Trinity River Corridor Project

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The project covers 20 miles of the Trinity River, approx. 10,000 acres

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Trinity River Corridor Project Objectives

This project addresses a number of regional concerns, though flood protection remains the essential cornerstone of this multi-faceted effort. The inter-related components of the project are:

– Flood Protection– Environmental Restoration– Recreation– Transportation– Community/economic development

Flood Protection

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Flood Protection Components

Dallas Floodway Extension (DFE) levees and wetlands for flood conveyance

Dallas Floodway levee raise and flood conveyance (lakes)

Elm Fork Flood Improvements levees and wetlands for flood conveyance

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Flood Protection - Construction

Lower Chain of Wetlands

Cells D, E, F & G are complete, and doing their job!

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Future Work: DFE Levees & Wetlands

Lamar Levee

Cadillac Heights Levee

Upper Chain of Wetlands

• Upper Chain of Wetlands construction starts Summer 2009• All work complete in 2014

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Flood Protection: Dallas Floodway

• Existing levees will be raised by as much as 2 ft. • Will provide 800 year flood protection from Trinity River flooding• Construction can begin in 2011

Levee Section at CommerceWater Surface Elevations vs Parkway

Existing LeveeElevation 429.40

Future 2-Foot Raised Levee Elevation 431.40

Ground Elevationabout 400.00

Average low flow conditions that stay within the

river channel of the Dallas Floodway

Elevation 382.00

800-year FloodElevation 428.97

100-year Elevation 417.06Same as 1908flood of record

May 199035-year FloodElevation 415.24

June 20075-year FloodElevation 408.38

Trinity Parkway Flood Protected Elevation 419.06

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USACE Periodic Inspection Report #9

• Periodic Inspections are done every 5 years by USACE (in addition to annual inspections)

• Visual inspection only; no subsurface investigation

• Previous inspections rated our levee system as Excellent to Very Good

• New rating system established by USACE in June 2007

• Rating in Periodic Inspection Report #9 for our levee system was “unacceptable”

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Levee Issues from Periodic Inspection #9

• Encroachments– Dallas County Jail– Oncor Transmission Towers

• Penetrations– Bridge Piers– Pipes

• Dessication Cracking• Erosion• Vegetation

– Trees on/near the levees– Johnson grass

• Levees not high enough to contain the Standard Project Flood (800 year flood event)

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• More frequent mowing cycles• Rip rap/drainage relocation for erosion• Soil borings will determine needs for diaphragm walls• Work with other agencies to determine needs• The Trinity River Corridor Project will provide many of

the “fixes” for the unacceptable conditions of the levee system– Diaphragm walls– Chain of wetlands– Removal of ATSF Railroad Bridge– Raising/fattening the levees

Resolution of Levee Issues – Next Steps

Environmental Restoration

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Environmental Restoration

• 6,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest

• Many bird and wildlife species• Council has approved the Great

Trinity Forest Management Plan – How we will operate and

maintain the forest for the next 100 years

– Identifies wildlife and tree species

– Outlines annual planting, clearing, and budgetary needs

– Identifies a potential site for RV and tent camping in the forest

Recreation

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Trinity River Corridor Project Design Concept

• Summary of the design concept for a 10,000-acre portion of the Trinity River Corridor from Royal Lane down to IH-635/IH-20 past the Trinity River Audubon Center.

• About two-thirds of the subject area lies within the Trinity Forest.

• By necessity, the guidelines are mostly focused on the Trinity Lakes portion of the corridor—the Trinity Lakes Park—about 2,200 acres in extent from the confluence to the DART Bridge.

Trinity LakesTrinity Lakes Trinity ForestTrinity Forest

Audubon CenterAudubon Center

Confluence:Elm and West Forks

Confluence:Elm and West Forks

Trinity FieldsTrinity Fields

DART BridgeDART Bridge

Royal LaneRoyal Lane

IH-635/ IH-20IH-635/ IH-20

Recreation:Trinity Fields

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Recreation: Elm Fork Athletic Complex & Trails

• Located east of IH-35E on Walnut Hill Lane

• Construction starts in September 2009; complete in April 2011

Recreation:Trinity Lakes

2323

Recreation: Trinity Lakes Park

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Recreation: West Dallas Lake Rowing

• The West Dallas lake is over 129 acres and over 2000 meters long (meets Olympic standards) that will provide both recreational and competitive boating opportunities for the city and region.

• Submerged wetland island to provide a rooting structure for water lilies.

Amphitheater

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Recreation: West Dallas Lake Amphitheater

• West Dallas Lake Amphitheater used for rowing competition viewing.

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Recreation: View from West Dallas

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Recreation: Urban Lake, Promenade & Arrival Plaza

• The promenade will accommodate 19,000 people during peak events and activities

• 80% of the promenade will be shaded throughout the course of the day.

Downtown Overlook

Water Maze

Deck Park

Wetland Water Wall

Arrival Plaza

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Recreation: Urban Lake & Central Island

• Shade structures take the place of tree vegetation in this plaza preserving views of the downtown skyline and promenade, while Seating walls are integrated with the topography and provide illumination at night.

• Interactive fountains and dark-colored, exposed aggregate concrete paving slopes into the lake as a beach.

Solar-powered Water Taxi

Fountain Plaza

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Recreation: Trinity Overlook

CO

MM

ER

CE

ST

RE

ET

BR

IDG

E

• Located on the west levee at Beckley and Commerce• Provides an observation area to watch the

construction of the Trinity Project

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Recreation: Natural Lake Floating Wetlands

• The floating wetlands are multifunctional, serving as a design aesthetic, educational demonstration, habitat and water quality improvement measure.

Oak Cliff

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Recreation: Corinth Wetlands

• The Corinth Wetlands and Oxbow Lake area is designed to be a passive observation area for understanding and appreciating wetland habitats and systems.

• This environment will be a magnet for migratory birds and other aquatic and riparian wildlife and birding observation areas, boardwalks, tree groves and shaded respites are planned for this area.

Synthetic Decking

Recreation:Trinity Forest

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Recreation: Trinity River Audubon Center

Trinity River Audubon Center

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Recreation: Trinity River Audubon Center

Flood Model

Children’s Area with underwater viewExhibits on the Trinity River and its ecosystem

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Trinity River Audubon Center

Note the many trails and wetlands surrounding the Audubon Center!

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Recreation: Standing Wave & Santa Fe Trestle Trail

Standing Wave Whitewater Course

Santa Fe Trestle Trail

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Recreation: Standing Wave & Santa Fe Trestle Trail

DART

Santa Fe Trestle TrailCor

inth

St.

MLK

, Jr.

Blvd

.

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Recreation: Existing Trails in Rochester Park

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Recreation: Future Trails Network

Trinity Trails Phase I

Trinity Trails Phase II

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• Several gateway parks are planned and will begin design soon:– Loop 12 Gateway (construction

begins 5/2010)

– IH-20 Gateway (construction begins 6/2010)

– South Central/Joppa Gateway (construction begins 12/09)

– Improvements to Rochester Park Gateway (construction begins 12/09)

Recreation: Gateway Parks

Transportation: Trinity Parkway Toll Road

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Transportation: Trinity Parkway Toll Road

Trinity Parkway complete by 2014

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Transportation: Trinity Parkway Toll Road

Looking South from Hampton Rd.

Transportation: S.M. Wright Parkway

46Trinity Parkway & S.M. Wright

IH 45

US 175

N

Today’s

Commuter Flow

FutureCommuter Flow

SM Wright Freeway

Proposed

Trinity

Parkway

Ideal Neighborhood Rochester Park

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Lamar

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S.M. Wright Parkway

• Trinity Parkway connection to IH-45 eliminates need for “Dead Man’s Curve” at US 175 and S.M. Wright

• Provides opportunity to make S.M. Wright a low-speed road

• Pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, landscaping• Options for split or combined meandering road

Transportation: Sylvan Ave. Bridge

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Sylvan Ave. Bridge

• TxDOT/City of Dallas project• Estimated cost $48 million• Estimated construction start late 2009 (may be delayed until

2010 bond program)

Transportation: Signature Bridges

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Transportation: Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge under construction

complete in 2011

Visit the webcam at

www.trinityrivercorridor.org

to view construction progress

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Transportation: Margaret Hunt Hill BridgeSteel Fabrication in Italy

Part of the center arch

Central Box Girders

Continental Ave.

Continental Ave.

Continental Ave.

Continental Ave.

Industrial BoulevardIndustrial Boulevard Industrial BoulevardIndustrial Boulevard

Spur 366 (Woodall R

odgers)

Spur 366 (Woodall R

odgers)

IH 35EIH 35E

Singleton Blvd.

Singleton Blvd.

Singleton Blvd.

Singleton Blvd.

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Transportation: Margaret McDermott Bridge

Trinity Parkway complete by 2014

• Replaces IH-30 Bridge

•Center arch 250 ft. tall

•11 main lanes, reversible HOV lane

• TxDOT construction to begin in late 2010

Trinity River Project Office(214) 671-9500

www.trinityrivercorridor.org

ftp://ftp.dallascityhall.com