DART To McKinney/Rowlett (Dallas, Irving: to rent, hotel, neighborhoods)

[mckinneydeb]

A couple of months ago there was some discussion about public transportation and McKinney. Many felt DART was not in the city's future. I had attended a few of the city planning meetings and study meetings so I knew there was an interest in some form of public transporation system linking McKinney with Dallas. While it is obviously some years away, there is support for the DART rail system. This article might provide additional information for those thinking about moving north of Dallas.

http://www.courier-gazette.com/artic...ws/nnews01.txt

[aceplace]

I'm encouraged by the appearance of an interest in rail in McKinney. I think that the city definitely needs to connect to the rest of the Dallas-area transit network.

A lot depends on the state implementing better funding mechanisms.

Also, the exact kind of rail in McKinney needs some discussion. Will a McKinney train need to stop at every existing rail station before it reaches central Dallas? Or can the McKinney and DART rail authorities build bypass trackage around certain stations?

[Rowlett Resident]

If you are lucky in McKinney you might have a transportation agency other than DART. You can not trust DART. We in Rowlett have been paying a cent of our tax money for DART for more than 23 years. The bus service has actually gone down. Twenty years ago they had a shuttle bus that went around our city. That was stopped many years ago. DART promised that Rowlett would get light rail by 2008. Now it is 2012 if we are extremely lucky. DART is also talking about having only one rail line to Rowlett instead of two everywhere else and wants the city to pay for some of the construction or purchase of right a way. Irving is in the same boat as we are.

DART is the worse bureaucracy that I have ever seen. Someone needs to do an efficiency study on that agency but they don't answer to anyone. The organization is extremely top heavy. They are experts at wasting taxpayer money. They spend millions on HOV lanes that few use and in cities that don't pay the DART "dues" such as Mesquite and Allen. DART spends over $50,000 for ART at each of the light rail stations it opens. Thousands ride the light rail system free because riders aren't required to show tickets to anyone. DART believes in the honor system and people definitely take advantage of that.

[Spree]

My husband is taking my son to St Louis for a weekend of baseball and hockey in April. He doesn't even need to rent a car - he's taking the metro train from the airport to the hotel which is right by the venues on the riverfront under the Arch. I totally forgot what a good transit system St Louis had - it even goes into IL about 20 miles to the Air Force base now, making stops a long the way. It's too bad Dallas/FW doesn't take advantage of a rail system like this - given it's suburban expanse.

[Gustav]

mckinneydeb, thanks for the link. That's got some promise.
As for the problems in Rowlett and Irving, I agree that DART has problems. But I believe in this alternative to filling our roads with more and more single-occupant vehicles. Yes, there will be waste, and some people will not pay. They are just asking for trouble. Here are some names to remember: Top NTTA Viotalors
I plan on continuing to be an honest, law-abiding citizen, myself.

[icowrich]

Originally Posted by Rowlett Resident

DART is also talking about having only one rail line to Rowlett instead of two everywhere else and wants the city to pay for some of the construction or purchase of right a way. Irving is in the same boat as we are.

Irving is doing great. We have three stations already, and we're getting two more in a week and a half. Your station opens at the same time. Although, really, the main value of the line isn't about travelling within Rowlett. It's about getting in and out of town. You may not be excited about it, yet, but wait until you ride it for the first time. If you work in downtown Dallas or somewhere else along the line, it beats rush hour traffic ANY day. Since our rail stations opened, I haven't driven downtown once.

One reason McKinney should go with DART in congruity. The A-train from Denton ends at the county line, and you have to change trains, which often means a wait. Why would you do that when you can get a non-stop ride?

Originally Posted by Rowlett Resident

DART spends over $50,000 for ART at each of the light rail stations it opens. Thousands ride the light rail system free because riders aren't required to show tickets to anyone. DART believes in the honor system and people definitely take advantage of that.

$50 grand for a permanent installation? That's a bargain. It's always local art, too, that is designed to highlight the surrounding neighborhoods' characters. As part of the operational costs for a major transportation system, the cost is a drop in the bucket. I wouldn't worry about a one-time expense like that. It's the variable costs over time that can break the bank.

[BstYet2Be]

Originally Posted by icowrich

Irving is doing great. We have three stations already, and we're getting two more in a week and a half. Your station opens at the same time. Although, really, the main value of the line isn't about travelling within Rowlett. It's about getting in and out of town. You may not be excited about it, yet, but wait until you ride it for the first time. If you work in downtown Dallas or somewhere else along the line, it beats rush hour traffic ANY day.

My, how times (and opinions) can change over the years! The posts you quoted were from way back in 2008!

Quite a celebration planned in Rowlett on December 1, 2012, with the opening of the Dart Light Rail Blue Line into their city.

See: Main Street Fest: Ride the Rowlett Express

Congratulations, Rowlett!
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