 the offical newsletter of DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT - Summer 2008 |
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Staying ahead of the curve
As North Texas becomes increasingly interconnected,DART is paving the way for regional thinking.
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The Trinity Railway Express is a prime example of regional cooperation, with everyone enjoying the ride. |
The average North Texas commuter spends 58 hours a year stuck in traffic at an annual cost of more than $2.7 billion. But expanded public transit options can provide important relief.
  The Trinity Railway Express (top) crosses the region with more than 9,000 passenger trips daily, while DART's rail expansion is creating opportunities for contractors and vendors all across North Texas (bottom). |
"The good news is that there are multiple strategies involving traffic operations and public transit available right now that if applied together, can lessen this problem," noted Tim Lomax, a research engineer at the Texas Transportation Institute and co-author of The 2007 Urban Mobility Report.
With well over 300,000 passenger trips daily, DART’s bus, rail and HOV lanes save more than $102 million a year in travel delay costs, according to the study. In fact, transit can deliver up to two freeway lanes of additional capacity during rush hours.
The study emphasized the need for expanded transit options, especially in cities not presently served by DART, the Fort Worth T or the Denton County Transit Authority (DCTA).
DART and the Fort Worth T pioneered the first transit-oriented model of regional cooperation when they joined forces in the '90s to develop the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter rail line linking Dallas and Fort Worth.
"The TRE has been an unquestionable success," says Wayne Friesner, DART's vice president of Commuter Rail. "Its popularity is certainly a prime example of regional cooperation done right."
Second only to the unnerving rush-hour commute between Dallas and Fort Worth is a heavily traveled stretch of I-35 between Dallas and Denton. Luckily, relief is on the fast track as the DCTA develops a 23-mile commuter rail line that will connect to DART's Green Line Carrollton Station in 2010.
"Denton County has been experiencing phenomenal growth, and most of that growth is along the I-35 corridor," says Dee Leggett, DCTA's vice president of communications. "Over 60% of our population commutes into Dallas County every weekday, so a good working relationship with DART has been critical."
DART recently doubled the region's network of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to 75 miles - providing relief on our most congested thoroughfares.
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Creating jobs and delivering business opportunities
DART's capital projects generate thousands of jobs and business opportunities for North Texas contractors and vendors. The Green Line buildout supports an average daily workforce of 1,800 - 95% local residents - and the total number of jobs could top 2,500 in the coming months.Continuing its tradition of inclusion, DART awarded an impressive 32.2% of its annual contract opportunities - $288.5 million worth - to disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned businesses during FY07.
The agency keeps the business community up to date through a focused outreach program. Nearly 300 people attended a recent "Megamixer" at DART Headquarters to learn about contracting opportunities related to the rail expansion.
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