It’s easier for pedestrians, motorists and Dallas Area Rapid Transit customers to get around a section of Capitol Avenue east of downtown Dallas thanks to improvements dedicated Thursday by representatives of the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, city of Dallas and DART.
The three entities worked together to construct a lane long enough for up to eight paratransit vehicles for safely boarding and dropping-off students and customers at the Lighthouse, a safe right-turn lane, wider sidewalks for safer cane walking, landscaping, benches and three solar-powered bus shelters.
Gary Thomas, DART’s president/executive director told participants at the dedication, “At their core, DART, the city of Dallas and the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind have the same mission — to serve the public. And we joined hands to do just that on this venture.”
“This is a welcome improvement and will provide transportation solutions for years to come,” added Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano who was glad to see that improvements outside the facility also helped relieve congestion at the intersection with North Peak where traffic often backs up in front of Spence Middle School.
Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind chairman of the board Marcel Brunel pointed out the new safety features outside his agency meant a lot to the people he represents. “Just because someone lost their sight doesn’t mean they lost their opportunity,” he said. “Working together we have created a better opportunity for 200 people to practice their happiness each day at Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind.”
