DART: Transit Mall rail maintenance between Akard and St. Paul stations

[Who Dat]

Really warm today.....Has been shutdown since last night.....And they have been working hard......I guess they have the Dart line shutdown at least around here for a day or two.......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/tstarishere/IMG_3576.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/tstarishere/IMG_3580.jpg

[NThomas]

Does this mean the trains will go faster then 2 1/2 mph on that turn? ;)

[Who Dat]

Does this mean the trains will go faster then 2 1/2 mph on that turn? ;)

I just hope it means the squealing will stop..... Don't know how fast they can go around the corner coming in since they stop about a hundred yards from the turn.......But you had to plug your ears If it was coming into downtown in that spot.......

[Mena]

I'm wondering how Monday morning will be. :eek: I hope they finish this tomorrow.

[xen0blue]

I was walking downtown to class at el centro today and I noticed there was construction going on between akard and st paul station downtown, with the trains completely stopping downtown. Anyone know whats going on?

In some ways, i'm actually rejoicing at this, as now maybe the city and dart will see how stupid it was to make only one path through which every line in it's whole system must travel with no redundancy whatsoever so there is a single weakest link and how urgent it is to get the D2 line up and running. I hope they will see that when the orange and green lines come online, traffic will get worse (because it's above ground), and twice as much wear and tear on the track will mean more breaking and more fixing.

[electricron]

I was walking downtown to class at el centro today and I noticed there was construction going on between akard and st paul station downtown, with the trains completely stopping downtown. Anyone know whats going on?
In some ways, i'm actually rejoicing at this, as now maybe the city and dart will see how stupid it was to make only one path through which every line in it's whole system must travel with no redundancy whatsoever so there is a single weakest link and how urgent it is to get the D2 line up and running. I hope they will see that when the orange and green lines come online, traffic will get worse (because it's above ground), and twice as much wear and tear on the track will mean more breaking and more fixing.

Dart is replacing the rails on that curve near Thanksgiving Square because curves wear out faster than straight track. The reason they are doing it now is because they know they are about to place twice as many trains on it soon; and twice as many trains means wearing the rails out twice as fast. They're attempting to get ahead of the maintenance headache you so wisely suggested.

[NThomas]

I was walking downtown to class at el centro today and I noticed there was construction going on between akard and st paul station downtown, with the trains completely stopping downtown. Anyone know whats going on?

In some ways, i'm actually rejoicing at this, as now maybe the city and dart will see how stupid it was to make only one path through which every line in it's whole system must travel with no redundancy whatsoever so there is a single weakest link and how urgent it is to get the D2 line up and running. I hope they will see that when the orange and green lines come online, traffic will get worse (because it's above ground), and twice as much wear and tear on the track will mean more breaking and more fixing.
even if any of the D2 alignments were already in place, only the Orange and Green lines could travel their entire routes anyway, after the Good Latimer wye, those red and blue southbound trains would end up at Victory Station. :2doh:

[Who Dat]

They have now started the west side of the tracks......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/tstarishere/IMG_0031.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/tstarishere/IMG_0033aab.jpg

[xen0blue]

even if any of the D2 alignments were already in place, only the Orange and Green lines could travel their entire routes anyway, after the Good Latimer wye, those red and blue southbound trains would end up at Victory Station. :2doh:

they could still alter the route slightly, even if it meant ending up at slightly different stations

[NThomas]

they could still alter the route slightly, even if it meant ending up at slightly different stations
Mind explaining or drawing it out? I'm just not following you on this one :confused:

[cowboyeagle05]

Sadly as that sign in the picture suggests (sidewalk closed) the construction has killed Opening Bell business since the started a week ago plus at night when they are working they blast bright lights into our coffee shop and live music venue. Course we all knew it was coming they sent out construction alert emails that I do receive regularly from them because I subscribed on their website. Hopefully we will be back to normal when they finish on Monday you don't get tipped very well when there is no customers to serve.

[darkblood]

Sadly as that sign in the picture suggests (sidewalk closed) the construction has killed Opening Bell business since the started a week ago plus at night when they are working they blast bright lights into our coffee shop and live music venue. Course we all knew it was coming they sent out construction alert emails that I do receive regularly from them because I subscribed on their website. Hopefully we will be back to normal when they finish on Monday you don't get tipped very well when there is no customers to serve.

I really should check out that coffee shop sometime when I'm downtown. It looks really cool.

[Mena]

I have really enjoyed the sound of jack hammering at 2 and 3 in the morning......... not. :uhoh:

[Mballar]

I have really enjoyed the sound of jack hammering at 2 and 3 in the morning......... not. :uhoh:
The entire mass transit-riding public appreciates your sacrifice. :)

[Mena]

The entire mass transit-riding public appreciates your sacrifice. :)
Hey! I enjoy using the system as well. :) Just spouting for a second. :p ;)

[RobertB]

I didn't think construction *could* be done during those hours? Doesn't every construction site in the Dallas city limits have a sign telling people to call 911 (not even 311) if it's loud at the wrong time?

[Mena]

I'm not sure.....I just figured they were working at that hour because light rail isn't running at that time. I consider us lucky.....we were not directly above the work ......there are some apartments at the Mosaic I am sure earplugs would have been rendered useless. :eek: If only I was 20 years younger.....I would have just stayed up all night.......... :p

[dfwcre8tive]

I didn't think construction *could* be done during those hours? Doesn't every construction site in the Dallas city limits have a sign telling people to call 911 (not even 311) if it's loud at the wrong time?

That's usually the case for construction permits downtown. I've called 911 several times to report violations at crazy hours. This DART work, however, can only be done after service hours so they have some kind of exception. They can only do it for a certain number of nights and have to notify everyone living nearby well in advance.