Dallas Area Rapid Transit | DART

[Spades]

Does Fort Worth have a light rail system or rapid transit like Dallas?

Nope. I believe they are studying it though. One day, I wish the entire metroplex could form a regional agency and use heavy rail across the entire metro. But that will never happen.

[CLTfanatic]

Just moved to Richardson last week and rode the DART for the first time yesterday. Couple questions though, when are the expansions to DFW going to take place, and how viable is the TRE to DFW? And also what is the deal with the mass of apt complexes that look comdemned on the North red line?

[UrbanLifter]

Just moved to Richardson last week and rode the DART for the first time yesterday. Couple questions though, when are the expansions to DFW going to take place, and how viable is the TRE to DFW? And also what is the deal with the mass of apt complexes that look comdemned on the North red line?

Here is a link that will answer your questions regarding Dart Expansion. Dart Expansion Facts

Light rail to DFW is scheduled for completion in 2013 via the new Orange Line.

Where exactly are the apartments that you are referring to on the Red Line?

I have never ridden the TRE to DFW. I know there is a stop nearby and then a shuttle to the terminals.

Edited October 14, 2006 by UrbanLifter

[CLTfanatic]

I wanna say between the Arapaho station and Bush turnpike station.

[UrbanLifter]

I can't think of a single apartment complex between Araphao and Bush. That's all the Telecom Corridor and Galatyn Center.

I took a look at Goggle and I do see a complex on the right going North just past Spring Valley in Richardson. Perhaps that is what you are making reference to.

If so, that area is a much older portion of Richardson and was mostly developed in the late 50's. The apartments are probably not marketable given all the latest and greatest available in the Metroplex.

Seems that spot would have great potential for redevelopment given the proximaty to the Spring Valley stop on the Red Line.

[UrbanLifter]

I bet the area you are referring to with the apartments is the land for the new "Centinnial Park" Development.

See this link.

And this one too.

Edited October 17, 2006 by UrbanLifter

[eastsider]

The Dart transit agency and the city of Dallas met yesterday about the future of the Cotton Belt Line which runs from Plano, through Far North Dallas communities, and ends up at D/FW Airport. They are at odds over which mode of rail transit to use. Both sides will meet again today.

Dallas leaders want electric-powered light rail to run on the Cotton Belt, which cuts through several large Far North Dallas neighborhoods. That option would require miles of electric lines to power the trains, and it could cost up to $1 billion, according to Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

DART has proposed a cheaper plan. Transit agency planners have not recommended a specific type of train, saying the technology will evolve in the next decade. But they believe a rail line using diesel-electric hybrid trains or other new technology might cost $465 million.

[eastsider]

In talks that continued Saturday, both sides agreed that light rail would not be needed on the future Cotton Belt Line. The types of trains that would likely be used will be either diesel or hybrid diesel-electric trains. The city of Dallas wants to limit the amount of emissions from the trains and want them to run in an open channel below ground level. That measure could cost between $77M and $250M. The earliest that the Cotton Belt Line would be running is 2025.

Cost is another factor. The difference in cost between light rail and other, less expensive rail technology is estimated at $500 million. DART and the city have differences about where that money would be spent.

The city wants a rail line to an inland port development in southern Dallas, and it wants extensions in Pleasant Grove and west Oak Cliff. DART officials place a light-rail line along LBJ Freeway much higher on their priority list.

[eastsider]

DART officials approved a long-range plan that will add about 40 miles of new rail lines through 2030. As expected, a passenger rail line on the old cotton belt freight tracks was approved, but DART opted not to build the line in an open trench which would have added ~$250M to the cost of the line. DART will set aside $50M to adress concerns of the area residents.

The light-rail network will be expanded to Pleasant Grove, South Dallas, west Oak Cliff and West Dallas. Not making the cut was a proposed light-rail line that would run along LBJ Freeway in north Dallas.

The biggest loser Tuesday was a proposed light-rail line along LBJ Freeway. That project was not a priority with Dallas, and it barely missed the DART board's funding cut, even though estimates indicate it would draw 9,800 riders a day.

"We're all here to think about what's best for the region," said DART board member Angie Chen Button of Garland. "I would hate to think that the city of Dallas doesn't think that almost 10,000 riders is important."

The LBJ line didn't make the list because of its cost and for political reasons. DART board members did not want to spend $1.2 billion of the $1.6 billion available on two east-west rail lines in the northern half of the region.

[urbanaturalist]

Nope. I believe they are studying it though. One day, I wish the entire metroplex could form a regional agency and use heavy rail across the entire metro. But that will never happen.

Edited October 26, 2006 by urbanaturalist

[eastsider]

Why won't Fort Worth just seamlessly connect its proposed light rail with Dallas, that would make the metro region more accessible without changing stops. Does anybody know about how long it would take light rail to go from downtwon Dallas to Downtown Fort Worth? It would seem like adding a heavy rail (subway rail) to the metro region would be more expensive, but would be a lot faster too.

Edited October 26, 2006 by eastsider

[eastsider]

This is the map of the DART 2030 Transit System Plan.

Some of the features of the plan:

The 2030 Plan builds on the success of today's system and ongoing expansion and updates the draft system plan. Key elements include:

- Approximately 43 miles of additional rail service, including:

-- A 2.9-mile extension of the Blue Line to the Dallas Southport Center at Bonnie View Rd. and Interstate 20

-- A nearly 26-mile express rail line in the east-west Cotton Belt corridor from the Red Line to DFW International Airport. The Board resolution approving the plan also helps define system characteristics for the corridor with regard to rail technology, noise, vibration and emissions.

-- A Lake Highlands Station on the existing Blue Line

-- A 4.3-mile light rail branch off the forthcoming Green Line along Scyene Road to approximately Masters Drive

-- A 4.3-mile light rail extension of the Red Line south to Red Bird Lane

-- A 6-mile rail line in West Dallas along Fort Worth Avenue or Singleton to Loop 12/Jefferson Boulevard

-A comprehensive network of enhanced and rapid bus corridors consisting of:

-- 77 miles of enhanced bus service corridors

-- 20 miles of rapid bus service corridors

[eastsider]

DART has recently installed 209 new signs to help direct motorists to TRE stations. The cost of the signs is $179,000, and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority will reimburse DART for the signs places in Tarrant County. The TRE currently averages 8,756 daily weekday riders, 177 higher than this time a year ago.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Signs point way to railway

Edited January 22, 2007 by eastsider

[eastsider]

President Bush's initial budget proposal calls for $86 million in funding for DART's ongoing expansion. This is part of an overall $700 million funding grant the FTA awarded to DART for the expansion. The remainer of the costs for the new light rail lines will come from $2.5 billion in local sales taxes.

cbs11tv: DART Expansion Efforts Ready To Leave The Station

[eastsider]

The Dallas City Council has revived the idea of building a tunnel under Love Field and having a light-rail station at the terminal. It would add an estimated $160 million to the cost of the Green Line that is under construction. Current plans call for a station across the street from Love Field and having passengers take some form of people mover to the terminal. The local neighborhoods around the currently planned station are unhappy with it as the layout will cut-off some road access in the area. The city says it will not pursue the tunnel plans if it becomes clear that it will put the current DART expansion in jeopardy.

The tunnel would also have broader implications for the Metroplex, connecting the two downtowns and the two airport terminals. A passenger starting in downtown Fort Worth could ride to a station between terminals A and B at D/FW, then change trains and ride to Love Field.

......That study projected that by 2025, a station at the airport terminal would add 13,500 daily riders to the DART system and that a station outside the terminal would add 11,600 riders. The study projects a total ridership of about 200,000 for DART in 2025.

[eastsider]

^ The city of Dallas has dropped the idea a building a tunnel under Love Field and having a station directly at the terminal. They contacted a representative with the FTA last week and were told that any changes made to the current plans would put them in breach of contract with the possibility of losing funding on the current light rail expansion.

Instead, the city and DART will continue working on an alternative transit access from DART's rail into the terminal area, including a people mover system and traffic improvements to the nearby neighborhood.

[Aporkalypse]

That's great news for Dallas. I like the Dart System. I just wanted to know if any subways exist in Dallas too?

[dallasbrink]

In most cases, they can only go underground to add rail.

A very small part of DART is subterranean, probably just a couple miles or so. Otherwise there is no subterranean component.

[dallasbrink]

http://www.dart.org/

video describing the new green line

Edited August 30, 2007 by dallasbrink

[KJHburg]

Miscellaneous photos of DART today and the line is closed north of the Bachman station as it was damaged by the tornado.   Great that DFW airport and major hospitals and downtown are all connected.  No wonder this is the nations largest light rail system. 

[KJHburg]

DART trains in downtown Plano.  Lots of new apartments within walking distance of the station in the historical downtown of Plano.  A few miles south is the huge CityLine development in Richardson home of high rise office towers (mainly State Farm) and even more apartments.  Lots of transit oriented development in the metroplex. 

 

[KJHburg]

The Green Line down from North Carrollton to downtown Dallas.  Lots of apartments have been built by this line.  This is a busy line and they were running 3 cars today mainly I think because of the State Fair that just opened.   The A Train is commuter rail that goes up to Denton. 

Edited September 25, 2021 by KJHburg

[rancenc]

I wonder if the abandoned DART station on Knox Street might be built to support this project!

https://www.trammellcrow.com/en/about/media-center/tcc-and-partners-announce-plans-for-mixed-use-development-in-dallas

[rancenc]

Transit oriented development coming to suburban Addison.

https://rebusinessonline.com/amli-residential-stream-realty-plan-472m-transit-oriented-development-in-addison-texas/