East/West Rail Line?

[BIMS 01]

Has there been any formal discussion regarding a future rail line that would travel east and west north of downtown, perhaps connecting the future northwest line with the current north corridor line?

[freewaytincan]

I think something elevated above NW Highway might do the trick.

[Quiz03]

A line going from mockingbird station under mockingbird to love field and along 183 could be another option. That could have been built along with the mockingbird toll tunnel. BTW Is that project completely dead or just not actively being pursued?

[bloodandpopcorn]

The toll tunnell is basically completely dead, as I understand it. I have a bunch of "parkie" friends (or relations, rather) who all but rioted in the streets at the idea of exaust coming up near their houses, where they jog in the mornings and walk their dogs and bicycle ride with their kids.

Someone on the forum told me that the rail line near Addison circle stretching to GBT in Plano is owned by DART, so it wouldn't surprise me if that is one of the first east-west lines. An elevated line over Northwest Highway would be very cool, but likely prohibitively expensive. They might could do something along LBJ, either suspended or underground, but that would be every bit as expensive as the NW Hwy line would be... the only reason I think DART might go for that over NW Hwy is that, so far, they tend to follow highways, not just major roads. The Garland line is an exception, but they didn't really have any highways to follow. And, back on topic, I don't really see any area in Dallas that is large enough for a regular surface east-west rail line...

I'm very intrigued by the idea, though, so I'll have to send an email to DART and see if I can get any information from them. If I have any sucess, I'll post their reply here.

[psukhu]

Looks like it will be built in the existing rail corridor that goes from downtown Plano to Addison to the northern edge of DFW airport.

http://www.dfwinfo.com/trans/public_meetings/northcrosstown/main.htm

[bloodandpopcorn]

How recent has this site been updated? Relying that heavily on communter rail instead of light rail is fairly distressing to me... and why do they insist, even that far into the future, in expanding out rahter than filling in and making the rail within the "main" cities, or at least the cities where it is likely to do best, more intricitely filled with rail? that's a disappointing plan, at least in my eyes, because if we're going to make such progress in the next 10 years, why in the following 15 years will there be really little that is done? And done as uglier, more pulluting, and far less appealing commuter rail?

[BIMS 01]

It actually does make alot of sense to have a rail line running out to DFW from the Northern suburbs. In order for rail to be used by suburbaintes, it has to be almost as time efficient as driving. If someone in Plano had to take a rail line all the way to Union Station, before switching over to the future line out to DFW, it would be a tremendous hassle, and double what it would take just to drive. I agree, there needs to be another E/W line inside the major corridor, but the surrounding areas have to be linkes just the same.

[psukhu]

What about a more urban underground subway?

Maybe a loop like London's circle line? It could go something like: West End -> Victory -> Turtle Creek -> Oaklawn -> Cityplace -> Baylor -> Deep Ellum -> Farmer's Market -> City Hall -> Union Station -> then back to West End

Check out the yellow "Circle Line".

http://www.thetube.com/content/tubemap/images/large_print_map.gif

[bloodandpopcorn]

That circle is a great idea. Only problem is, DART doesn't seem to like spending the money it takes for subway parts.... but maybe one day. I really wish they would just take the leap for some segments to be subway, because eventually, alot of the system will probably be replaced by subway, just like what happened in NYC...

But that's probably 30 years away right now. I think I will drop DART another email requesting the loop... they're probably getting tired of my pleas for more rail by now, though.

[gc]

ahhhhh blood, so you bother many of these organizations like myself? Very nice. Someone has to voice their opinion!

[INTX dave]

The East-West line from DFW to Addison to Plano is known ad the Cotton Belt Line and is owned by DART. However the possibility of this line becoming a rail corridor is questionable right now.

It seems that most of the suburbs along the way support the line, including Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano.

The primary opposition seems to be coming from the residents of Far North Dallas who are concerned about the loss of property values from a commuter rail line in their back yard. Hopefully some kind of resolution can be reached.

[bloodandpopcorn]

Well, if the DART cities support it and DART owns it, what's to stop DART from turning it into whatever they want? Especially if it's commuter rail, they won't be changing the land very much, and its their right as owners to run trains along it. So the only question would be at Station locations, which likely would be in the cities that support them at places deemed worthy by those cities, also bringing up little actual trouble to DART.

Maybe I'm missing something?

[psukhu]

Don’t freight trains run through there right now?

It seems that switching from heavy freight rail to light rail would actually increase property value near that corridor.

[downtownbum]

i think a future rail needs to include the galleria and preston center (NW hwy and tollway) both are huge office and shopping areas

[aceplace]

Exactly right on the freight rail question.

The real problem may be that DART just doesn't want to fight that fight right now... They probably have an intention on the back burner to possibly use the line eventually, but they have no reason to say so in public.