CONSTRUCTION of three new light rail lines in Dallas will be accelerated by up to eight years following a vote approving a $2·9bn bond package on August 11. Over 77% approved the proposals, with only 22·8% against. Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Executive Director Roger Snoble said he was ’humbled by the vote of confidence’.
DART’s existing 32 km network and the 38 km of extensions now under construction are being funded by short-term borrowings backed by a 1% local sales tax. The vote authorises the agency to issue 30-year bonds, covered by the same tax revenues, allowing construction of a further 85 route-km to be accelerated.
Work is expected to start shortly on a $500m line to Fair Park and Pleasant Grove in the southwest, which will now be completed in 2007. The northwest line to Farmers Branch and North Carrollton will be completed by 2008 instead of 2013, and the branch to Las Colinas and Dallas-Fort Worth Airport by 2010 instead of 2018. Three other extensions are under consideration for construction in 2009-13.
DART’s 20 km northern extension will reach Richardson in 2002 and Plano in 2003. The 18 km northeast line to Garland will also open in 2002. Last month was due to see the groundbreaking for a $16m retail and residential complex known as Plano Transit Village alongside the DART station site.
- On July 14 Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater announced a $19·9m FTA grant to Fort Worth Transportation Authority to fund a Intermodal Transit Centre at 9th Street, which will accommodate Trinity Railway Express commuter services when these are extended 40 km from South Irving.
