Lake Highlands residents eager to know more about pedestrian access to DART’s planned light rail station get their wish this week.

DART representatives will update the community in a 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday night at the Audelia Road Library.

The Lake Highlands station is planned for the northeast corner of the Town Center development, north of Walnut Hill and west of White Rock Trail.

DART plans to provide primary vehicular and pedestrian access to the station via the Town Center.

Secondary pedestrian access would be provided to the east, onto White Rock Trail.

That proposed east side access to the station is a hotly debated subject, especially among residents of the Lake Highlands North neighborhood.

Lake Highlands North is adjacent to the proposed pedestrian access point. Many in the neighborhood prefer that pedestrian access be moved to Walnut Hill while others want it along White Rock Trail.

The neighborhood’s HOA formed a committee several months ago to study east side access and recommend preferred options.

Although the committee’s first choice is to move the access point to Walnut Hill, DART informed the LHNHOA board and committee members last Thursday that it will move forward with the White Rock Trail option.

DART is working with the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department to extend the city’s hike and bike trail into the Town Center, through the Lake Highlands station.

Officials say the extended trail system increases demand for White Rock Trail pedestrian access and creates the need for an understated trail head at that location.

“We think this is a viable option for the Lake Highlands station since we’ve seen trails succeed elsewhere when they connect to transportation systems. We hope everyone can envision the synergy that exists between the trails, the station and the Town Center development,” DART Senior Manager Michael Miles said.

Miles and DART Chief Architect David Ehrlicher say their goal is to provide safe and convenient ways for people to access the station. They hope for a large turnout at Tuesday’s meeting.

“We want broader participation from the community. This is a great opportunity for us to explain how the station benefits Lake Highlands and the high standards we have for the system,” Ehrlicher said.

DART says construction of the White Rock Trail access point will not begin until funding for the trail system is available.

Plans to build the station are on track and expected to begin in August of this year.