Las Colinas APT

[CTroyMathis]

Oh what could still be...


http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170039-lcapt.jpg

http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170042-lcapt.jpg

http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170052-lcapt.jpg

http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170056-lcapt.jpg

http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170066-lcapt.jpg

http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170067-lcapt.jpg

http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170068-lcapt.jpg


Right now operating M-F.

[gc]

It was so ahead of its time. I am surprised all the new retail and residential developments don't build around it.

I think it still has potential

[texman]

I bet when DART gets up theyll extend it to the station. Anyone agree?

[freewaytincan]

I bet when DART gets up theyll extend it to the station. Anyone agree?

Oh no doubt.

[drumguy8800]

gah, i swear.. you and your camera. what kind of camera do you have, anyway?

[texcolo]

The people mover is still operational???

[freewaytincan]

The people mover is still operational???

Yeah, most people are surprised about that.

[RobertB]

Yeah, most people are surprised about that.
It did shut down for a time, didn't it? I'm surprised that its owners (who?) had the vision to keep it alive.

[CTroyMathis]

I think it also needs to be noted (belated) that these photos were taken around 2-3PM...

[rantanamo]

This is all I mean about parking garages not having to look like concrete monoliths.
http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170056-lcapt.jpg

anyways, wonder if they would have expanded if the Cowboys had made a deal with Irving over Arlington.

[drumguy8800]

I think it also needs to be noted (belated) that these photos were taken around 2-3PM...Why..?

[rantanamo]

it runs at times besides lunch time.

[CTroyMathis]

That is why.

[Dallas#1]

I bet when DART gets up theyll extend it to the station. Anyone agree?
I agree

[freewaytincan]

Don't you have to have some sort of card to ride that?

[tamtagon]

It's free, I think.

[kenc]

It's free, I think.
I don't think this thing is still operational. The bridges are still in place, but they have not run trains for years. I might be wrong.

[kenc]

This is all I mean about parking garages not having to look like concrete monoliths.
http://skylinegruve2004.dallasmetropolis.com/P9170056-lcapt.jpg

anyways, wonder if they would have expanded if the Cowboys had made a deal with Irving over Arlington.
OK..... Thats the best looking parking garage in the city...bar none!

[CTroyMathis]

I don't think this thing is still operational. The bridges are still in place, but they have not run trains for years. I might be wrong.

It is still free, no "card" required, and it is still operational during specific times of the weekday.

[FoUTASportscaster]

I bet when DART gets up theyll extend it to the station. Anyone agree?

The DART LRT line through Las Colinas will run on the existing street of Lake Carolyn Parkway and have a stop at the Mandalay Hotel. The Blue line of the APT terminates at the hotel. How'll they interconnect I'm not sure, but they will be close.

From DART's website

The No Parking Lake Carolyn Station will provide an interface to the Las Colinas APT.

[txRNGr]

Thats good news.

[Random Traffic Guy]

The DART LRT line through Las Colinas will run on the existing street of Lake Carolyn Parkway and have a stop at the Mandalay Hotel. The Blue line of the APT terminates at the hotel. How'll they interconnect I'm not sure, but they will be close.

From DART's website

Latest DART plans show an elevated footpath from the APT station over to the median of Lake Carolyn Pkwy, then elevator and stairs down to the north end of the platform. Potential elevated footpath continuing from the median over to the potential development on the east side of the street.

I'm more interested in how it will be integrated into the potential Gables project.

[FoUTASportscaster]

That's good news too. It will probably be another footpath, though I think a lot of it depends on the developer to.

As an aside, I found a map before showing the expansion lines, but now I can't find a quality one. Anyone have a link? Google isn't helping me out.

[Dallas#1]

The train runs usaully form morning rh to evening rh.
It just bring people from the office to the many parking garages

[FoUTASportscaster]

It runs 10-2:30 and is a lunch time amenity for the workers of Las Colinas.

[dfwcre8tive]

That's good news too. It will probably be another footpath, though I think a lot of it depends on the developer to.

As an aside, I found a map before showing the expansion lines, but now I can't find a quality one. Anyone have a link? Google isn't helping me out.


Something like this?

http://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/l-colina.gif

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

[FoUTASportscaster]

There's another one floating around that has the actually lines, including the expansion. Right now the only one I can find has the current red and blue.

[dfwcre8tive]

APT connections to DART in the urban center (blue - existing, red - planned for 2011, purple- future)

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/1466/nwirvingpublicmeeting20oc9.jpg

[freewaytincan]

will the apt be accessible to the general public?

[CTroyMathis]

It already is.

[Texan#1]

will the apt be accessible to the general public?
it's been accessible for years now.. i think it stops running at 2 in the afternoon on weekdays though. let me know if u wanna go up there so I can join u as I live about 5 minutes away

[dfwcre8tive]

There's a new video here : http://www.dcurd.com/ under the APT section.

[dfwcre8tive]

Recently while walking along the Mandalay Canal in Las Colinas I noticed that the footings for Station F in the map are already in place. Does anyone know when they will start building the stations to open in 2011?

Attached are some aerial photos of the location.

**Edit: This is the location of the potential Wingren Station in the new reports.

[dfwcre8tive]

Las Colinas should upgrade its system to something like this:

7PyUQuWmt2M

[dfwcre8tive]

Found some information on the updates to the APT system.

"DCURD has initiated an Alternatives Analysis (AA) and Environmental Assessment (EA) to identify and evaluate transit improvements to meet the future mobility needs of the Las Colinas Urban Center in light of its future growth projections and the extension of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Orange Line through the area.

A variety of proposed improvements will be studied. All of the improvements under study leverage the existing investment in the Las Colinas APT system through optimization and modernization of the existing equipment (e.g., vehicles, power supply, communications), provision of a connection to the Orange Line’s Lake Carolyn Station, and the addition of a third track to allow a one-seat ride to all stations.

Several other options under consideration are the addition of in-fill stations along the existing guideway and/or extension of the guideway to new stations, such as the Irving Conventional Center. DCURD is working toward improvements being made to the APT system by 2012, shortly after the opening of DART’s Orange Line service to Las Colinas.

DCURD is working with the Federal Transit Administration to obtain funding for the improvements to the APT System."

Presentations and information can be found here:

http://www.dcurd.com/Las_Colinas_Initial_Screening_-_FINAL.pdf

http://www.dcurd.com/

[RobertB]

Several other options under consideration are the addition of in-fill stations along the existing guideway and/or extension of the guideway to new stations, such as the Irving Conventional Center.
Either Irving's new center is nothing out of the ordinary, or someone put a little too much faith in their spelling checquer.

[tamtagon]

^hahaha

I wish DCURD had included a map showing all the proposed APT extensions and stations and stuff. The LC Urban Centre is going to turning into a fantastic place.

[dfwcre8tive]

^hahaha

I wish DCURD had included a map showing all the proposed APT extensions and stations and stuff. The LC Urban Centre is going to turning into a fantastic place.

There are maps in the Initial Screening PDF posted above. Also, I've updated the map here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Colinas_APT_System

[dfwcre8tive]

Any updates on this project? Haven't seen any new documents outlining expansion plans, and the Orange Line will be arriving soon.


http://www.dart.org/images/newsroom/orangeline/preview/Las_Colinas_Urban_Center_Station_8-26-10_preview.jpg

http://www.dart.org/images/newsroom/preview/lascolinasurbancentersiteplanrendering.jpg

http://www.dart.org/images/newsroom/preview/lascolinasurbancenterstationrendering2.jpg

[dfwcre8tive]

^ It sounds like not much progress has been made on the expansion study. Consultants are still working through the ridership numbers, and after that is finished the results go back to the FTA. When that process is complete, the document can then be finalized.

[Random Traffic Guy]

I wouldn't think much would be needed to make the ped connection from the DART station to the APT, I thought that was already included in the station design. I thought the APT has a stop in that flat building extension, attached between the tower and parking garage. Then build a ped walkway towards the road and down to the platform. You can see it in brown on the site plan, as opposed to the white of the APT track stub which wouldn't be touched.

[dfwcre8tive]

I wouldn't think much would be needed to make the ped connection from the DART station to the APT, I thought that was already included in the station design. I thought the APT has a stop in that flat building extension, attached between the tower and parking garage. Then build a ped walkway towards the road and down to the platform. You can see it in brown on the site plan, as opposed to the white of the APT track stub which wouldn't be touched.

The connection itself is part of the DART Las Colinas Urban Center station construction, and is already funded/under construction. I was talking about the overall APT enhancements being studied (extension of the system, automated operation, etc).

[Random Traffic Guy]

Yeah, sorry I wasn't clear, responding or adding to the aerials from your earlier post. Odd why the Orange line connection was part of the DCURD expansion text when it should have been pretty set by that time.

New question - old plans for the Water Street site showed an APT station in the center. While that site is proceeding slowly, it's not clear to me that the new station would be feasible before whatever revisions come out of the expansion study are implemented. Adding a new stop into an old automated system seems like no small task. Any info or thoughts?

[Mballar]

Are they planning for an upgrade with new vehicles? I would think that any expansion would require new vehicles (you know to decrease headway times and make the system more functional to coincide with the Orange Line schedule), and I doubt any new vehicles would be made with the same technology from a quarter of a century ago.

[dfwcre8tive]

Are they planning for an upgrade with new vehicles? I would think that any expansion would require new vehicles (you know to decrease headway times and make the system more functional to coincide with the Orange Line schedule), and I doubt any new vehicles would be made with the same technology from a quarter of a century ago.

The "Basic Alternative" would probably require additional vehicles, since there are currently only 4 in use. Automating the system would improve the service and operating hours.


In the B1 Alternative, all improvements are focused on upgrading the existing APT services and facilities. It represents the lowest level of investment in the APT System. The improvements include vehicle and system upgrades, adding a third lane between The Towers on Lake Carolyn and Urban Towers stations, implementing fixed-schedule service, extending hours of service, and adding a direct intermodal connection to the Las Colinas Urban Center Station of the Orange Line. With the third track, it will be possible to have a one-seat ride among all stations in the system, either through the use of three shuttle routes or “pinched loop” operation.

B1: Basic Assessment:

The operational changes prescribed for the APT System will yield significant improvements in travel time among the existing APT stations. The introduction of frequent, fixed-schedule service and one seat rides among all stations (Figure 2) adds considerable reliability and convenience. The intermodal connection to the Las Colinas Urban Center Station is essential to connecting the Las Colinas Urban Center into the region’s rapid transit network. This enhanced regional accessibility will help improve traffic conditions, as more trips to and from the study area can be achieved effectively via transit.
No new stations are constructed and no new developments are served by this alternative, beyond what is accomplished at the Orange Line stations.

The B1 Alternative has lower capital costs compared to other Build Alternatives, and has minimal potential environmental effects. The B1 Alternative also offers the opportunity to reduce operating costs by upgrading existing services and eliminating the need for manual operations.

[homeworld1031tx]

I saw in a video once that if they were to expand the system, they would NOT be able to use the prebuilt ghost towers/support coloumns that are currently in place but lacking beams+tracks. Seems like a waste. I forget the reason for them abandoning them though, sorry

[RobertB]

I saw in a video once that if they were to expand the system, they would NOT be able to use the prebuilt ghost towers/support coloumns that are currently in place but lacking beams+tracks. Seems like a waste. I forget the reason for them abandoning them though, sorry
I wouldn't be surprised if the reason is simple lack of maintenance. The guideways and supports that are in use have been maintained, but not the ghost towers. I know what I've been through over the past 25 years -- in fact, I'm going to my Class of '85 high school reunion this weekend -- and if those supports have had as rough a time as me, they *definitely* need replacement. :)

[Random Traffic Guy]

I wouldn't be surprised if the reason is simple lack of maintenance. The guideways and supports that are in use have been maintained, but not the ghost towers.
I could see that happening. Considering that the structure was initially built before the APT system was figured out, I would expect enough flexibility was in the structural design to cover most things. Especially since one would hope that systems have gotten lighter in the last 25 years.