DART: South Oak Cliff Extension (SOC-3)

[oldchap]

Projected Opening Date: 2019

The South Oak Cliff Extension (SOC-3) is proposed to extend the Blue Line south approximately three miles from Ledbetter Station toward the University of North Texas (UNT) Dallas Campus located at the southeast corner of Camp Wisdom Road and University Hills Blvd. (formerly Houston School Road) and add two new stations. This extension was originally conceptualized as a future extension south toward I-20 in 1991 as part of the original South Oak Cliff Corridor. The extension will provide potential development opportunities in the area south of Ledbetter Station to Camp Wisdom Road. UNT, the City of Dallas and DART cooperatively developed a revised alignment to serve the UNT Dallas Campus. This revised alignment was approved by the DART Board in February 2008.

One new rail station is proposed in the vicinity of the South Central Police Subdivision just north of Camp Wisdom Road. This area of South Central Oak Cliff is currently home to The Village of Runyon Springs neighborhood, Runyon Creek Park, and the Singing Hills Recreation Center. Planning is underway by the City of Dallas as part of the Forward Dallas! Comprehensive Plan to develop transit supportive land use with retail, multi-family, single-family, and mixed use development near the proposed station.

A second new rail station would serve the UNT Dallas campus. The Fall 2010 population of 2,084 students at the UNT Dallas campus is projected to grow to 16,000 plus students by 2030, and ultimately 25,000 students.

The revenue service date of 2019 assumes $100 million in external funding for the project. Thus, this early planning work will examine other alternatives to serve the area while positioning the project for potential Federal or other funds.

http://www.dart.org/about/expansion/bluelinesoc3.asp#aa

[electricron]

I'm not that familiar with the terrain, but much of the extension to be built is aerial. I'm assuming the northern aerial is to bridge a creek, I'm not sure why the southern section is. There's usually a valid engineering reason for going up. Maybe it's very rough terrain in the rural area, and DART decided to just smooth the ride out and avoid some grades? Does anyone familiar with the area have a better reason?

[Mballar]

I'm not that familiar with the terrain, but much of the extension to be built is aerial. I'm assuming the northern aerial is to bridge a creek, I'm not sure why the southern section is. There's usually a valid engineering reason for going up. Maybe it's very rough terrain in the rural area, and DART decided to just smooth the ride out and avoid some grades? Does anyone familiar with the area have a better reason?

Probably because the terrain in that area is far from flat. The intersection of Camp Wisdom and Lancaster provides one with an excellent view of Downtown Dallas due to the elevation in thar area.

[txdore]

Probably because the terrain in that area is far from flat. The intersection of Camp Wisdom and Lancaster provides one with an excellent view of Downtown Dallas due to the elevation in thar area.

There is. The first part crosses 5-mile creek. Further south is Ricketts branch and several ravines.
It amazes me sometimes that elevated concrete track following some of the terrain is cheaper than cut & filling a ROW or following/going around terrain. Lancaster more or less follows a ridge line. Surprised they didn't follow it more closely before turning west towards campus.

[xen0blue]

Red Biiiiiird!

[dfwcre8tive]

Here's the latest meeting notes including the different alternatives. This segment will be interesting because of the great difference in topography:

http://www.dart.org/about/expansion/...ingmay2011.pdf