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Council reviews and tentatively approves SMU paver design for Hillcrest–Daniel intersection
Summary
Council and staff previewed a proposed paver design from Southern Methodist University for the Hillcrest and Daniel intersection; council moved to approve the design and acknowledged the design will return for final public‑right‑of‑way approval.
City staff and Southern Methodist University presented a proposed paver design for the Hillcrest and Daniel intersection as part of a broader intersection realignment and pedestrian-safety project the council has been discussing.
Katie Baron, director of engineering, said the design would shorten pedestrian crossing distances, add pedestrian signal controls on all corners, increase lighting and provide a dedicated left-turn lane to improve traffic flow and safety. "The shorter the crossing distance, the easier it is for pedestrians to cross and the safer it is," Baron said. She told the council the paver surface would be in the public right of way and that final approval of the pavers is a city decision.
The design, developed in cooperation with Southern Methodist University and an adjacent property owner, would use textured pavers across the intersection and adjusted islands to improve circulation and the pedestrian environment. Councilmembers praised the design for improving pedestrian safety and the look of the corridor; one councilmember described it as a "fantastic redesign." The council recorded a motion and second to approve the paver design; the transcript documents the motion and second but does not record a detailed roll-call vote in the available excerpt.
City staff said SMU has committed funding toward the realignment and that the project is intended to better link the university to the east- and west-side neighborhoods of Hillcrest. Staff and SMU representatives said construction sequencing and final materials will be coordinated with the city and that the paver pattern will be subject to the city’s final right-of-way approval.
Baron said the intersection is already one of the city’s busiest pedestrian crossings and that the changes are designed to reduce crossing distances, provide clearer landings for pedestrians and allow flexible signal timing for peak events such as university game days. Council gave general approval to proceed with the SMU paver concept and thanked SMU and a private property owner for working jointly on the design.
