Greetings to the University Crossing community! January was a busy month in University Crossing, and as such, there are some updates I would like to share:
As noted last month, the University Crossing Public Improvement District (UCPID) contracted with the City of Dallas to provide additional safety improvements to our area. Specifically, the City of Dallas will upgrade many of the pedestrian signal heads to include "count down timers," which will help pedestrians to gauge the time it will take to cross intersections. Additionally, the City of Dallas will upgrade pedestrian push buttons to make it more accessible to cross intersections. These upgrades will provide additional safety for pedestrians and cyclists throughout our area. Installation should begin in February, and we are pushing to have this completed by the end of the month.
In addition to safety improvements, the UCPID executed a contract to install trash receptacles at the US75 overpasses along Mockingbird Lane, SMU Blvd., and University Blvd. Once the receptacles are installed, trash will be emptied once a week. We hope to have installation complete within the next four to five weeks.
Regarding construction of the University Crossing Bridge ("Bridge"), the City of Dallas has indicated that during the month of February there will likely be lane closures along Mockingbird Lane to accommodate continued construction. As soon as the UCPID receives information on the times and dates of the lane closures, we will update our website. In addition, the UCPID has installed a camera, which takes time lapse photos of the Bridge construction. For up-to-date information related to the Bridge construction, lane closures, or to view the time lapse photos, please visit our website at: www.universitycrossingbridge.com.
After a holiday hiatus, Music on Mockingbird returned in January and will continue through the spring. The UCPID sponsors the live music taking place every Friday morning from 8:00-9:00am, in front of the Angelika Theater near the Mockingbird DART Station. Musicians will perform a variety of musical genres for the public once a week. We hope you will come out and enjoy the music!
Also in January, the UCPID began a Lunch & Learn program, which is focused on public safety. The UCPID collaborated with local businesses to have a Dallas Police officer visit their locations and discuss "best practices" related to calling 911, motor-vehicle safety, homeless concerns, and more. If you are interested in having a Lunch & Learn at your property, please contact us at the email below.
Going forward, the UCPID will continue to work on capital improvements for the area, as well as new programming ideas. If you have any questions or would like more information about one of the programs described above, please email us at: info@universitycrossing.com.
Thank you for your support! I look forward to working with you throughout 2017.
Patrick Sanders
UCPID Executive Director