DART GREEN LINE
We're growing the next phase of DART Rail... fast!
The new DART Rail Green Line will connect communities far and wide, stretching all the way from Pleasant Grove and downtown Dallas to Farmers Branch and Carrollton. Like the color green, this line is a symbol of our area on the move - a promise to bring public transportation to more people in more places.The rail vehicles that will soon power up and down this corridor will be more than just transportation vehicles. They will be vehicles to a better tomorrow - the means to more mobility, more economic development, cleaner air, reduced congestion and a stronger, more vibrant metroplex.
Together, we'll cultivate the seeds of progress. Come watch us grow.
A SEED HAS BEEN PLANTED
This 27.7 mile, $1.67 billion project came together through the hard work of local, state and national leaders.
It has literally taken years of planning, engineering and lobbying for federal funding, capped off by a $700 million Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) signed by officials from DART and the Federal Transit Administration.
Though DART has received the FFGA, the agency must still request the funds on a yearly basis. For FY08, DART has made an $80 million request.
A GROWING ECONOMY
Even before the first trains arrive at Fair Park in 2009, developers and communities along the line are making plans for new transit-oriented developments that are sure to follow.
Evidence of the impact of DART Rail is seen all along the current 45-mile network where developers have invested more than $3.3 billion in new live-work-play communities.
These dramatic new additions to the landscape are generating plenty of excitement among local cities, developers and the public. Plans are in the works - and in some cases construction is underway - for projects around the future Baylor Medical Center Station, Southwestern Medical District, Farmers Branch and Carrollton.
A GREENER TOMORROW
On average, North Texans spend 61 hours per year stuck in traffic.
Meanwhile, traffic volume along I-35E parallel to the Northwest Corridor is expected to increase 45% by 2025.
The good news? With people having the choice of zero-emission rail vehicles in the future, the Green Line expansion is predicted to reduce pollutant emissions by more than 320 tons per year. Traffic problems should also be minimized, with daily rail ridership projected to increase by more than 60,000 people.
Another positive note is that North Texans have made it known that they want rail in their communities. Voters in DART's 13 member cities have twice voted to tax themselves for regional transit, and in 2000 overwhelmingly approved the largest bond election in Texas history to expand rail.
A BLOSSOMING SYSTEM
Two other major expansion projects sit on the horizon.
The Orange Line project, which connects Northwest Dallas to Irving and points west, spans 14 miles and includes seven stations. By 2011, this line will reach the Las Colinas Urban Center in North Irving. By 2013, it will extend to DFW International Airport.
Service to Rowlett is also in the works. The existing Blue Line will be extended east to Rowlett in 2012 and extended south to I-20 to serve the new UNT-Dallas campus by 2018.
In addition, DART plans to open a second rail line within the Dallas Central Business District in 2014.
A COMMITMENT TO YOU
It's never too early to start teaching safety.
That's why DART has been out in the community informing the public about the expansion. Representatives have been making safety presentations to schools and other organizations, urging people to be careful around the construction areas. To schedule one for your group, call DART Transit Education at 214-749-2582. Bilingual presentations are available upon request.
DART also offers general presentations for those who want to learn more about the Green Line project. Contact the Speakers Bureau at 214-749-2577 if you're interested in having DART visit your organization.
