CITY OF FORT WORTH.....YOU HAVE FAILED THE EAST SIDE

Last night, I attended a meeting with some of our east side neighborhoods to discuss the many projects in their various stages in the Trinity Blvd, Precinct Line Rd, and Randol Mill Rd area. It's quite a mess over here.

District 5 City Councilwoman Gyna Bivens arranged the meeting at the request of neighborhood leader Bob Horton.

City Councilwoman Bivens is very responsive to the needs of her constituents and we really appreciate that!

The meeting was a little tense at times as it was very apparent our neighborhoods are frustrated with and disappointed in our City. 

These were some of the main points made by our neighborhoods last night.   

1.      CITY IS REACTIVE RATHER THAN PROACTIVE

2.   CITY DOES NOT PLAN WELL

3.   CITY'S DECISIONS PUT US IN DANGER 

The east side has flooded forever, it’s nothing new, it’s just worse now with all of the development and unpermitted construction in the flood plain and in the area in general. The City knows this, we have told them many times. But they choose to turn a blind eye and then act surprised every time the Bell Garden Apartments flood, or when motorists become stranded on Trinity Blvd, or when FWFD must perform a high water rescue in our area, or when a flooded motorist and her family get swept into flood waters and drown, or when the bridge on Trinity Blvd near Bell Helicopter collapsed, or when more property owners than ever report increased flood waters, or when the bridge at Trinity Blvd/Precinct Line Rd was closed due to flood damage.

The City’s latest reactive failure is the closure of the Trinity Blvd/Precinct Line Road bridge. The northbound side reportedly has “ bridge scour”.  Bridge Scour occurs when the foundation around a bridge’s piers erode due to swiftly moving water which compromises the integrity of the bridge.

After the recent May rains, engineers discovered our bridge had the scours and closed it. Not a big deal, you can take Norwood instead.  Well, no you can't, Norwood is closed too…..it’s under construction. The re-route with no traffic takes at least 30 minutes.  At rush hour, you’re doomed!  Most of the people in our neighborhoods work so guess what time we usually hit the re-route?

The neighborhoods expressed concern.  In times of flood, this is often the only way out of our neighborhoods.

In the event of a medical emergency, this 30 minute re-route could be the difference between life and death!

At least they allowed us to vent, but ultimately, we left the meeting just as frustrated and disappointed as we were when we arrived.  No real answers, just lots of double-talk, dancing around issues, and excuses.

City of Fort Worth.....you have failed the east side!