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View a Printer-Friendly D2 News Issue 3, Spring 2009 (3.9MB PDF file, opens in a new window) En Español |
Downtown Alternatives Brought to Public for Input
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Common Characteristics to Remaining Alternatives
All four of the light rail alternatives:
- Follow the same route from Victory Station to the West End and follow DART-owned right-of-way through Victory Park
- Turn south on the east side of Houston Street to a station adjacent to the future Museum of Nature and Science
- Pass under Woodall Rodgers Freeway, crossing the frontage roads at-grade and descending into a tunnel to become fully underground at Lamar Street
- Continue south under Lamar Street and the existing transit mall
- Use a new underground station, Metro Center, that facilitates West End Station, West Bus Transfer Center, and future Rosa Parks Bus Plaza transfers
- Converge at a common point south of the Deep Ellum Station on the Southeast Corridor (Green Line).
Three of the alternatives (B4, B4a and B4b) feature light
rail stations adjacent to or beneath Dallas City Hall.
B7 Lamar-Commerce (Figure 1)
This alternative continues underground from new Metro Center Station and travels under Commerce Street. Two additional underground stations are located near Akard and Harwood. Each station includes an elevator and stairs for street access and could incorporate connections to the underground pedestrian tunnel system. The line resurfaces immediately west of IH 45.
Benefits:
- Good service to the densely developed area of downtown
- Direct access to future destinations (University of North Texas Law School and Main Street Garden Park)
B4 Lamar-Young (Figure 2)
After leaving Metro Center, this alternative continues southeast under Griffin Street, then resurfaces to street grade at Young Street. It continues at street level for the remainder of the route. Station locations include a station in the median of Young Street between Field and Akard streets, in the median of a reconstructed Young Street between St. Paul and Harwood Streets, and a final surface station located east of Central Expressway.
Benefits:
- The most cost effective alternative because half of the alignment is at street level
- Serves the government center and library area
- Serves new developing areas east of City Hall (e.g., Harwood Historic District, Farmers Market, Pershing Square)
B4a Lamar-Marilla (Figure 3)
This option is similar to B4 Lamar-Young Street except that it stays underground at Young Street and provides for an underground station near Young. The alignment then crosses under Young Street, and runs under Marilla Street to a new station below City Hall. East of City Hall, the alignment rises to street level on Marilla near Canton Street between Park and Harwood. The alternative continues at street level to a station at the Scottish Rite Temple parking lot, crosses the Pearl/Young intersection, and continues east in abandoned Young Street to the Southeast Corridor.
Benefits:
- Serves the government center and library area
- Offers improved access to the Farmers Market area
B4b Lamar-Convention Center Hotel (Figure 4)
This option is similar to B4a described above, but continues further south under Lamar and offers an additional underground station at the proposed Convention Center Hotel resulting in a longer tunnel section. This new underground station would be adjacent to the proposed Convention Center Hotel. The alignment turns east passing under the Pioneer Park and cemetery to the 3rd level cavern beneath City Hall. From here the alignment and stations at City Hall and Scottish Rite Temple are the same as option B4a.
Benefits:
- Provides a station at the proposed Convention Center Hotel
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