DALLAS — Every day, Unesha Wells and Courtney Thomas are always thinking, “better.”
How can we make our community better?
“I live in this neighborhood,” said Unesha Wells, For Oak Cliff’s Out of School Time Programs and Initiatives Director.
For Oak Cliff is an organization that helps connect families to resources. It’s located on Ledbetter Drive in South Oak Cliff.
“Majority of the schools that we serve are coming between Marsalis and Arbor and Ledbetter,” said Wells.
They call the Oak Cliff corridor the “Ledbetter Connection,” where the worry is just as high as the traffic.
“Our kids are just complaining that there really is nowhere for them to stand,” said Wells. “There are bus stops, but there isn’t an area for them to stand or there is not a walkway leading to the bus stop.”
“We have a group of students that live in this apartment complex. Like right around the bush corner of this curve, there is nowhere for them to walk on that side to get across even if they cross the street because they have to cross. There is no way for them to walk on the sidewalk to get to their house,” said Thomas, For Oak Cliff Community Engagement Manager.
They said the biggest issue is speeding.
“I would say Ledbetter is honestly like a freeway without the freeway requirements because there is a certain amount of speed that you have to be on Ledbetter. But unfortunately, people do not follow that,” Thomas said.
Records obtained by WFAA show the City of Dallas responded to more than 870 accidents along Ledbetter Drive near Loop 12 from January 1, 2023, to September 10, 2024. North Central Texas Council of Governments said there have been more than a dozen fatalities.
“One is too many,” said Michael Morris, NCTCOG Transportation Director. He spoke to residents during a town hall meeting in May organized by State Senator Royce West.
“On the driver side, you have a built-in driver behavior problem because of the transition from a freeway to not a transportation project that looks like a full thoroughbred street,” said Morris. On the human side, the unfortunate situation of this facility goes through a lower income neighborhood…So, you see a greater propensity of pedestrian usage.”
Earlier this month, a teenager walking to school was killed by a distracted driver.
Saturday, a woman driving with six children was hit by a speeding driver. A four-year-old was ejected from the vehicle and is in critical condition. Police arrested the speeding driver. He is charged with intoxication assault.
“It’s breathtaking and it’s sad,” said Carolyn King Arnold, Dallas City Council District 4.
She said the city has already added more traffic lights, is reducing speed limits and exploring the idea of speed cameras.
“We've got to speak up for our community and make sure that the state highway, the city streets are safe, safe for pedestrians and they accommodate the passengers in their vehicles,” said King Arnold.
“Can we get a crosswalk right here because we are a resource center,” asked Thomas. It is a plea to simply make Ledbetter, better.
“Whatever extreme measure you can take for safety, we'd like to see it happen here,” said Wells. For Oak Cliff is planning to get involved with parents to address the safety concerns.
Community leaders told WFAA another town hall is being scheduled for October.