Executive Summary
Love Field Neighborhood Survey
April 11, 2006
900 Jackson Street, Suite 640
Dallas, Texas 75202
Phone: (214) 761-9197
Fax: (214) 748-7114
Web: masterplanconsultants.com
Overview:
The questions were open ended and designed to elicit responses regarding traffic and planning issues.
We received nearly 3,000 responses over a two week period. The following represents the statements and opinions of those respondents:
Question #1: What are the major thoroughfares you use?
| Rank | Street/Highway | Percentage |
| 1 | Lemmon Avenue | 39% |
| 2 | Mockingbird Lane | 30% |
| 3 | Inwood Road | 20% |
| 4 | Dallas North Tollway | 18% |
| 5 | Lovers Lane | 16% |
| 6 | Northwest Highway | 16% |
| 7 | Preston Road | 14% |
| 8 | Central Expressway/US 75 | 12% |
| 9 | Oak Lawn Avenue | 11% |
| 10 | Stemmons Freeway/I-35 | 6% |
| 11 | Hillcrest Avenue | 6% |
| 12 | University Boulevard | 5% |
| 13 | Walnut Hill Lane | 5% |
Question #2: What are the top 3 alternative streets you plan to use in an effort to avoid additional traffic congestion on the major thoroughfares in the Love Field airport area?
| Rank | Street/Highway | Percentage |
| 1 | Inwood Road | 22% |
| 2 | Northwest Highway | 19% |
| 3 | Lemmon Avenue | 18% |
| 4 | Dallas North Tollway | 14% |
| 5 | Lovers Lane | 13% |
| 6 | University Boulevard | 13% |
| 7 | Mockingbird Lane | 10% |
| 8 | Preston Road | 10% |
| 9 | Harry Hines Boulevard | 10% |
| 10 | Cedar Springs Road | 8% |
| 11 | No change | 8% |
| 12 | Maple Avenue | 8% |
| 13 | Central Expressway/US 75 | 8% |
| 14 | Beverly Drive | 7% |
| 15 | Walnut Hill Lane | 6% |
| 16 | Stemmons Freeway/I-35 | 6% |
| 17 | Oak Lawn Avenue | 6% |
| 18 | Midway Road | 5% |
| 19 | Douglas Avenue | 5% |
| 20 | Turtle Creek Boulevard | 4% |
Question #3: Do you believe the thoroughfares can accommodate the resulting increase in airport related traffic?
"Yes, as a former realtor, I believe better access to Love Field is needed. Mockingbird needs to be widened. All the homes in HP are way overpriced and not worth nearly what people think. The ones on the south side of the street should be purchased at about $300,000-$400,000 average and more lanes of traffic put in. That’s what is fair."
"Yes, if they widen Mockingbird. It’s called Dallas County, not Highland Park County. Those people should wake up and do what’s right. This is ridiculous and Mockingbird should be four and maybe six lanes. They need to get real about the economy."
"No, you must widen out both Lovers & Mockingbird to 4 lanes. Yes, it is worth it. Just do it."
"Traffic is already terrible in the area. It takes forever to get through Oak Lawn and Mockingbird isn’t any better. The only decent east-west option is Lovers and there are two schools on it and it is slow too. I usually use University or Beverly to cut through now but I’ve noticed it is getting worse on those streets. I don’t see why flying a few times a year is such a big deal when people are in their cars every day."
"There will be a lot more thru-traffic -- people taking short cuts."
"I will have no other choice but to cut through neighborhoods. All the streets like Lemmon and Mockingbird are already packed. And public transportation is not even an option, it would take all day to get there."
"No, don’t people think about school children. There are several school zones right by the airport people always ignore. I have volunteered at DISD schools (and was a teacher before I had children) in the area and the noise is traumatic for children. There are a number of studies that indicate that children do not do as well in class or on standardized test because of the noise factor. This city needs to educate its children and it’s so hard to under these conditions. It’s not the fault of the children and the adults need to behave better."
"Widen Mockingbird for present and future use for the benefit of many."
"No, close Love Field."
"Yes, people that bought property near an airport should realize there will be traffic and noise. It’s their fault. I knew it and that’s why I rent my place to someone that works at the airport. It is a good area for working people. Buyer beware."
"Yes, the streets can handle more traffic, but I don't know if drivers can handle each other. The streets are already packed at rush hour and it may turn out (especially in the morning) that going to the in town airport is more of a hassle than going out to DFW. At least DFW is a nice airport and better organized."
"Yes, if DART builds a rail line to the airport pretty quick."
"I do not believe Love Field can accommodate increased airport traffic and definitely not large commercial flights."
"Opening up Love to become a full service airport demands both Lovers and Mockingbird to be four lane and Cedar Springs to be a freeway into Love."
"Southwest Whining Airlines has had a ‘Birds nest on the Ground’ for 35 years, undercutting the purpose of DFW. Either widen Mockingbird or send SW to DFW & Phoenix. To hell with Highland Park."
"You’re going to need a tunnel under the H.P. section."
Question #4: Do you believe the benefits of additional destinations from Love Field justify the increase in vehicular traffic?
"Quality of life should be the first consideration of City officials. Love Field by its very nature is too limited in size to allow for true competition by all carriers and any increased usage at Love Field only serves the greed of one airline, Southwest, while the cost of Dallas Citizens is increased noise, pollution, traffic and danger."
"Thoroughfares cannot currently accommodate the traffic. Benefits justify traffic. Need to widen Mockingbird."
"We already notice a difference in traffic and noise. Southwest Airlines should be ashamed of themselves."
"No, with a world class DFW International Airport close by, you have to be stupid to add commercial flights to in-town Love Field."
"No, we don’t need expansion of Love Field -- my husband travels extensively and DFW is much better. Much more convenient and less of a hassle than Love Field."
"With long distance air traffic from Love Field to distant cities, airplanes will need much more fuel. That will result in using more of the runway and lower altitude when they fly over the nearby houses. Houses near Inwood Road will be badly affected."
"No way! The fares are not that different. Come on it’s only about $50 and Southwest flies into all these other rinky dinky places. I spend the difference on a cab ride. No, safety should be 1st priority!"
"Yes, hard to beat the 40% drop in fares to STL/Missouri."
"I hate the traffic and have lived here since before Wright. I thought Wright was supposed to make it more liveable. Close Love. If SWA is so good at business they will do just as well at DFW. DFW is the most important asset in North Texas. Don’t tamper with it. It’s not worth risking for getting your friend to fly free because your friend may be out of work."
"The traffic patterns affected by a change in the Wright Amendment is a small consideration in the inevitable change of the outdated law. The citizens of Dallas deserve better airfares and better service that Southwest airlines will provide. The City can determine a maximum flights permitted out of Love by ALL aircraft; this may be occurring now. American Airlines is a poor service airline; Southwest is superior to this and they deserve more market share due to their excellence in fares and service."
"No, because there are too many elementary schools in this area, the noise is deafening, the pollution is bad enough now."
"I, as well as most of my neighbors, would be extremely excited to see non-stop flights across the country."
Question #5: Now that the Wright Amendment has been altered and compromised the validity of the Love Field Master Plan, would you favor the City of Dallas adopting a new master plan?
"Yes, I worked on the ramp at Love Field for the eight years. Love Field was too crowded and unsafe. I myself was nearly killed twice."
"I worked on the plan and I cannot believe politicians have forgotten those of us that gave our time."
"Yes--allow full country destinations but limit number of flights and/or gates available."
"With a world class DFW International Airport close by, you have to be stupid to add commercial flights to in-town Love Field."
"I don’t trust the City to preserve neighborhood quality."
"SW airlines and its propaganda machine should be prevented from distorting a Master Plan."
"New plan should be that Love Field should be closed, sold to commercial interests, and the revenue be used to benefit the city."
"Yes and increase fees for Southwest, AA & other general aviation."
"I would sell and not stay in Dallas. I fought for original Wright."
"Yes, close Cedar Springs at Mockingbird. Sell the Airport. Great condo site!"
"Yes. With hours of operation that would allow us to sleep like normal folks."
"Raise the landing fees -- open up the gates and manage with fee structure."
"Close it to most passenger flights."
"Should not be to expand the flight range out of Love Field. It would be detrimental to the streets, the noise in the neighborhood, and the economic impact of DFW. Love Field should be used for small aircraft only. Why destroy the surrounding residential areas with commercial flights? It will turn this area into cheap housing and eventually a ghetto."
"The City of Dallas committed itself to the DFW airport plan -- it is financially bound to its success. Why is Dallas undermining the tax base to benefit the works of private, for profit, corporation. We are already subsidizing their operations at the cost of the health of DFW which is located to benefit this whole region."
"I thought it was a free market. Why is American so afraid of what Southwest does? I hope they will have international flights."
"I am a retired nurse and need to get the lowest ticket price possible. I want a full range of destinations and as many airlines as possible."
"A lot has changed since Wright was passed. Who would have guessed what North Texas was like and Southwest is the one mostly responsible. I hope that this helps everyone decide to stay away from DFW. It’s too far and too expensive to park there."
Comments Regarding Noise
"I am glad you wrote me because I can’t hear my phone anymore. The American planes are even louder."
"The noise would be incredible if you allow more flights, not to mention the traffic congestion. Please do the correct thing and stop Love from getting any bigger."
"Air travel over my house is noisy now and will be worse as American and other competitors join Southwest at Love, but if I can get a reasonably priced flight to Jackson, it will be worth it. Thank you for giving me a chance to express my opinion."
"Due to the abusive noise from constant aircraft traffic, I am planning to move this spring. I have called the Love Field noise office many times only to be treated rudely by the employees. I can’t wait to sell my home and get away from this area."
"The failure to use Love Field to full advantage is short-sighted. Homeowners in the flight plan can request assistance for sound proofing materials as they have done in other cities."
"If you are going to try and increase activity- lower taxes! We, Dallas citizens, don’t want any more noise."
"The noise of large planes and constant use would be terrible!"
"Stop the Wright Amendment. The planes are all noisy anyway."
"Sometimes I work at Rusk and Knight Schools. It gets loud when you have two to five planes coming and going in a 20 minute pattern. Underneath the kids are upset. They are used to it and accept it. However, the anxiety in these schools is higher."
General Comments
"I cannot understand why the citizens of Dallas let one company control the entire airport situation. We and Ft. Worth have spent billons for a beautiful, complete airport. Why can’t SW move there and rectify all this controversy and make Love Field an exec. Airport?"
"City of Dallas better stop raising taxes and not lose SW."
"American should stay away from Love Field and Southwest should not be subject to the Wright Amendment."
"American Airlines should not be allowed entry into Love. They do not belong and are not needed."
"We hate southwest -- shut down Love."
"SWA should be given right to fly to any airport desired."
"It was wrong to give Southwest a near-monopoly at Love Field. While the other airlines were required to move to DFW."
"Repealing the Wright Amendment will have the same effect as Hurricane Katrina and Rita, only slower and more insidious- who speaks for the poor people of Dallas?!"
"I would prefer that Love Field be closed to commercial traffic and routed to DFW."
"Big picture- Why is there even talk about this? So that a business SW Airline can profit at the expense of schools, neighborhood and people who have invested their lives in homes and community. As far as I am concerned, the challenges to the Wright Amendment are due to SW airline plan to sabotage DFW airport."
"We can not afford to lose the tax base SW airlines brings to DFW -- not to mention its employees- their homes, their spending as in sales taxes."
"The Wright Amendment has cost the residents of Dallas billions and should be eliminated. In the long term it would benefit both American and DFW to open the skies and increase commerce."
"Anyone’s big concern- it’s all about Business -- NOT Quality of life!"
"Get Rid of THE Wright Amendment Now."
"Lower airfares is better for everyone!"
"Dallas was listed High in the most (air) polluted cities in the U.S. Airports create tremendous air pollution. Now Dallas is wanting to add additional flights to magnify the air pollution problem."