DALLAS | Public Transport

[dfwcre8tive]

[dwdwone]

Is San Antonio definitely going to build the streetcar, or is it just something they're throwing around?

[manrush]

I also read that DART is planning some kind of "rapid rail" line that connects the orange and blue lines.

Is that just a light-rail line with an interval of less than 15 minutes?

[dfwcre8tive]

Originally Posted by manrush

I also read that DART is planning some kind of "rapid rail" line that connects the orange and blue lines.

Is that just a light-rail line with an interval of less than 15 minutes?

There's the Cotton Belt commuter rail line, but that will connect the Red & Green Line to DFW Airport (and onto Fort Worth). There aren't any plans to connect the Orange & Blue Lines (they will already connect downtown).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_Belt_Rail_Line

[ssiguy2]

Congratulations Dallas for going full steam ahead with DART!

[greg_christine]

Originally Posted by dwdwone

Is San Antonio definitely going to build the streetcar, or is it just something they're throwing around?

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/VIA...treetcars.html

VIA Metropolitan Transit's trustees on Tuesday approved the routes for a streetcar system and directed agency staff to seek a $25 million grant to help fund an initial segment.

VIA plans to submit an application to the Federal Transit Administration by Feb. 8 seeking the funding for a 2.2-mile, north-south route that largely would run along Broadway and South Alamo Street, from Josephine Street to South St. Mary's Street. Officials currently expect that segment to cost roughly $90 million.

The board also approved an east-west route that ultimately could connect the AT&T Center to Our Lady of the Lake University, traversing downtown along East Nueva.

...

[trainrover]

Originally Posted by dfwcre8tive

Bachman Station junction

Does anybody else sense inherent danger devised into the built-in diamond crossing above, coz I do although I wouldn't be able to explain to anybody why/how come (I do)?

[trainrover]

• the lack of flyover
• the distanced isolation of the crossover, so as to be thwarting some pest of a What?!?
• the inherent share of the nearby downhill race from the lefthand side

Edit 24 Oct:
I meant to sum up above that its overall staging's too conspicuous to go unnoticed by me.

Come to think of it: its design strikes me as being drummed up by some machine, not by a human being!

[dfwcre8tive]

The new DART rail map and schedules have been released. The remainder of the Green Line, Lake Highlands Station (infill Blue Line) and limited Orange Line service open December 6!



http://dart.org/about/servicechange/servicechange.asp

[dfwcre8tive]

[DCOBRA-K]

The system of LRT, i like the way it is designed and conectivity you have in the metropolitan area.

Greetings.

[dwdwone]

In Carrollton, there is a railway that runs underneath the elevated guideway. I haven't seen any trains running along the route and originally assumed it was to be abandoned. However, there are working signals along the route. Is this ROW truly abandoned, or are they planning to use it for something?

[FDW]

Originally Posted by dwdwone

In Carrollton, there is a railway that runs underneath the elevated guideway. I haven't seen any trains running along the route and originally assumed it was to be abandoned. However, there are working signals along the route. Is this ROW truly abandoned, or are they planning to use it for something?

There's a Commuter Rail planned to operate between Carrolton and Denton to the North, the Working signals were probably put in place in anticipation of the new line, which should open sometime next year.

[diablo234]

Originally Posted by dwdwone

In Carrollton, there is a railway that runs underneath the elevated guideway. I haven't seen any trains running along the route and originally assumed it was to be abandoned. However, there are working signals along the route. Is this ROW truly abandoned, or are they planning to use it for something?

They are planning to use that ROW to operate the A-Train commuter rail which is supposed to run between Denton and Carrollton where it will connect with the DART rail.

A- Train

[dfwcre8tive]

The A-Train will use the freight track as far south as Downtown Carrollton Station; that will be the future terminus and serve as a connection to other rail lines (the Cotton Belt Line to DFW Airport). The freight track spurs south of Downtown Carrollton are still used by various industries for local deliveries (International Paper being the largest), so DART had to build above. Similar long stretches of flyover are located between Northwest Highway and Royal Lane. The Green Line corridor is heavily industrialized between Northwest Highway to LBJ Freeway. If you look at Google Maps you can see many abandoned freight spurs in the area.

[Falubaz]

Having seen the clip with the Green Line ride (post #130) it seemes to me that the line goes from nowhere to nowhere. There are only few houses seen from the train, not really dense populated area along the whole route at all. Let's hope, they will develope this zone soon, so that there will come ppl to use this new line.

[FDW]

Originally Posted by Falubaz

Having seen the clip with the Green Line ride (post #130) it seemes to me that the line goes from nowhere to nowhere. There are only few houses seen from the train, not really dense populated area along the whole route at all. Let's hope, they will develope this zone soon, so that there will come ppl to use this new line.

DART has been built very heavily around the Park and Ride model, and Texas doesn't really have much in the way of zoning regulation. Nevertheless it should get some pretty good ridership (By US standards) because it hit several good destinations along it's route, the way the ROW is oriented just makes it difficult to see.

[diablo234]

I should also note that alot of Transit Orientated Development has been built/sprouting up around the stations (ala Arlington, VA). Which has been very effective in spurring ridership increases.

[dwdwone]

Originally Posted by Falubaz

Having seen the clip with the Green Line ride (post #130) it seemes to me that the line goes from nowhere to nowhere. There are only few houses seen from the train, not really dense populated area along the whole route at all. Let's hope, they will develope this zone soon, so that there will come ppl to use this new line.

The areas served, especially north of downtown Dallas, are actually quite dense. I wouldn't be surprised if ridership rapidly exceeds expectations. This is definitely not a line to nowhere.

[dwdwone]

Originally Posted by diablo234

I should also note that alot of Transit Orientated Development has been built/sprouting up around the stations (ala Arlington, VA). Which has been very effective in spurring ridership increases.

Now if only we could get the line to go to Arlington, TX. Supposedly it is the nation's largest city with absolutely no public transit.