Orange Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)
Encyclopedia
The Orange Line will be a 14 mile (23 km) mass transit light rail
line in Dallas
, Texas
(USA
) operated by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit
system. It will operate in addition to the currently existing , and lines. The Orange Line started operation on December 6, 2010 with weekday peak service from the Parker Road Station to Bachman Station. The Orange Line shares alignment with the Green Line until its split north of Bachman Station
. It was originally scheduled to open in phases starting in December 2011, with a route through downtown Dallas
terminating at DFW Airport Station
by December 2014. Openings of these phases, however, have been delayed with the plans and timetables subjected to many updates. Through the use of interlining with and tracks, the Orange Line will terminate at Lawnview Station
. During peak hours, Orange line trains will also terminate at Parker Road Station
. This peak hour service was initiated on December 6, 2010 in conjunction with the opening of the .
Future phases of the Orange line include a DFW North Station
loop and an eastern extension down Scyene Road to Masters Drive (previously planned as a Green Line expansion).
On December 5, 2007, the Dallas Morning News ran a story reporting that DART President Gary Thomas stated that a previous cost estimate of $988 million was too low. A new cost estimate for the 14 mile project was $1.8 - $1.9 billion. The $900 million overrun in costs has caused considerable outrage amongst political leaders in the City of Irving Texas
, where the line passes on its way to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
. Irving leaders subsequently made inquiry as to the cost overruns. Texas State Representative Linda Harper Brown sent an official letter to Mr. Thomas also making inquiry into the project's substantial cost overruns.
In February 2010 DART officials announced that the first two phases may be delayed due to TXDOT problems along State Highway 114, which the Orange Line route follows. Utility relocation and road construction will delay access to portions of the construction area where the rail line and highway intersect. The delay could push the connection to Las Colinas from December 2011 to August 2012. DART is determined to keep the original schedule and minimize any delay.
In June 2010, DART placed the line on indefinite hold due to declining revenue; on 15 September 2010, the agency said that due to cost savings and federal funds, the plans for the line have been revived.
Light 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...
line in Dallas
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...
, 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...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) operated 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...
system. It will operate in addition to the currently existing , and lines. The Orange Line started operation on December 6, 2010 with weekday peak service from the Parker Road Station to Bachman Station. The Orange Line shares alignment with the Green Line until its split north of Bachman Station
Bachman Station
Bachman Station is a DART light rail station located in Northwest Dallas for service on the and . The station opened as part of the Green Line's expansion in December 2010. It will serve nearby attractions such as Bachman Lake and surrounding neighborhoods. It will be a major transfer station...
. It was originally scheduled to open in phases starting in December 2011, with a route 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...
terminating at DFW Airport Station
DFW Airport Station
DFW Airport Station will be a rail station located at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for service on the DART and local commuter rail systems. The station is planned to open in December 2013 and will serve as the terminus of the Orange Line and the DART Cotton Belt rail lines. - External...
by December 2014. Openings of these phases, however, have been delayed with the plans and timetables subjected to many updates. Through the use of interlining with and tracks, the Orange Line will terminate at Lawnview Station
Lawnview Station
Lawnview Station is a DART light rail station located in southeast Dallas, Texas for service on the . The station opened as part of the Green Line's expansion in December 2010. The station will also become the terminus of the in 2011, which may be expanded later along Scyene Road to Masters Drive....
. During peak hours, Orange line trains will also terminate at Parker Road Station
Parker Road Station
Parker Road Station is a DART Light Rail station located in Plano, Texas in Collin County at the intersection of Park Boulevard and Archerwood Street near US 75 . It opened December 9, 2002, and is the northern terminus of the . It was originally called East Plano Transit Center before the...
. This peak hour service was initiated on December 6, 2010 in conjunction with the opening of the .
Future phases of the Orange line include a DFW North Station
DFW North Station
DFW North Station will be a DART light rail station located on Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport property in Grapevine, Texas. It is proposed to serve as a branch of the . The station will be a transit hub for regional rail lines on the DART Cotton Belt line...
loop and an eastern extension down Scyene Road to Masters Drive (previously planned as a Green Line expansion).
Opened December 2010
The following stations began selected weekday trips in conjunction with the opening of the :- Listed from East to West
- Parker Road (Also served by )
- Downtown Plano (Also served by )
- Bush Turnpike (Also served by )
- Galatyn Park (Also served by )
- Arapaho Center (Also served by )
- Spring Valley (Also served by )
- LBJ/Central (Also served by )
- Forest Lane (Also served by )
- Walnut Hill (Also served by )
- Park Lane (Also served by )
- Lovers Lane (Also served by )
- Mockingbird (Also served by and )
- Cityplace (Also served by and )
- Pearl StationPearl StationPearl 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...
(Also served by , , and ) - St. Paul StationSt. Paul StationSt. Paul is a DART Light Rail station located near the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Bryan Street, between St. Paul and Harwood Streets. It opened on June 14, 1996 and is a station on the and lines, serving the Trammell Crow Center, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture...
(Also served by , , and ) - Akard StationAkard StationAkard Station is a DART Light Rail station located in the City Center District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Pacific Avenue, between Akard and Field Streets...
(Also served by , , and ) - West End StationWest End StationWest End is a DART Light Rail station located in the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas, Texas on Pacific Avenue, between Market and Lamar Streets near CBD West Transfer Center...
(Also served by , , and ) - Victory StationVictory (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...
(Also served by and Trinity Railway ExpressTrinity Railway ExpressThe Trinity Railway Express is a commuter rail line in the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex. It was established by an interlocal agreement between Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority . Each transit authority owns a 50% stake in the joint rail project and...
) - Market Center StationMarket Center StationMarket Center Station is a DART Light Rail station located in Dallas for service on the and . The station opened as part of the Green Line's expansion in December 2010. It serves nearby locations such as the Infomart and Dallas Market Center and the Oak Lawn neighborhood....
(Also served by ) - Southwestern Medical District/Parkland StationSouthwestern Medical District/Parkland StationSouthwestern Medical District/Parkland Station is a DART light rail station located in Dallas for service on the and . The station opened as part of the Green Line's expansion in December 2010. It serves nearby locations such as UT Southwestern Medical Center and School, Parkland Hospital,...
(Also served by ) - Inwood/Love Field Station (Also served by )
- Burbank Station (Also served by )
- Bachman StationBachman StationBachman Station is a DART light rail station located in Northwest Dallas for service on the and . The station opened as part of the Green Line's expansion in December 2010. It will serve nearby attractions such as Bachman Lake and surrounding neighborhoods. It will be a major transfer station...
(Also served by )
Opening December 2011
- Listed from East to West
- Lawnview StationLawnview StationLawnview Station is a DART light rail station located in southeast Dallas, Texas for service on the . The station opened as part of the Green Line's expansion in December 2010. The station will also become the terminus of the in 2011, which may be expanded later along Scyene Road to Masters Drive....
(Also served by ) - Hatcher StationHatcher StationHatcher Station is a DART light rail station located in southeast Dallas, Texas for service on the . The station opened as part of the Green Line's expansion in December 2010....
(Also served by ) - MLK, Jr. Station (Also served by )
- Fair Park StationFair Park StationFair Park Station is a DART light rail station located in Fair Park in Dallas, Texas on the . The station opened on September 14, 2009 as one of four original stops on the line. Fair Park contains the largest collection of Art Deco exhibition buildings in the world, built for the 1936 Texas...
(Also served by ) - Baylor University Medical Center StationBaylor University Medical Center StationBaylor University Medical Center Station is a DART light rail station located near Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas on the . The station opened on September 14, 2009 as one of four original stops on the line.- External links :*...
(Also served by ) - Deep Ellum StationDeep Ellum StationDeep Ellum Station is a DART light rail station located near the Deep Ellum neighborhood Dallas, Texas on the . The station opened on September 14, 2009 as one of four original stops on the line....
(Also served by )
- Lawnview Station
Opening August 2012
- University of Dallas StationUniversity of Dallas StationUniversity of Dallas Station will be a DART light rail station located in Irving, Texas for service on the . The station is planned to open in August 2012 and will serve the adjacent University of Dallas....
- Las Colinas Urban Center StationLas Colinas Urban Center StationLas Colinas Urban Center Station will be a DART light rail station located in the Las Colinas development of Irving, Texas for service on the . The station is planned to open July 30, 2012. A connection with the Las Colinas APT will serve the businesses and residents of the Las Colinas Urban...
- Irving Convention Center StationIrving Convention Center StationIrving Convention Center Station will be a DART light rail station located in the Las Colinas development of Irving, Texas for service on the . The station is planned to open in December 2011 and will serve the Irving Convention Center and Las Colinas Urban Center. This station will temporarily...
- North Lake College StationNorth Lake College StationNorth Lake College Station will be a DART light rail station located in the Las Colinas development of Irving, Texas for service on the . The station is planned to open in December 2012 and will serve adjacent North Lake College....
- Belt Line StationBelt Line StationBelt Line Station will be a DART light rail station located in the Irving, Texas for service on the . The station is planned to open in December 2012 and will be located on Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport property. It will serve as the temporary terminus of the Orange Line until expansion...
Future/Deferred
- Loop 12 StationLoop 12 StationLoop 12 Station will be a DART light rail station located in Irving, Texas for service on the . The station is planned but deferred until surrounding development on the Texas Stadium site warrants construction.- External links :*...
(Deferred) - South Las Colinas StationSouth Las Colinas StationSouth Las Colinas Station will be a DART light rail station located in the Las Colinas development of Irving, Texas for service on the . The station is planned but deferred until surrounding development warrants construction. The station site is also adjacent to a potential commuter rail line and...
(Deferred) - Las Colinas Carpenter Ranch StationLas Colinas Carpenter Ranch StationLas Colinas Carpenter Ranch Station will be a DART light rail station located in the Las Colinas development of Irving, Texas for service on the . The station was originally planned to open in December 2012 to serve the surrounding Las Colinas neighborhood. In April 2010 the station's construction...
(Deferred) - DFW North StationDFW North StationDFW North Station will be a DART light rail station located on Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport property in Grapevine, Texas. It is proposed to serve as a branch of the . The station will be a transit hub for regional rail lines on the DART Cotton Belt line...
(Future branch)
Construction issues
On 12 March 2007, the City of Dallas officials and DART made an agreement to make Love Field Station a surface-level facility after a long debate of whether or not to make it an underground station.On December 5, 2007, the Dallas Morning News ran a story reporting that DART President Gary Thomas stated that a previous cost estimate of $988 million was too low. A new cost estimate for the 14 mile project was $1.8 - $1.9 billion. The $900 million overrun in costs has caused considerable outrage amongst political leaders in the City of Irving Texas
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...
, where the line passes on its way to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
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...
. Irving leaders subsequently made inquiry as to the cost overruns. Texas State Representative Linda Harper Brown sent an official letter to Mr. Thomas also making inquiry into the project's substantial cost overruns.
In February 2010 DART officials announced that the first two phases may be delayed due to TXDOT problems along State Highway 114, which the Orange Line route follows. Utility relocation and road construction will delay access to portions of the construction area where the rail line and highway intersect. The delay could push the connection to Las Colinas from December 2011 to August 2012. DART is determined to keep the original schedule and minimize any delay.
In June 2010, DART placed the line on indefinite hold due to declining revenue; on 15 September 2010, the agency said that due to cost savings and federal funds, the plans for the line have been revived.