FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF)- Construction will soon begin on a project aimed at improving the busy University Drive in Fort Worth and improve access to the city’s cultural district.
“We are focusing on improving pedestrian safety and enhancing alternative modes of transportation and bike paths as well as some enhancements to transit along the corridor,” said William Johnson Fort Worth’s Transportation and Public Works Director.
Johnson said these improvements will make the “car-focused” street more equipped for tourists and people coming to shop, dine, go to the zoo, botanic gardens and museums. Also the improvements include adding street lights, bus stops, traffic signals, medians to increase safety, cross walks, extend side walks and façade/landscape improvements.
“It’s not aesthetically pleasing, it’s not safe, not safe for pedestrians and there’s inadequate signage to nearby attractions and wayfinding throughout the corridor,” he said.
The project will be broken into three phases. The first phase will focus on University drive from West Rosedale Street to Riverfront Drive, the second phase will work on West Rosedale Street to Trail Drive and the future phase will cover South of University to TCU.
Construction on the first phase will start next Spring and will be $4 million funded by the 2018 bond election. Construction on the first phase should be done by 2023.
The city will host three community outreach meetings for the project’s initial phase, and will dedicate one of the meetings to businesses along the corridor.
The second phase is expected to cost $10 million and will be federally funded by the AFA. The third phase is still being worked out and hasn’t been funded yet.
Construction on the second phase will begin November 2025.
