Fort Worth is planning a “mobility study” on its legendary Stockyards. The goal is to increase mobility in the area, making it easier and safer for Cowtown visitors.
The Stockyard’s growing popularity has resulted in a lack of parking, congested traffic, and increased pedestrians.
Corbin Watson from White Settlement told NBC, “You have to drive around buildings back and forth just to find little parking spaces and alleyways just to find any little parking space.”
The study seeks to better equip the City to combat these issues, first by counting the number of cars traveling around the area and taking surveys from visitors.
At the end of the day, it is about safety. Interim transportation and public works director Lauren Prieur said, “There’s been so much growth in the Stockyards, we really need to optimize what we have there for vehicular and pedestrian safety.”
Enlarging the streets is not an option. However, there are other options, such as making more one-way and pedestrian-only streets and adding more parking.
Jose Rodriguez from Plano said it would be great “to have a designated area to shuttle people in.” As people flock to the area, restaurants, stores, and developers hope to get their feet in the door.
Earlier this summer, an 825-unit apartment complex was proposed to be built “in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards.” Construction on this complex is scheduled to begin in 2023 and end sometime in 2025.
The Stockyards have been attracting more and more people year-round, and the trend is expected to continue.
Watson stated, “I don’t think it’s ever going to go away with how popular and busy it gets, especially on weekends. [There are] just way too many people.”
The City’s study will begin in October 2022 and continue through May 2023.