Cotton Belt-Connecting Plano To DFW Airport (Arlington, Frisco: home, university, live)

[UnfairPark]

Are we ever going to start this project or just keep arguing about it?

Could Cotton Belt be derailed?: Legislation and lack of funds threaten rail | Plano Star Courier | starlocalmedia.com

[numbersguy100]

I hope we never build it. Even by public transportation standards it has an abysmal return on investment.

[BigDGeek]

Big fat "who cares" over here.

Say you're on a business trip and your flight gets in at 9pm. You might not be getting off the train until 10pm...then you're at a station. If you live alone, you're cabbing it home because let's be honest...nobody is schlepping a bunch of luggage more than a quarter mile or so. It might work out fine if you don't live alone because your SO can come get you...but you could argue that if SO can drive to the train station to pick you up, why can't they drive to the AIRPORT to pick you up?

I don't see it being practical for anyone except a small segment of the population.

[fleaflicker]

People are more excited about more expressway with tolls around here than DART expansion.

[UnfairPark]

We need to have a multi layer transportation network. It would make it easier for everyone, no matter how you prefer to commute. You may not use it but others would and you won't face as much congestion as you would in a car dependent metroplex. Sometimes, we have to look at the bigger picture, focusing on one's obvious immediate self interest is the reason societies can't progress.

By the way, DFW connection would be very helpful for business and student travelers but air travelers aren't the only one who would benefit. Employees of airport, airlines and related businesses as well as other people who work or live near areas serviced by Cotton Belt. Rest of us would benefit by facing less traffic on the roads.

[TeamLynn]

I think the problem with all of it, is that none of it is more efficient than self-driving cars. We're certainly within 10 years of this, probably 5, maybe 2.....then you don't need rail or tolls or SO to pick you up for the last mile .

I'd rather see the investment in Tesla or a university with a research division in self-driving cars or electric cars or CNG cars than in rail that will soon be obsolete.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by UnfairPark

We need to have a multi layer transportation network. It would make it easier for everyone, no matter how you prefer to commute. You may not use it but others would and you won't face as much congestion as you would in a car dependent metroplex. Sometimes, we have to look at the bigger picture, focusing on one's obvious immediate self interest is the reason societies can't progress.

By the way, DFW connection would be very helpful for business and student travelers but air travelers aren't the only one who would benefit. Employees of airport, airlines and related businesses as well as other people who work or live near areas serviced by Cotton Belt. Rest of us would benefit by facing less traffic on the roads.

My support or lack thereof will have no bearing on whether this project goes forward, I assure you.

[UnfairPark]

Self driving or not, too many cars mean longer time, more congestion, more pollution, more accidents etc etc. We can also invest in research for efficient public transport. Anyways, my point is that we need to find solutions.

[fleaflicker]

I think starting this project would be great. However like I said it is not popular among DFW residents. DFW is car-centric because residents choose to. Maybe future generations will have different mindset...

[Taynxtlvl]

But DFW is quickly changing and HAS to position itself for continued well managed growth has got to think way into the future, and must utilize all possible avenues for viable transit options. Especially with all the corporate gargantuans in the west Plano/Frisco Stretch a direct connection to DFW make so much since. Most people from Texas drive cars as that's what most are used to. However, as the metroplex and other southern cities ride this wave of population coming from the West North and East many of which have had accessible lightrail or heavy rail options it will continue to pick up steam and the roadways will get increasingly crowded. Now if they could build this leg and finally get Arlington on board with that new baseball stadium and build a direct connection from DFW south to Jerrys world. The to be built "Texas Live" development and the new baseball Stadium.