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The City of Dallas has taken an initial step to address safety concerns highlighted in NBC 5 Investigates’ ongoing series, “Driven to Death.” A crosswalk has been painted at the intersection of Ferguson Road and Materhorn Drive, an area where Dallas ISD students were observed navigating traffic and sprinting across a six-lane street with no designated crossing area.
While neighbors appreciate the installation of the crosswalk to assist students from Bryan Adams High School, a draft of a city traffic study suggests that more substantial improvements are necessary at this intersection. It remains uncertain whether the city will implement the recommendations outlined in the report.
In November 2023, NBC 5 cameras captured students dodging cars while crossing Ferguson and Materhorn. Following the report, neighbors and Dallas ISD officials voiced their concerns to the city’s transportation department.
The existing crosswalk at Ferguson and Materhorn was already scheduled for maintenance as part of the city’s routine program for sign and striping upkeep. However, historical images from Google Street View revealed that the crosswalk has been faded and barely visible for much of the past 15 years.
A consultant hired by the city to study traffic hazards on the Ferguson Road corridor recommended significant changes to enhance pedestrian safety at the Ferguson and Materhorn intersection. Suggestions included installing a pedestrian hybrid beacon or traffic signal, as well as considering a median refuge island on Ferguson to provide pedestrians with a safer crossing.
Despite these recommendations, it remains unclear whether the city will implement pedestrian beacons or wider medians at the intersection. The transportation department is working to finalize improvements, which will be shared with the community before implementing them.
Community members, including Rev. Paul Burns of St. Mark Presbyterian Church, expressed concerns about traffic safety along Ferguson Road. Burns emphasized the need for action and collaboration to create a safer environment for pedestrians.
In 2021, a tragic incident occurred when 73-year-old Linda Pearson was fatally struck by a vehicle while walking her dog near Ferguson and Materhorn. The draft traffic study suggests broader safety changes along the Ferguson corridor, with more details to be discussed on NBC 5 News at 10 p.m.