Dallas pastors stood before Dallas City Council on May 8, 2024, asking for answers on why the name S. M. Wright Freeway was removed from State Highway 310 in Southern Dallas. New South Central Expressway signs were placed along State Highway 310 (SH310) between Al Lipscomb Way and Budd Street last week creating confusion, an uproar from the community, and a demand for answers from elected officials. The community wanted to know why the name of S. M. Wright Freeway had been removed from the thoroughfare.
South Central Expressway was renamed S. M. Wright Freeway on June 13, 1995, with the passing of Texas Senate Bill No. 1129 and signed decree by Governor George W. Bush making the name change effective immediately. S.B. No. 1129 (see below) was authored by State Senator Royce West and sponsored by State Representatives Yvonne Davis, Helen Giddings, Sam Hudson, and Jesse Jones.
West said he wanted to recognize and honor Dr. S. M. Wright for his leadership as a prominent pastor, civil rights advocate, and community servant in Dallas County. The S. M. Wright Freeway is the first Texas freeway to bear the name of an African American individual.
SH 310 is currently under construction by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) along the approximate 3 mile stretch between Al Lipscomb Way and Budd Street in Southern Dallas, which led to the placement of new street signs. The new South Central Expressway signs immediately caught the attention of residents, community leaders and the Family of Dr. S. M. Wright. After thousands of calls placed by residents to Sen. West and Dallas City officials, it was learned that the City of Dallas made an error and never completed proper procedures for the renaming of South Central Expressway to S. M. Wright Freeway in June 1995.
Because the procedures were never completed, the Dallas Street Grid Information System (GIS) was never updated to show the renaming of South Central Expressway to S. M. Wright Freeway.
The GIS today shows South Central Expressway as the name of the thoroughfare. The GIS is used by police, fire, and emergency services for traffic directions.
Speakers before the Mayor and City Council included: Dr. David Wilson, President of Dallas Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) and Pastor of Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church in Dallas, Tex; Dr. T. L. Brown, President of Dallas Baptist Ministers Union and Pastor of New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dallas, Tex; Rev. Denny D.Davis, Pastor of St. John Church in Grand Prairie and Southlake, Tex; Gwendolyn Sneed, member of People’s Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Tex; Claudia Fowler, Joppa/Joppee community leader; and Darryl Blair, Publisher of Elite News Newspaper.
Mayor Eric Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold, and Council member Adam Bazaldua each responded to the speakers expressing a commitment that the City of Dallas would immediately address the issue and begin necessary policy and procedures to correct and legally rename South Central Expressway to S. M. Wright Freeway. The section of SH 310 under name change review is in Council member Adam Bazaldua’s District 7. The goal is to have the street name correction process completed and approved by City Council before their Summer recess during the month of July.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT relating to the designation of a portion of certain highways in Dallas County as the S. M. Wright Freeway.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The portions of United States Highway 175 in Dallas County between Interstate Highway 45 and State Highway 310 and State Highway 310 between United States Highway 175 and State Loop 12 are designated as the S. M. Wright Freeway in recognition of that individual’s outstanding spiritual and civic contributions to the City of Dallas and the State of Texas. The designation is in addition to any other designation.
SECTION 2. (a) The Texas Department of Transportation shall design and construct memorial markers to be placed along United States Highway 175 and State Highway 310 indicating their designation as the S. M. Wright Freeway.
(b) The markers shall include the highway number and any other information that the department determines is appropriate.
(c) Markers shall be erected at each end of the highway and at intermediate sites that the department determines are appropriate.
(d) The department is responsible for repair and replacement of the markers and for maintenance of the grounds surrounding each marker.
(e) The department may accept grants and donations from individuals and other entities to assist in financing the construction and maintenance of the markers.
SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an emergency and an imperative public necessity that the constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its passage, and it is so enacted.
