More new safety measures are on the way to Loop 12, the deadliest street in Dallas.
On Wednesday, the city council approved a deal paving the way for the installation of 5 new traffic signals on the Buckner Boulevard portion of Loop 12, in an area where pedestrians often wade through traffic with no crosswalks nearby or traffic lights to stop vehicles.
TxDOT said it plans to install new signals at a total of 16 locations along Loop 12, including the 5 intersections on Buckner.
More new safety measures are on the way to the most deadly street in Dallas. On Wednesday, the city council approved a deal that paves the way for new traffic signals in places where pedestrians have been crossing a six lane street with no protection. Senior investigative reporter Scott Friedman pinpointed the dangers in our series Driven to Death prompting changes on Loop 12 in southern Dallas.
The changes come after an NBC 5 investigation pinpointed the dangers on Loop 12 in a series of reports, Driven to Death. The reporting documented how many people walk or run right across the middle of the six-lane street, dodging cars in places where pedestrians would have to walk long distances to find a crosswalk protected by a traffic signal.
“‘It’s very dangerous, you need to be like a bull fighter, trying to dodge cars,” said Daniel Garcia, who lives in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood adjacent to Loop 12.
After NBC 5 highlighted the concerns, city and state leaders began pushing for changes, including the addition of new stoplights and crosswalks.
TxDOT said it plans to invest $9.9 million in new signals at 16 locations where Loop 12 intersects the following streets:
- Mystic Trail
- Horizon Dr
- Corrigan Ave
- Haas Dr
- Stoneport Dr
- Longacre Ln
- Murdeaux Ln
- Maddox St
- Dell Garden Ave
- Rosemont Rd
- Hillburn Dr
- North of Chenault St
- St. Francis/Eastpoint
- Norvell Dr
- Tillman St
- Jennie Lee
TxDOT said it expects to complete construction of the new signals by the summer of 2026.
On Wednesday morning, the city council approved a proposal to accept state funding for five of the new signal locations on the Buckner Boulevard section of Loop 12.
“The investment represents an important step towards improving traffic safety in areas that have historically been under-invested in. And most importantly, it directly responds to concerns raised by residents who have been calling for safer streets in this area for many years,” said Dallas City Council Member Jaime Resendez, in an interview Wednesday with Telemundo 39’s Martha Minjarez.
After NBC 5’s reporting, the state and city also lowered speed limits on parts of Loop 12 and stepped up thier speed enforcement.
Dallas police tell NBC 5 they are seeing results. Citywide, they have recorded 33 fewer traffic deaths so far this year compared to the same time period last year, and police have said that includes a decline in deaths on Loop 12.