City of Arlington Launches Downtown Arlington Sidewalk Improvement Project

The City of Arlington recently announced plans for improvements along several commonly-used pedestrian routes in Downtown Arlington. Improvements include adding sidewalks and ADA ramps along these Downtown streets: 

•    West Street (W. Division Street to UTA Boulevard)
•    W. South Street (College Street to Spruance Street)
•    W. Front Street (N. West Street to N. Mesquite Street)
•    E. Main Street (Mary Street to Jeffries Street)

Additionally, improvements will be made outside of Downtown along W. Nathan Lowe Road (S. Cooper Street to Petra Drive). Construction will begin in May 2022 and is expected to be complete in February 2023. 

Informational Meeting and Project Kick-Off

This Thursday, the City of Arlington will host a public meeting about the 2022 Sidewalk Improvement project. After a short presentation detailing the scope of the project and construction timeline, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. 

Thursday, April 21, 2022
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
George W. Hawkes Downtown Library 
[re]Brary Room B
100 S Center Street
Downtown Arlington

Connectivity, UTA and Downtown Arlington

In 2019, Downtown Arlington partnered with the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington to conduct a study of key pedestrian routes through Downtown Arlington. The results revealed what residents and regular visitors to Downtown already knew: walking through Downtown is not always a consistent experience from one block to the next.

“Downtown Arlington is the sum of its parts, and sidewalks are what connect those parts,” said Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of Downtown Arlington. “The re-imagining of Abram Street as a beautiful, safe, vibrant, and functional pedestrian experience has really helped people envision the possibilities for true interconnectivity throughout Downtown.”

In recent years, more and more voices have joined the call for a comprehensive look at pedestrian safety and connectivity between the UT Arlington campus and Downtown as well as walkability within the entire district.

Walkable Arlington is one example. Walkable Arlington is a UTA student-led, grassroots organization with the goal of creating a safer and more accessible city for non-vehicular traffic. Through regular walk audits and conversations with Arlington City Council members, City staff, and UTA officials, the group identifies and advocates for infrastructure improvements like new crosswalks, safer streetlight crossings, and other measures to encourage biking and walking. 

Walkable Arlington may work at the local level, but their mission is driven by global imperatives.

“Creating a walkable city is a conscious and serious decision that addresses climate change, equity, community and economic issues,” UTA student and Walkable Arlington member Tony Pham told The Shorthorn. “If we’re not committed to doing so now, we’ll be in serious trouble in the future.”

More Information about the 2022 Sidewalk Improvement Project

For downloadable materials about the City of Arlington’s Sidewalk Improvement project in Downtown, click here or visit the Dept. of Public Works and Transportation Street Tracker site.

If you have questions but are unable to attend the Project Kick-Off meeting, contact Austin Allen at Austin.Allen@arlingtontx.gov or 817-459-6351.

About Downtown Arlington   

Designated by the State of Texas as the Arlington Cultural District, Downtown Arlington is where creativity, authenticity, and hometown pride thrive and drive what's next. Within its less than a two-mile radius, Downtown is home UT Arlington, a Tier-One university, plus prolific visual and performing arts, live entertainment, exciting NCAA and professional athletics, one-of-a-kind dining and retail, and a supportive business climate. #downtownarlington

 

Photos of Abram St. dedication event and South Street Art Festival.