Dallas leaders should take a closer look at infrastructure deserts

As we wrap up another local election cycle this month, I reflect on the history of our community and contemplate our future. I often think about the stories my father has shared regarding our family’s past.

He would recount how his grandmother, Callie Rodgers Bedford, resided in an area that would be considered a part of North Dallas today. Despite the challenges of the Jim Crow era, Ms. Callie lived in a thriving Black community, where the people managed to carve out a sense of identity, provide for their families, and thrive.

Unfortunately, this narrative does not have a happy ending, as is the case with many stories from that generation. This once-thriving community was ultimately torn apart and stripped away due to eminent domain, highway projects and investments in gentrified housing. These actions shattered the community and scattered its residents throughout Dallas.

Regrettably, nearly a century later, the people of Dallas are still grappling with the repercussions of these decisions made generations ago. So, when I came across an article from the National Academies discussing how major transportation and infrastructure projects in cities across the United States contributed to racial and social inequities, I was hardly surprised.

The article would go on to say that the disproportionate displacement and isolation of minority neighborhoods would result in these projects decimating these once-thriving communities, exacerbating issues of equity and access to essential services and employment opportunities. Once again, a story I have heard before.

The unfortunate reality is that this persistent displacement and inequity have placed a significant burden on the city of Dallas and the state of Texas. Digging ourselves out of this generational pit of neglect requires a concerted effort to address the challenges before us, rather than becoming lost in a nostalgic longing for what could have been. Acknowledging the problem and actively seeking solutions must be our first steps.

Back in 2016, The Dallas Morning News reported that the city of Dallas needed to allocate $128 million annually to “maintain overall street condition with zero degradation.” Unfortunately, street quality, particularly in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, continues to be subpar.

A 2022 study conducted by Southern Methodist University revealed the existence of 62 “infrastructure deserts” in Dallas. These areas are defined by their lack of essential structures and facilities, such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and accessible public transportation.

To place Dallas in a national context, the 2020 census data indicated that the city of Dallas is the 12th most segregated city in the United States, with a significant proportion of transit-dependent residents residing in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in South Dallas. The reality is, low-income neighborhoods are 2.2 to 3.5 times more likely to suffer from deficient infrastructure compared to high-income areas. These disparities are not new; they have persistently plagued Dallas residents living in Fair Park, West Dallas, south Oak Cliff, and even extending as far south as Interstate 20.

Compounding these concerns is the fact that predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods are up to 5 and 3 times more likely, respectively, to face highly deficient infrastructure when compared with predominantly white neighborhoods. What makes matters worse is that this research was conducted for other major cities such as New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, and Dallas possessed the worst infrastructure conditions and the highest levels of inequity among them.

To change the course of history for the people of Dallas, for the people of Dallas County, and for the people of this state, we have to find ways to assist not only the people living in these infrastructure deserts, but also create a more equitable way to access every area of our community. The people who live in these areas are those who provide the services upon which many of us depend on daily, and we must make sure access and accessibility are integrated in our policy decisions and conversations moving forward.

It’s my hope that as new local elected officials are ushered into the fold, the people, elected representatives, and local groups will come together and build a more just and equitable community for both current and future residents of our Dallas community.

Louis A. Bedford IV is a civil rights attorney in Dallas. He wrote this column for The Dallas Morning News.

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