Deep Ellum News

Deep Ellum keeps pickup zones for Uber and Lyft for another year

Courtesy photo

Deep Ellum is extending a pilot program it began in April in which ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft must pick up and drop off customers in designated zones.

According to a release, the program will be extended for another year, through October 2020.

The Deep Ellum Foundation, in collaboration with Uber, Lyft, and newbie Alto, as well as the city of Dallas first instituted designated zones to ease congestion and related public safety concerns.

After six months in operation, ongoing evaluation, and an adjustment to hours of operations and location, they've decided the program is a win.

The zones are 1 to 2 blocks away from core activity in Deep Ellum, with the goal of improving traffic flow and emergency vehicle access in the area, and are in play during the busiest nights and weekends.

During the pilot, they made two significant changes in July:

Changed the hours of operation from 24-7 to the busiest times of 9 pm on Thursday through 3 am on Sunday.
Expanded the Pryor Street Zone to include a drop off and pick up point on Commerce Street.

In the next year, they vow to consider infrastructure improvements, signage, and zone adjustments or expansions as needed.

In a statement, Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano says they made strides over the summer as they worked to improve the program.

"Deep Ellum is an economic and cultural hub in the City of Dallas," Medrano says. "As the district continues to grow and thrive, we saw a need to address congestion while safely getting people to all the amazing venues Deep Ellum has to offer. This pilot is the first coordinated, neighborhood-wide designated rideshare drop off/ pick up zone program in the region and we have gotten calls both locally and from all over the country from other cities interested in launching similar programs."

There are also supportive statements from Jon Hetzel, President, Deep Ellum Foundation; Aaron Fox, Regional Director, Texas, Lyft; Travis Considine, Communications Manager for Uber Texas; and Stephanie Keller Hudiburg, Executive Director, Deep Ellum Foundation.

The five rideshare drop off/pick up zones are identified on:

Good Latimer Expressway northbound between Main and Commerce Streets,
Commerce Street eastbound between Crowdus Street and Malcolm X Boulevard,
Pryor Street southbound between Main and Commerce Street AND extended zone on Commerce Street between Pryor and Henry Streets.
Malcolm X Boulevard northbound between Indiana and Junius Streets, and
Swiss Avenue westbound between N. Hawkins and Good Latimer Expressway.

The zones are identifiable via City signage stating the areas are designated for ride drop off/ pick up or rideshare driver staging as well as supplemental A-frame signs provided by the Deep Ellum Foundation.

Effective hours remain from 9 pm on Thursday through Sunday at 3 am.

deep-ellum

Animal News

Dallas animal shelter invites residents to host a pet during holiday

DAS

Husky at Dallas Animal Services

Dallas Animal Services (DAS) is inviting the community to help bring pets “Home for the Holidays” by adopting or fostering during one of the shelter’s busiest times of the year.

DAS has achieved strong positive outcomes this quarter, including adoptions, foster-to-adopt placements, and underage foster placements, with 1,377 in October and 1,378 in November. The department is now working toward a December goal of 1,400 positive outcomes, with 588 completed so far this month.

“We are grateful for the support our community continues to show,” said Victoria Chittam Bennett, Assistant Director. “Every adoption opens a kennel for another pet in need, and the holidays are an especially meaningful time to welcome a new companion.”

This season, adopters will also have the chance to participate in the Friends of Dallas Animal Services (FODAS) 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways, fully funded and supported through donations from generous community supporters. For more information about this initiative, visit friendsofdas.org and watch out for announcements on social media.

Holiday staycations
Residents who may not be ready to adopt can still support DAS pets by participating in Silent Night Holiday Staycations, a short-term foster opportunity that gives dogs a relaxing break from the shelter during the holiday period.

Pickup dates are scheduled for December 20-21, with drop-off options on December 27-28 or January 3-4. Participants typically spend 1-3 hours at the shelter selecting a foster match, and contact with pets outside the home should be limited. Questions may be directed to DASFtA@dallas.gov.

“Holiday Staycations allow our dogs to decompress and show their personalities in a home environment,” said Amanda Earl, Assistant Director. “The insight we receive from these foster stays is invaluable in helping pets find permanent homes.”

DAS encourages the community to adopt, foster, volunteer, or share adoptable pets to help meet December’s lifesaving goals.
“Together, we can bring home the holidays for the pets relying on us,” said Director Paul Ramon.

For more information on adoptable pets, holiday programs, or ways to get involved, visit https://bedallas90.org/ or stop by the DAS Shelter at 1818 N. Westmoreland Rd.

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