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                                                                  H.R. No. 593



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, In the spring of 1969, children attending schools on 
either side of Interstate Highway 635 in north Dallas County were 
endangering themselves and motorists when using an elevated, 
uncovered pedestrian walkway to cross the interstate on their way 
to and from school; and
	WHEREAS, Some children were dropping schoolbooks, lunch 
boxes, and other objects over the walkway's edge and onto motorists 
using the highway that runs beneath the walkway; other children 
were walking its narrow, unprotected ledges and even dangling 
themselves and others over its sides; and
	WHEREAS, Concerned parents, parent-teacher associations, and 
neighborhood groups had been concerned about this hazard for some 
time but were frustrated and angry because they had been unable to 
get any positive response or action from state or federal officials 
to address this dangerous situation; and
	WHEREAS, After reading a newspaper story that highlighted the 
dangers posed by the walkway, State Representative Joe Ratcliff, a 
member of the Texas House of Representatives in the 57th, 60th, and 
61st legislatures, promptly investigated the situation; and
	WHEREAS, Representative Ratcliff contacted the officials and 
agencies having jurisdiction over IH-635 and the walkway; he met 
with local law enforcement and safety departments and affected 
parents and school groups and promised all who were concerned that 
the problem would be fixed; and
	WHEREAS, Representative Ratcliff vowed to pass legislation 
directing that the walkway be covered to protect the children, 
prompting the agency to cover the walkway and all others in the 
state, especially those used by children; and
	WHEREAS, The simple, heartfelt actions taken by Mr. Ratcliff 
more than 30 years ago led to the addition of significant safety 
features that today continue to ensure the safety of the children 
using that walkway and others across the state and of motorists on 
IH-635 and other Texas roads; his contribution to the well-being of 
Texans everywhere truly merits appropriate public recognition; 
now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby request the Texas Department of Transportation 
to designate the pedestrian walkway that crosses IH-635 and 
connects the city of Farmers Branch to the city of Dallas as the Joe 
Ratcliff Walkway; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 
copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Texas 
Department of Transportation.

                                                                         Goolsby

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 593 was adopted by the House on March 
26, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House