendance representing her office. Mayor Leppert and Councilmember Neumann expressed the City’s appreciation for this singular opportunity to meet with Secretary Darcy and provide her with an update of the floodway and a tour of the project. Secretary Darcy is the top ranking civilian for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Welcome comments were given at the breakfast held in her honor by Mayor Tom Leppert, Councilmember Dave Neumann, Gail Thomas, president and CEO of The Trinity Trust Foundation; and Michael Lunceford, president of the Trinity Commons Foundation Board of Directors and a vice president with Mary Kay, Inc. Secretary Darcy and her team then took a tour of the floodway with City executives and local Corps representatives traveling from Sylvan Avenue to the Trinity River Audubon Center off of I-45 South and Loop 12. At the Trinity River Audubon Center, lunch was held in the Great Hall for seventy City, state and federal leaders, as well as private citizens. Appointed by President Barack Obama in April of this year, Ms. Darcy establishes policy direction and provides supervision of the Department of the Army functions relating to all aspects of the Corps’ Civil Works program. These duties include all reimbursable work performed on behalf of Federal and non-Federal entities, as well as the formulation and oversight of the program and budget of the Army National Cemeteries. It was an exciting opportunity to welcome Ms. Darcy to Dallas, and the Dallas City Councilmembers’ came to the luncheon and had the opportunity to meet the Secretary. |
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