DART Light Rail
Encyclopedia
DART Light Rail is a light rail system in Dallas, Texas
and its suburbs owned by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit
. The system comprises 72 miles (115.9 km) between its three lines — the , the and the . Its 72 miles of track make it the largest light rail system in the United States. It has a daily ridership of 75,000 average trips per weekday. The system utilizes light rail trains manufactured by Kinki Sharyo
, with all trains being converted to "Super" LRVs which feature level boarding (especially convenient for strollers and bicycles and increasing the capacity for wheelchairs from about 4 per train to 6-8 per car) and higher passenger capacity.
, Grand Prairie
and Mesquite
, which would have had rail lines, didn't opt to join the agency. DART chose light rail transit
as its primary mode of rail transportation in 1984. The plan was pared down again to 93 miles (149.7 km) before the 1988 bond vote. After the vote, the agency again pared down the regional rail system to 84 miles (135.2 km); 66 miles (106.2 km) light rail and 18 miles of commuter rail. In 2010, DART has announced that it will likely need to scrap much of its 2030 plan for expansion citing deficits and money woes.
The following lines are currently active: (Opened in 1996, completed in its current state in 2002) (Opened in 1996, completed in its current state in 2002, additions scheduled for completion in 2012 and 2018) (Opened in 2009, completed in its current state in 2010)
The following line is under construction: (Irving
/DFW
Line; proposed opening 2011, DART may need to scrap the extension from Irving to DFW Airport to save $50 million. )
system in October. The light rail system began service on time and on budget in June 1996, inaugurating the first light rail system in Texas
and the Southwest. Commuter rail service to Irving
began in December, after some delays.
To the surprise of critics, who expected the low ridership of some other systems, the new light rail system was embraced by Dallasites, with ridership exceeding expectations. The suburbs' confidence in DART was also expressed at the ballot box: four cities held highly publicized pullout elections in 1996 (with the financial assistance of Dallas Cowboys
owner Jerry Jones
who wanted DART's half-cent sales tax revenue for Cowboy Stadium then in Irving ), but all four voted to remain in DART (three of them by margins of more than two-to-one).
The 20 miles (32 km) starter system opened on 14 June 1996, which spanned from the Westmoreland Station on the in Dallas (West Oak Cliff) through downtown Dallas
to Pearl Station
. There were also two stations on the , Morrell and Illinois that opened on that date.
The next stage of the starter line opened on 10 January 1997 when the was extended from Pearl Station
to Park Lane Station
. It includes the underground portion of the line between Pearl Station
and Mockingbird Station
which the site of Dallas's first modern transit village
. The northern terminus of the was still Pearl Station
.
The starter line was completed when the was extended from Illinois Station
to its current southern terminus at Ledbetter Station
. This came on 31 May 1997, nearly one year after the first part of the starter system opened.
The final change to the starter system came on 18 December 2000 when DART opened Cityplace Station
, the first subway station in the Southwest, located in the tunnel between Pearl and Mockingbird station under the Tower at Cityplace skyscraper, providing access to the Tower as well as the never built Cityplace West.
Commuter Rail on the old Rock Island
right-of-way began during the series of openings of the light rail starter system. On 30 December 1996 the opened the first segment as the South Irving Transit Center
was connected to Union Station
in downtown Dallas
with a stop in the middle at Medical/Market Center Station
. The agency had to lease rail cars due to a delay in the current stock until March.
After the success of the light rail starter system, voters approved DART's request to use long-term bonds to expedite the construction of the regional light rail system. While DART had originally planned single-track extensions of the Blue Line to Garland
and the to Richardson
and Plano
, the starter system was so popular that the agency made plans to double-track the entire route.
Work began on the extensions of the and the on 15 January 1999. Later that same year, on 27 September, the Blue Line designation was extended from Pearl Station
to Mockingbird Station
, for its eventual expansion to Garland. The first station since 1997 to open came on 24 September 2001, when the was extended from Mockingbird Station
to the new White Rock Station
. A little over a year and a half later, the debuted another station as light rail pushed outside the LBJ Loop
when the LBJ/Skillman Station
opened on 6 May 2002.
The first extension of the opened on 1 July 2002 when the line added 7 stations from a newly opened Park Lane Station
to Galatyn Park Station
. Richardson became the first Dallas suburb to be served by light rail.
The was completed in its current form on 18 November 2002 when Garland became the second suburb to get light rail service. The two new stations of Forest/Jupiter Station
and Downtown Garland Station
were opened to the public.
The final stage of the light rail expansion was completed six months ahead of schedule when Plano's first trains ran on 9 December 2002, completing the north central and northeast expansion. Archer Western Contractors is the Construction Management and General Contractor officials building the current rail extensions to Carrollton and Elam Creek.
700 million Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) — the largest grant ever awarded to DART — to kick-start a US$2.5 billion expansion of the light rail system. Now under construction, this phase will include two new light rail lines that will double DART's existing light rail mileage. Construction began in September 2006. When the project is complete in 2013, DART's light rail system will have doubled to 90 miles (145 km).
The began operation on September 14, 2009 with a route from downtown Dallas
southeast to Fair Park
; this short route was scheduled to open in time to service the 2009 State Fair of Texas
. On December 6, 2010 the line extended further to Pleasant Grove
, as well as continuing northwest from Victory Station
to Farmers Branch
and Carrollton
; both extensions, completing the Green Line.
The northern end of the line connects with the A-train
line run by the Denton County Transportation Authority
(DCTA). This line connects Denton
to Carrollton
, with stops in Lewisville
and Highland Village
. The commuter train may stop in other Denton County
cities, should they choose to join the DCTA.
The second line, the will run concurrently with the from downtown Dallas
to just past Love Field Airport, where it will branch off toward Irving
with eventual service to DFW Airport. DART is cooperating with DFW and Love Field to link the two airports via rail. The line will run through Las Colinas
and connect to the Las Colinas APT System
. DART had preliminary plans for the to run concurrently with the from downtown Dallas
to LBJ/Central Station
. Current maps have the 's terminus at Pearl Station
in downtown Dallas
.
In maps before 2006, DART labeled the Pleasant Grove to Carrollton route the "Orange Line", and the Irving route was the "Purple Line". Green was generally used on DART maps to denote the route of the . By the time construction started, DART was using the new "Green Line" designation as part of its marketing efforts, saying "Like the color green, this line is a symbol of our city on the move."
In October 2006, the DART Board of Directors unanimously approved the following measures for the next round of rail expansion.
DART's 2030 plan also calls for a comprehensive network of enhanced and rapid bus corridors consisting of 77 miles (124 km) of enhanced bus service corridors and 20 miles (32 km) of rapid bus service corridors with strengthened and new express bus service. The plan also calls for additions to the current 31 miles (50 km) of high occupancy vehicle lanes to 116 miles (187 km).
The final 2030 plan included several changes from the draft plan released in July 2006. Removed from the final plan was a 6.3 miles (10.1 km) branch of the from Forest Lane Station
to the Addison Transit Center
, which would have included several miles of subway under Interstate 635
. DART officials cited the line's high cost, US$
700 million, and lack of strong support from the city of Dallas. The extension to the Dallas Southport Center (intermodal terminal) was added after strong pressure from Dallas officials. Also, the proposed light rail line serving West Dallas was not originally considered as a priority for rail service.
The Cotton Belt corridor plans continued to generate controversy right up to the day of the vote on the 2030 plan. DART leaned toward diesel
powered commuter rail for the Cotton Belt corridor, similar to the . However, the line would pass through affluent Far North Dallas neighborhoods. The neighborhood formed the Cotton Belt Concerned Coalition to fight the line in 1990. The group made a concession in 2006 to allow electric light rail vehicles on the line to avoid perceived air and noise pollution associated with diesel rail. The group also proposed that the line be placed in a below-ground trench. These proposals were accepted by the City of Dallas in June 2006 in a unanimous resolution. DART, however, balked at the cost of trenching the line, which they estimated at $250 million. This set up a confrontation between DART and the city of Dallas, which appoints eight of the board's 15 members. The final plan compromised by promising $50 million "to help address neighborhood concerns".
The current freight line runs just south of the Downtown Plano Station
on the , but DART maps of the 2030 plan show the line will route to the nearby Bush Turnpike station, the nearest station to the south of downtown Plano. The Cotton Belt line runs through former DART member city Coppell
between Carrollton and DFW Airport; although no station locations are included in the plan, the promise of a future station could entice Coppell into rejoining the agency.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and its suburbs owned by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority is a transit agency based in Dallas, Texas . It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs...
. The system comprises 72 miles (115.9 km) between its three lines — the , the and the . Its 72 miles of track make it the largest light rail system in the United States. It has a daily ridership of 75,000 average trips per weekday. The system utilizes light rail trains manufactured by Kinki Sharyo
Kinki Sharyo
is an Osaka, Japan-based manufacturer of railroad vehicles. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation.In business since 1920 and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945...
, with all trains being converted to "Super" LRVs which feature level boarding (especially convenient for strollers and bicycles and increasing the capacity for wheelchairs from about 4 per train to 6-8 per car) and higher passenger capacity.
History
Before the 1983 election, DART had a plan for 160 miles (257.5 km) of rail. After the election, the plan was pared down to 147 miles (236.6 km) when DuncanvilleDuncanville, Texas
Duncanville is a city in Dallas County, Texas . Duncanville's population was 36,081 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 42,500 in 2008. Duncanville is a suburb of Dallas and is part of the Best Southwest area, which includes Duncanville, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Lancaster.-Geography:Duncanville is...
, Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
and Mesquite
Mesquite, Texas
Mesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
, which would have had rail lines, didn't opt to join the agency. DART chose light rail transit
Light Rail Transit
The name Light Rail Transit is used to refer to several light rail systems, as an official name or otherwise:* Please see List of tram and light-rail transit systems.-See also:* Light Rapid Transit * Light railway* Light rail...
as its primary mode of rail transportation in 1984. The plan was pared down again to 93 miles (149.7 km) before the 1988 bond vote. After the vote, the agency again pared down the regional rail system to 84 miles (135.2 km); 66 miles (106.2 km) light rail and 18 miles of commuter rail. In 2010, DART has announced that it will likely need to scrap much of its 2030 plan for expansion citing deficits and money woes.
The following lines are currently active: (Opened in 1996, completed in its current state in 2002) (Opened in 1996, completed in its current state in 2002, additions scheduled for completion in 2012 and 2018) (Opened in 2009, completed in its current state in 2010)
The following line is under construction: (Irving
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
/DFW
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
Line; proposed opening 2011, DART may need to scrap the extension from Irving to DFW Airport to save $50 million. )
Starter system
After six years of scandals involving finances, delays in construction of the rail system, a failed bond election, and nine pull-out votes (two of which were successful), the year 1990 was a turning point for the agency when DART broke ground on its light railLight rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system in October. The light rail system began service on time and on budget in June 1996, inaugurating the first light rail system in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and the Southwest. Commuter rail service to Irving
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
began in December, after some delays.
To the surprise of critics, who expected the low ridership of some other systems, the new light rail system was embraced by Dallasites, with ridership exceeding expectations. The suburbs' confidence in DART was also expressed at the ballot box: four cities held highly publicized pullout elections in 1996 (with the financial assistance of Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
owner Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones
Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones is the owner and general manager of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.-Early life:Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when he was an infant. Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School...
who wanted DART's half-cent sales tax revenue for Cowboy Stadium then in Irving ), but all four voted to remain in DART (three of them by margins of more than two-to-one).
The 20 miles (32 km) starter system opened on 14 June 1996, which spanned from the Westmoreland Station on the in Dallas (West Oak Cliff) through downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
to Pearl Station
Pearl Station
Pearl Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Bryan Street, east of Pearl Street. It opened June 14, 1996, and is a station on the and Lines, serving the Plaza of the Americas, the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 2001 Bryan Tower, the San...
. There were also two stations on the , Morrell and Illinois that opened on that date.
The next stage of the starter line opened on 10 January 1997 when the was extended from Pearl Station
Pearl Station
Pearl Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Bryan Street, east of Pearl Street. It opened June 14, 1996, and is a station on the and Lines, serving the Plaza of the Americas, the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 2001 Bryan Tower, the San...
to Park Lane Station
Park Lane Station
Park Lane Station is a DART Light Rail station located in north Dallas, Texas at Park Lane and Greenville Avenue, just east of Central Expressway. It opened in January 1997 and served as the northern terminus of the Red Line until 2002...
. It includes the underground portion of the line between Pearl Station
Pearl Station
Pearl Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Bryan Street, east of Pearl Street. It opened June 14, 1996, and is a station on the and Lines, serving the Plaza of the Americas, the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 2001 Bryan Tower, the San...
and Mockingbird Station
Mockingbird Station
Mockingbird is a DART Light Rail station located in north Dallas, Texas at Mockingbird Lane and North Central Expressway . It opened in January 1997 and is a station on the , and Lines, serving the Mockingbird Station residential and retail development and nearby Southern Methodist...
which the site of Dallas's first modern transit village
Transit village
A transit village is a residential development planned around a transportation hub, such as a train station, with the intent to make it convenient for village dwellers to get to/from work or run errands and travel via a public transportation network....
. The northern terminus of the was still Pearl Station
Pearl Station
Pearl Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Bryan Street, east of Pearl Street. It opened June 14, 1996, and is a station on the and Lines, serving the Plaza of the Americas, the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 2001 Bryan Tower, the San...
.
The starter line was completed when the was extended from Illinois Station
Illinois Station
Illinois is a DART Light Rail station located in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas on Denley Drive, north of Illinois Avenue. It opened on June 14, 1996, and is a station on the , serving nearby residences and businesses, featuring bus service to Mountain View College, Fair Park, the...
to its current southern terminus at Ledbetter Station
Ledbetter Station
Ledbetter Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas . It is near the Intersection of Lancaster Road and Ledbetter Drive. It opened on May 31, 1997, and is the southern terminus of the , serving Paul Quinn College and Cedar Valley College.- External...
. This came on 31 May 1997, nearly one year after the first part of the starter system opened.
The final change to the starter system came on 18 December 2000 when DART opened Cityplace Station
Cityplace Station
Cityplace is a DART Light Rail station located in the Cityplace district of Oak Lawn Dallas, Texas beneath North Central Expressway at Haskell Avenue...
, the first subway station in the Southwest, located in the tunnel between Pearl and Mockingbird station under the Tower at Cityplace skyscraper, providing access to the Tower as well as the never built Cityplace West.
Commuter Rail on the old Rock Island
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:...
right-of-way began during the series of openings of the light rail starter system. On 30 December 1996 the opened the first segment as the South Irving Transit Center
South Irving Station
South Irving Station is a Trinity Railway Express commuter rail station located in Irving, Texas at Rock Island Road, east of O'Connor Road . It opened on December 30, 1996, and is a station on the TRE commuter line, serving downtown Irving, including the Irving Heritage District and the Irving...
was connected to Union Station
Union Station (Dallas)
Union Station, also known as Dallas Union Terminal, is a DART Light Rail, commuter rail, and Amtrak intercity rail station located in the Reunion district of downtown Dallas, Texas on Houston Street, between Wood and Young Streets...
in downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
with a stop in the middle at Medical/Market Center Station
Medical/Market Center Station
Medical/Market Center Station is a commuter rail station located along the Stemmons Corridor of north Dallas, Texas at Motor Street and Medical Center Drive, northwest of downtown Dallas...
. The agency had to lease rail cars due to a delay in the current stock until March.
Suburban expansion
Garland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
and the to Richardson
Richardson, Texas
Richardson is a city in Dallas and Collin Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 99,223. In 2011 the population was estimated to be 107,684. Richardson is an affluent inner suburb of Dallas and home of the Telecom Corridor with a high...
and Plano
Plano, Texas
Plano is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly within Collin County. The city's population was 259,841 at the 2010 census, making it the ninth-largest city in Texas and the 71st most populous city in the United States. Plano is located within the metropolitan area commonly referred to as...
, the starter system was so popular that the agency made plans to double-track the entire route.
Work began on the extensions of the and the on 15 January 1999. Later that same year, on 27 September, the Blue Line designation was extended from Pearl Station
Pearl Station
Pearl Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Bryan Street, east of Pearl Street. It opened June 14, 1996, and is a station on the and Lines, serving the Plaza of the Americas, the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 2001 Bryan Tower, the San...
to Mockingbird Station
Mockingbird Station
Mockingbird is a DART Light Rail station located in north Dallas, Texas at Mockingbird Lane and North Central Expressway . It opened in January 1997 and is a station on the , and Lines, serving the Mockingbird Station residential and retail development and nearby Southern Methodist...
, for its eventual expansion to Garland. The first station since 1997 to open came on 24 September 2001, when the was extended from Mockingbird Station
Mockingbird Station
Mockingbird is a DART Light Rail station located in north Dallas, Texas at Mockingbird Lane and North Central Expressway . It opened in January 1997 and is a station on the , and Lines, serving the Mockingbird Station residential and retail development and nearby Southern Methodist...
to the new White Rock Station
White Rock Station
White Rock Station is a DART Light Rail station located in east Dallas, Texas at East Northwest Highway near West Lawther Drive. It opened on 24 September 2001 and is a station on the , serving nearby White Rock Lake and its residences and businesses...
. A little over a year and a half later, the debuted another station as light rail pushed outside the LBJ Loop
Interstate 635 (Texas)
Interstate 635 or the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway is a partial loop around Dallas, Texas between Interstate 20 in Balch Springs, Texas and State Highway 121 at the north entrance of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas. The route is long...
when the LBJ/Skillman Station
LBJ/Skillman Station
LBJ/Skillman Station is a DART Light Rail station located in north Dallas, Texas north of Interstate 635 between Skillman Street and Miller Road near Garland. It opened on 6 May 2002 and is a station on the , serving nearby residences and business and featuring bus service to Richland College...
opened on 6 May 2002.
The first extension of the opened on 1 July 2002 when the line added 7 stations from a newly opened Park Lane Station
Park Lane Station
Park Lane Station is a DART Light Rail station located in north Dallas, Texas at Park Lane and Greenville Avenue, just east of Central Expressway. It opened in January 1997 and served as the northern terminus of the Red Line until 2002...
to Galatyn Park Station
Galatyn Park Station
Galatyn Park Station is a DART Light Rail station located in Richardson, Texas at US 75 near Lookout Drive. It opened on July 1, 2002 and is a station on the , serving part of Richardson's Telecom Corridor including the Renaissance Hotel and Hyatt Regency North Dallas , the Charles W...
. Richardson became the first Dallas suburb to be served by light rail.
The was completed in its current form on 18 November 2002 when Garland became the second suburb to get light rail service. The two new stations of Forest/Jupiter Station
Forest/Jupiter Station
Forest/Jupiter Station is a DART Light Rail station located in Garland, Texas near Forest Lane and Jupiter Road. It opened 18 November 2002 and is the penultimate station on the , serving Garland-area businesses including Raytheon Systems and Sears Service Center.- External links :*...
and Downtown Garland Station
Downtown Garland Station
Downtown Garland Station is a DART Light Rail station located in Garland, Texas at Walnut and Fifth Streets. It reopened 18 November 2002 and is the northeast terminus of the , serving the downtown Garland area including Garland City Hall, Historic Downtown Garland and Heritage Park.-External...
were opened to the public.
The final stage of the light rail expansion was completed six months ahead of schedule when Plano's first trains ran on 9 December 2002, completing the north central and northeast expansion. Archer Western Contractors is the Construction Management and General Contractor officials building the current rail extensions to Carrollton and Elam Creek.
Green and Orange Lines
On 3 July 2006, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved a US$United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
700 million Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) — the largest grant ever awarded to DART — to kick-start a US$2.5 billion expansion of the light rail system. Now under construction, this phase will include two new light rail lines that will double DART's existing light rail mileage. Construction began in September 2006. When the project is complete in 2013, DART's light rail system will have doubled to 90 miles (145 km).
The began operation on September 14, 2009 with a route from downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
southeast to Fair Park
Fair Park
Dallas Fair Park is a recreational and educational complex located in Dallas, Texas . The complex is registered as a Dallas Landmark, National Historic Landmark and is home to nine museums, six performance facilities, a lagoon, and the largest Ferris wheel in North America...
; this short route was scheduled to open in time to service the 2009 State Fair of Texas
State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas . The fair season usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. The fair is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. The 2012 State Fair of Texas will run from September 28th...
. On December 6, 2010 the line extended further to Pleasant Grove
Pleasant Grove, Dallas, Texas
Pleasant Grove is an area in southeastern Dallas, Texas. It is located in the southeast portion of Dallas less than 15 minutes from Downtown Dallas....
, as well as continuing northwest from Victory Station
Victory (TRE-DART station)
Victory Station is a mass transit station in Dallas, Texas , serving both the commuter rail and the light rail system operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit...
to Farmers Branch
Farmers Branch, Texas
Farmers Branch is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. It is both an inner-ring suburb of Dallas and is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. The population was 27,508 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S...
and Carrollton
Carrollton, Texas
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
; both extensions, completing the Green Line.
The northern end of the line connects with the A-train
A-train (Denton County Transportation Authority)
The A-train is a commuter rail line in Denton County, Texas, United States that parallels Interstate 35E and acts as an extension with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Green Line at Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton. It is operated by the Denton County Transportation Authority and serves Denton...
line run by the Denton County Transportation Authority
Denton County Transportation Authority
The Denton County Transportation Authority is the transit authority that operates in Denton County, Texas, USA, which is northwest of Dallas County...
(DCTA). This line connects Denton
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
to Carrollton
Carrollton, Texas
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
, with stops in Lewisville
Lewisville, Texas
Lewisville is a city in Denton County in the U.S. state of Texas. The 2010 United States Census placed the population at 95,290 within . The city also includes of Lewisville Lake....
and Highland Village
Highland Village, Texas
Highland Village is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States, a suburb of Dallas hugging the south side of the far western branch of Lewisville Lake. As of the 2000 census the city population was 12,173, though the 2006 projection by the U.S. Census Bureau puts the city's population at 15,738...
. The commuter train may stop in other Denton County
Denton County, Texas
Denton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 432,976; in 2009 the estimated population had reached 628,300. Part of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, it is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. The county seat is Denton. The county...
cities, should they choose to join the DCTA.
The second line, the will run concurrently with the from downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
to just past Love Field Airport, where it will branch off toward Irving
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
with eventual service to DFW Airport. DART is cooperating with DFW and Love Field to link the two airports via rail. The line will run through Las Colinas
Las Colinas
Las Colinas is an upscale, developed area in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas.Due to its central location between Dallas and Fort Worth and its proximity to DFW Airport, Las Colinas has been a viable place in the Metroplex for corporate and business relocation.As a planned community, it has many...
and connect to the Las Colinas APT System
Las Colinas APT System
The Las Colinas Area Personal Transit System is a people mover system that serves the Las Colinas area of Irving, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. The system has four passenger stations and a maintenance & control center, and is run by two cars, one for each route...
. DART had preliminary plans for the to run concurrently with the from downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
to LBJ/Central Station
LBJ/Central Station
LBJ/Central Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas, Texas at T.I. Boulevard and Markville Drive near the High Five Interchange where Interstate 635 and US 75 meet...
. Current maps have the 's terminus at Pearl Station
Pearl Station
Pearl Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Bryan Street, east of Pearl Street. It opened June 14, 1996, and is a station on the and Lines, serving the Plaza of the Americas, the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, 2001 Bryan Tower, the San...
in downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
.
In maps before 2006, DART labeled the Pleasant Grove to Carrollton route the "Orange Line", and the Irving route was the "Purple Line". Green was generally used on DART maps to denote the route of the . By the time construction started, DART was using the new "Green Line" designation as part of its marketing efforts, saying "Like the color green, this line is a symbol of our city on the move."
2030 Plan
In 2010, citing deficits and drops in revenue, DART has scrapped much of their 2030 plan.In October 2006, the DART Board of Directors unanimously approved the following measures for the next round of rail expansion.
- A 2.9 miles (4.7 km) light rail extension of the to Bonnie View Road and Interstate 20 to the new SouthPortSouthportSouthport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
intermodal port in southeast Dallas. This line will terminate just north of LancasterLancaster, TexasLancaster is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. The population was 25,894 at the 2000 census.Lancaster is a suburb of Dallas, Texas and is part of the Best Southwest area, which includes Lancaster, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Duncanville. Most of the city is in Dallas County. But a...
and HutchinsHutchins, TexasHutchins is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,805 at the 2000 census.Union Pacific's Dallas Intermodal Terminal is located partly in the city of Hutchins and partly in the city of Wilmer . The shipping facility, was built by AUI Contractors LP, Prime Rail Interests...
, cities that are not currently members of DART. - A 4.3 miles (6.9 km) light rail extension of the south to Red Bird Lane. This line will terminate just short of DuncanvilleDuncanville, TexasDuncanville is a city in Dallas County, Texas . Duncanville's population was 36,081 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 42,500 in 2008. Duncanville is a suburb of Dallas and is part of the Best Southwest area, which includes Duncanville, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Lancaster.-Geography:Duncanville is...
, another non-DART city, and pass near the headquarters of AAFES. - A 4.3 miles (6.9 km) light rail extension of the along Scyene Road to approximately Masters Drive, just short of non-DART member city MesquiteMesquite, TexasMesquite is a city located within the Dallas/Ft.Worth area of Texas. As of the 2010 US Census, the population was 139,824.-History:The city was founded May 22, 1873, by a Texas & Pacific Railway engineer who purchased land along the Texas & Pacific line outside of Dallas...
. - A 6 miles (10 km) light rail line in West DallasWest DallasWest Dallas is an area consisting of many communities and neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas . West Dallas is the area bounded by Interstate 30 on the south, the Trinity River on the east and north, and the Trinity River's West Fork on the west....
along Fort Worth Avenue or Singleton to Loop 12/Jefferson Boulevard, terminating just east of Grand PrairieGrand Prairie, TexasGrand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
, which also did not join DART. No color designation has been given for this planned line. - A station for the Lake HighlandsLake HighlandsLake Highlands is an area in Dallas, Texas . It is located in the northeast portion of the city, and is sometimes considered to be a part of, or connected to, East Dallas and/or North Dallas...
neighborhood of northeast Dallas on the , between White Rock StationWhite Rock StationWhite Rock Station is a DART Light Rail station located in east Dallas, Texas at East Northwest Highway near West Lawther Drive. It opened on 24 September 2001 and is a station on the , serving nearby White Rock Lake and its residences and businesses...
and LBJ/Skillman StationLBJ/Skillman StationLBJ/Skillman Station is a DART Light Rail station located in north Dallas, Texas north of Interstate 635 between Skillman Street and Miller Road near Garland. It opened on 6 May 2002 and is a station on the , serving nearby residences and business and featuring bus service to Richland College...
. The area previously opposed rail service, so the initial line was built through the area without a station at the turn of the century. The new station opened on December 6, 2010 becoming the first component of the 2030 plan to be completed and the first infill station in DART's system. This is a key component of the new Lake Highlands Town Center TOD development. - A nearly 26 miles (42 km) Cotton Belt Rail LineCotton Belt Rail LineThe Cotton Belt Rail Line is a planned commuter rail line in Tarrant County, Dallas County, Collin County and Rockwall County, United States that will provide service from Dallas's northeast suburbs to Southwest Fort Worth with a major terminal at DFW Airport...
commuter service in the east-west Cotton Belt corridor from the Red Line in Plano to DFW International Airport. This line would provide rail service to the existing bus transfer station in AddisonAddison, TexasAddison is a city in Dallas County, Texas . The population was 14,166 at the 2000 census, and 15,737 according to a 2009 estimate. Addison is a northern suburb of Dallas...
and would intersect the at Downtown Carrollton Station. The line would pass through CoppellCoppell, Texas-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 35,958 people, 12,211 households, and 9,781 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,418.5 people per square mile . There were 12,587 housing units at an average density of 846.6 per square mile...
, which pulled out of DART in 1989. No color designation has been given for this planned line.
DART's 2030 plan also calls for a comprehensive network of enhanced and rapid bus corridors consisting of 77 miles (124 km) of enhanced bus service corridors and 20 miles (32 km) of rapid bus service corridors with strengthened and new express bus service. The plan also calls for additions to the current 31 miles (50 km) of high occupancy vehicle lanes to 116 miles (187 km).
The final 2030 plan included several changes from the draft plan released in July 2006. Removed from the final plan was a 6.3 miles (10.1 km) branch of the from Forest Lane Station
Forest Lane Station
Forest Lane Station is a DART Light Rail station located in north Dallas, Texas on Forest Lane, just east of US 75 . It opened on July 1, 2002 and is a station on the , serving nearby residential and shopping areas....
to the Addison Transit Center
Addison Transit Center
Addison Transit Center is a bus-only station located along Quorum Drive and Addison Road in Addison, Texas . The station opened in 1999. This transit center will become a future rail station on the Cotton Belt as part of DART's 2030 Transit System Plan....
, which would have included several miles of subway under Interstate 635
Interstate 635 (Texas)
Interstate 635 or the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway is a partial loop around Dallas, Texas between Interstate 20 in Balch Springs, Texas and State Highway 121 at the north entrance of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas. The route is long...
. DART officials cited the line's high cost, US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
700 million, and lack of strong support from the city of Dallas. The extension to the Dallas Southport Center (intermodal terminal) was added after strong pressure from Dallas officials. Also, the proposed light rail line serving West Dallas was not originally considered as a priority for rail service.
The Cotton Belt corridor plans continued to generate controversy right up to the day of the vote on the 2030 plan. DART leaned toward diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
powered commuter rail for the Cotton Belt corridor, similar to the . However, the line would pass through affluent Far North Dallas neighborhoods. The neighborhood formed the Cotton Belt Concerned Coalition to fight the line in 1990. The group made a concession in 2006 to allow electric light rail vehicles on the line to avoid perceived air and noise pollution associated with diesel rail. The group also proposed that the line be placed in a below-ground trench. These proposals were accepted by the City of Dallas in June 2006 in a unanimous resolution. DART, however, balked at the cost of trenching the line, which they estimated at $250 million. This set up a confrontation between DART and the city of Dallas, which appoints eight of the board's 15 members. The final plan compromised by promising $50 million "to help address neighborhood concerns".
The current freight line runs just south of the Downtown Plano Station
Downtown Plano Station
Downtown Plano Station is a DART Light Rail station located in Plano, Texas at the intersection of 15th Street and Avenue J. It opened on December 9, 2002 and is a station on the , serving the area around downtown Plano including Plano City Hall....
on the , but DART maps of the 2030 plan show the line will route to the nearby Bush Turnpike station, the nearest station to the south of downtown Plano. The Cotton Belt line runs through former DART member city Coppell
Coppell, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 35,958 people, 12,211 households, and 9,781 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,418.5 people per square mile . There were 12,587 housing units at an average density of 846.6 per square mile...
between Carrollton and DFW Airport; although no station locations are included in the plan, the promise of a future station could entice Coppell into rejoining the agency.
See also
- List of DART Light Rail stations
- List of tram and light-rail transit systems
- List of United States light rail systems by ridership
- McKinney Avenue Transit AuthorityMcKinney Avenue Transit AuthorityThe McKinney Avenue Transit Authority , a non-profit organization, operates the M-line Streetcar line in Dallas, Texas . The offices and car barn are located at 3153 Oak Grove, Dallas, TX 75204. It is an example of a heritage streetcar running historic cars...