A project report from Dallas Area Rapid Transit | Fall 2008

A message from the President/Executive Director As you read this, a crew In the meantime, keep in mind that, with a capital project of workers 2,000 strong is of this magnitude, some inconveniences are inevitable. Frequently Asked literally “making tracks” to The good news is, the construction phase of the Green Questions connect communities from Line is now entering “countdown” mode, and the first the far northwest to the far shiny, new stations will be open in less than a year. Our southeast of the DART Service Blue and Red lines were built with a solid commitment to How long will it take me to ride Area. From Frankford Road community, and the result is a light rail system in which from North Carrollton/Frankford in Carrollton, to Farmers neighborhoods take a strong sense of ownership. That to Downtown Dallas? Branch, to the corner of same commitment is at work as we build the Green Line, Buckner Boulevard and Elam and we welcome your questions and suggestions. We’re The entire journey will take about 35 minutes. Road in the Pleasant Grove all on this ride together! neighborhood, the 28-mile Why isn’t the Green Line Green Line is poised to take serving the Love Field Airport our region in exciting new directions. Retaining walls are Terminal directly? going up, utility lines are being relocated, and concrete is Gary C. Thomas At one time, that was closely considered. In fact, being poured. In fact, our distinctive canopies already are President/Executive Director when DART applied for the federal grant that visible at future stations up and down the line. DART ultimately made the Green Line possible, we included two scenarios – one with a tunnel under Love Field, one without. The tunnel certainly sounded good on its face – but it added $160 million to the project cost and did not meet the Federal Transit Administration’s cost/benefit criteria. DART was advised that with the tunnel, we could expect a “not recommended” rating for the entire Green Line grant request. Therefore, we pursued the alignment along Denton Drive.

What will the fare be? The fare for the Green Line will be the same as it is on the Red and Blue lines: the standard Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station local fare, which is currently $1.50 for a single North Carrollton/Frankford ride (good for up to 90 minutes on the rail DART’s new Green Line is coming system only) and $3 for a Day Pass. A monthly Trinity Mills pass is available for $50. Downtown Carrollton soon to a station near you! Farmers Branch The longest light rail project under way in North America is on track for its Is it true the Green Line will Royal Lane initial grand opening in September 2009 – just in time to serve the State go all the way to Denton? Fair of Texas. That first segment will include Walnut Hill/Denton Not exactly. The northern terminus of the Green n n Baylor Medical Center Station (already open for special events only) n Line will be North Carrollton/Frankford Road . At Trinity Mills Station, however, riders n n Martin Luther King, Jr. Station will be able to board a planned commuter rail Love Field A little more than a year later – in December 2010 – the rest of the Green line providing service to Denton with stops in Line will open in its entirety. Lewisville and Highland Village. This commuter Inwood Southwestern P rail will not be a DART service, but will be Medical District/ ear St. Deep Ellum Parkland l operated by the Denton County Transit Authority P Akar aul Market Center We (DCTA). The DCTA’s stated goal is to have the d Baylor Medical Center Victory st line up and running by the time the Green Line End Green Line Facts is operating in its entirety – by December 2010. at a Glance For more information, you can check out the Fair Park Currently open Hatcher n 28 miles DCTA’s website at www.dcta.net. MLK Expanded service Lawnview n $1.8 billion starts Sept. 2009 Opens Sept. 2009 n Will reduce pollutant emissions Opens Dec. 2010 Lake June by more than 320 tons per year Buckner Meet your rep! Street Delays Your Community Affairs representatives are your “point The following construction areas are ongoing people” for info on all things DART and are likely to create traffic delays for Lawrence Meshack some months to come. For more specific, up-to-date information, contact your DART (Senior Manager, Community Affairs) Community Affairs Representative, attend one After teaching in the Dallas of our periodic community meetings in your Independent School District for more area, or visit www.DART.org and click on than five years, Lawrence joined “Construction Alerts.” DART in 1989. Since 1996, he has managed the agency’s Community Harry Hines Blvd. / Affairs team, where he focuses on Market Center area providing citizens in the DART Service Area with plenty The stretch of Harry Hines that runs through of opportunities to get involved in the DART project. That the Market Center area has been constricted public input guides Lawrence as he works directly with to one lane each way and will remain that way DART staff on capital projects and bus service changes. for the foreseeable future. Businesses are still He is also closely involved with the DART Safety and accessible throughout this area; through traffic Transit Education programs, as well as other community is advised to use I-35. outreach-related projects. A native Dallasite, Lawrence is an avid fan of his Mockingbird Blvd. / hometown sports teams and is involved with the Boy Denton Drive area Scouts of America and other organizations. He can be reached at 214.749.2590. When the Green Line passes beneath Mockingbird Lane just west of Love Field – Rosa Rosteet between Inwood and Love Field stations – it will ensure timely connections without disrupting (Community Affairs Representative: Green Line Northwest Corridor, traffic on busy Mockingbird Lane. Until then, MLK Station expect delays at this construction-intensive site Downtown Dallas – Carrollton) at the intersection of Denton Drive. While crews Rosa has worked at DART for 22 dig the trench over the next several months, years and has in-depth knowledge Get up to speed traffic flow on Mockingbird will be restricted of the agency’s long-term plans each way. If you can avoid this intersection, it is and current projects. Her special recommended that you do so. expertise is in the Northwest Corridor – the section of on rapid transit! the Green Line that extends from downtown Dallas to New customers can learn how to ride DART through Denton Drive between Shorecrest Northwest Dallas, Farmers Branch and Carrollton. Rosa one of our transit education programs. Geared for grade and Webb Chapel Extension has been involved in the Green Line since its earliest school students to senior citizens, our programs are fun, planning phases. During the course of design and interactive and free of charge. They consist of dynamic Southbound lanes will be reduced beginning construction, she has conducted scores of community in October and continue until further notice. presentations and on-site tours of commuter and rail meetings, briefed groups including neighborhood trains where you can practice what you learn. You’ll get Southbound Harry Hines Boulevard is associations and businesses, and met with hundreds of recommend as an alternate route. pointers on riding buses and trains, learn a few safety tips property owners and residents along the construction and receive an introduction to the area’s most popular path. Rosa can be reached at 214.749.2522. destinations and attractions. We offer bus tours for Denton Drive between Webb seniors to local historical sites, museums and art centers, Chapel Extension and Storey Lane Willene Watson as well as local entertainment venues such as American Denton Drive will be closed between Webb (Community Affairs Representative: Airlines Center, home of the Dallas Mavericks and Stars. Chapel Extension and Storey Lane until further Green Line Southwest Corridor, To schedule a presentation for your class or senior group, notice. Harry Hines Boulevard is recommended Downtown Dallas – Pleasant Grove) call Jessica Lennon at 214.749.2582. as an alternate route. Willene joined DART in 1990 and has been working in Community Denton Drive between Lombardy Affair since 1994. Her knowledge Track the Green Lane and Walnut Hill Lane of the southern Dallas community Relocation of water lines will necessitate closing provides her with unique insight as she works closely Line online portions of Denton Drive from Lombardy Lane with it throughout the planning, design and construction north to Walnut Hill Lane until further notice. of the Green Line. Willene is versed in all things Remember, the very latest construction updates can Harry Hines Boulevard is recommended as an pertaining to the line’s Southeast Corridor, which will always be found on DART’s Web site. Log on to alternate route. begin service to Deep Ellum, Baylor Medical Center, Fair www.dart.org/expansion (English) or Park and Martin Luther King, Jr. stations next year and www.transportedart.org (Spanish) for the latest extend deep into Pleasant Grove the following year. information about Green Line construction activities, Willene can be reached at 214.749.2598. including street closings and traffic detours.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit n www.DART.org n 214.979.1111