State House Bill Seeks to Grant New Highway Exit Signs to North Texas’ Asian American Enclaves
A state house bill that would grant new highway exit signs to two of North Texas’ longest surviving Asian American enclaves faces a crucial deadline this week.
The House Committee on Transportation earlier this month approved House Bill 3208, which would authorize highway exit signs denoting Dallas Koreatown and Richardson’s Chinatown, but the bill has yet to make it onto the House floor.
Thursday is the deadline for the House to take up its own bills.
Korean community celebrates new bilingual signs in Dallas Koreatown
Background of the Bill
At a May 1 transportation committee meeting, Charles Park, who has advocated for the Korean American community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since the 1980s, asked lawmakers to give Koreatown “a chance to grow.”
“It will bring businesses prosperity,” Park said.
In addition to bringing more visibility for two of North Texas’ longest-surviving Asian American enclaves, the signs would be a symbol of the communities’ contributions to the area, said Charles Ku, a longtime Chinese American community advocate.
Ku thinks of the younger generations of Chinese Americans who will see the sign.
“When they see a sign that says Chinatown, it will make them proud of their own heritage because it’s recognized and accepted by the population,” Ku told The Dallas Morning News.
Efforts to Pass the Bill
On Monday, state Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas, an author of the bill, remained optimistic about it making the House’s Thursday deadline. His office is “working feverishly to bring it to the floor,” he said.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Anchía said. “The communities have anchored and revitalized important neighborhoods in both Dallas and Richardson, and we need to celebrate that.”
In the last session, Anchía authored the state resolution that recognized the 1.6-mile stretch of Royal Lane in northwest Dallas as Koreatown.
He said he worked on the highway sign bill early this legislative session with Republican state Rep. Angie Chen Button, who pushed for Richardson’s Chinatown to be included.
“[The bill] is a bipartisan effort in its purest form,” Anchía said.
Impact of the Signs
If passed, signs for Dallas Koreatown would be placed near the exits for Royal Lane on I-35, and for Luna Road on I-635. Signage for Richardson’s Chinatown district would be placed on U.S. Highway 75, near Arapaho and Belt Line roads, according to Anchía’s office.
Omar Narvaez, who worked closely with the Greater Dallas Korean American Chamber of Commerce for the city’s official designation of Koreatown, said the signs would contribute to the local effort to revitalize the area.
In 2023, the city of Dallas approved a multimillion-dollar tax incentive deal for H-Mart, a major Asian grocer. H-Mart is expected to finish construction on its Dallas Koreatown location later this year.
“Thank you to all of our Korean members, because they know how to sell some goods, and they always pay their taxes,” Narvaez said at the May committee meeting.
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Conclusion
The bill to grant new highway exit signs to North Texas’ Asian American enclaves is a significant step towards recognizing the contributions of these communities. The signs will not only bring more visibility to the areas but also serve as a symbol of the communities’ contributions to the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the bill:
- Q: What is the purpose of the bill?
A: The bill aims to grant new highway exit signs to two of North Texas’ longest surviving Asian American enclaves, Dallas Koreatown and Richardson’s Chinatown.
- Q: Where will the signs be placed?
A: The signs for Dallas Koreatown will be placed near the exits for Royal Lane on I-35, and for Luna Road on I-635. Signage for Richardson’s Chinatown district will be placed on U.S. Highway 75, near Arapaho and Belt Line roads.
- Q: What is the deadline for the House to take up its own bills?
A: The deadline for the House to take up its own bills is Thursday.
- Q: Who are the authors of the bill?
A: The bill is authored by state Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas, and Republican state Rep. Angie Chen Button.
