Screenshot of rendering of potential lane reduction plan on Skillman Street from the City of Dallas’ June 17 public meeting presentation.
Got thoughts about lane reduction on Skillman Street? Put them in this survey by July 1.
To evaluate the roads and recommend improvements, the City of Dallas Department of Transportation and Public Works is studying Skillman Street from Live Oak Street to Abrams Road as well as Abrams Road from Richmond Avenue to Northwest Highway.
From January 2018 to June 2023, just over 600 wrecks were reported on Skillman Street as well as 10 pedestrian/cyclist crashes, according to the City’s latest public meeting slideshow from June 17. Last year alone, Skillman Street between La Vista Drive and Abrams Road had 63 crashes, said Auro Majumdar, Traffic Engineering and Operations assistant director at the Dallas Department of Transportation and Public Works, in a previous article.
Crashes usually occur at a left turn, right angle or in a rear-end situation. The most common causes are failing to yield to the right of way when turning left, not controlling speed and disregarding signals, signage or striping. The speed limit on Skillman Street ranges from 30-40 mph, depending on the section, and people surpass that limit by 35% on average.
The public meeting slideshow also indicates that many sidewalks were incomplete or non-traversable as of 2023, and more than 50% of surveyed ramps were noncompliant or in poor condition. In addition, most of the signal infrastructure needs to be replaced, and some of the poles have been structurally damaged.
The slideshow includes potential improvements to slow down traffic and improve sidewalks, signals, lighting and safety at crosswalks. The presentation also details a plan to potentially reduce lanes between McCommas Boulevard and Richmond Avenue. This means Skillman would transform from a four-lane road (two lanes in each direction) to a three lane street with one lane in each direction and a turn lane in the middle. This plan would include a buffered sidewalk on one side and a buffered shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians on the other side.
Lane reduction could result in people driving slower, safer left turns, and an improved route for pedestrians and cyclists, but it could also lead to congestion on Skillman Street in the long run. The City’s consultant analyzed Greenville Avenue and Abrams Road as potential reliever routes for Skillman but found that only northbound on Greenville has the long-term capacity.
So, what say you? The Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate Magazine’s previous reporting on this topic showed that a few neighbors are in favor of lane reduction, but all locals are encouraged to share their thoughts in the survey.
Other improvements mentioned in the slideshow include:
- Signal timing improvements at key intersections
- Wheel stops or curb/gutter installation between La Vista Drive and Oram Street
- Speed reduction pavement markings and rumble strips near Tietze Park
- High visibility crosswalk at Woodcrest Lane
- Installation of 12-foot shared use path on east side of Skillman Street and 6-foot sidewalk on the west side from Oram Street to Southwestern Boulevard
- Installation of 10-foot shared use path from Theater Way to Abrams Road
- Installation of curb and gutter with a 6-foot sidewalk from La Vista Drive to Oram Street
- Signal infrastructure improvements at key intersections with end-of-life signal equipment
- Proposed pedestrian hybrid beacon signal at Vickery Boulevard and Skillman Street near Tietze Park
- Median narrowing from Ridgewood Trail to Lovers Lane
- Median improvements with proposed pedestrian hybrid signal at Home Depot driveway
