I so look forward to the day when this story can be written for Houston.
When the trains begin running today on the opening segment of DART’s new Green Line, the transit agency will unveil the longest expansion of light rail in North America.
It triggers four years of growth that by 2013 will double daily rail riders and double the length of a DART rail network that has been 26 years in the making. And it finally will begin to deliver on an old promise to make Dallas Area Rapid Transit mean more than just a way for some downtown Dallas commuters to get to work and back.
The new stations that will open just ahead of the State Fair of Texas will attract fewer than 2,000 round-trip riders per day in the first couple of years – and they certainly won’t end Dallas’ dependence on the automobile.
But over the next 15 months, the four stations east of downtown will be followed by 16 more along the 28-mile Green Line, stringing communities together from as far north as Carrollton to as far south as Pleasant Grove.
And that’s only a beginning: The $1.8 billion Green Line may be the longest light rail project on the continent, but it’s just the vanguard for what will be four solid years of expansion.
By 2013, DART will have spent $3.3 billion in construction, adding service to Irving, Las Colinas and D/FW International Airport on the Orange Line. Downtown Rowlett and Lake Highlands will welcome new stations as well on the expanded Blue Line.
The flurry of activity has employed thousands of workers. Within four years it will result in a transit system that runs 48 trains through downtown Dallas every hour – already prompting more frequent red lights. That’s 62 rail stations and about 90 miles of track.
“This is the largest light-rail construction project in America,” DART president Gary Thomas said. “Nobody is doing what we are doing right now. That’s exciting. It really is.”
Yeah, it is, even if there still a few bumps in the road, so to speak. Here’s the DART rail system map. Theirs is more of a commuter rail system than Metro will be, though if we’re very lucky we could have a commuter rail component in place by the same time that DART’s Green Line is finished. I’m just ready to see some real, tangible progress on our lines as they have on theirs.
Las Colinas IS Irving. Contrary to popular misconception it is not a separate city. Could you please correct te post?
I like DART – it, along with the Main St. line, are proof that rail transit works – even deep in the heart of Texas.
And amen on the wish to see some progress on our lines – what’s going on? Why not put out a weekly / monthly update if you are Metro – even if it is just utility relocation at this point, that would still be of interest to some folks.
I was able to sneak a early ride on the Green Line last month and I too was impressed and concerned.
The extra time spent on the expansion was explained that the rail had to be straightened as it decended toward CityPlace. The curve caused excessive wear on the rails. So now the “S” has been taken out to be replaced the Green Line’s grinding curve into Deep Ellum… oh well…
And speaking of Deep Ellum Station, why is the stop almost a quarter mile out of the heart of deep ellum. Well it’s not going to bring any more tourist dollars.. unless.. the station was put there at Good Lattimer and Swiss, right between Dallas’ two gay bathhouses, Midtowne Spa and Club Dallas. And, am I the only one that noticed that the Deep Ellum station dividers are semi-transparent, like steamed up shower doors…
The good side is that I’ll be going to the State Fair of Texas this year… and not paying $15 to park in someone’s front yard.