(As if!) Proposal for a new DART Line (Mesquite, Denton: house, construction)

[Phil75230]

I know the reality of the below. It won't happen for ages, if at all. Even so, I'm talking strictly in "Money's no object terms", though this will inevitably shift into that topic pretty soon.


Three(more or less) east-west lines

1) along northwest highway from about 121 to Mesquite

2) along 635 from about I-30 to the Tollway.

3)from about the AA center along the Tollway to George Bush

All highways are jammed so much of the time, and so many of the jobs (so far as I can see) are along these routes that at least one of them should be worthwhile (personal bias inclines me to think either 2 or 3, but that's just me).

My comments about the funding:

Yes, it'll require an enormous bond issue. Beyond the obvious direct construction of the track, there would also be imminent domain issues ("just compensation" in the 4th Amendment). The latter alone would put construction at a minimum of five years behind schedule if lucky, due to all sorts of "taking" claims tied up in court. Don't even ask about the huge office buildings right in the middle of any proposed right-of-way that's rational.

Maybe someone more knowledgeable and creative than I am can come up with a way to make it work (albeit only in the long run), but this is my best shot at looking at all sides of such a VERY hypothetical proposal.

[BCB]

DART needs to focus on both improving and expanding its bus service before any expansion to the light rail.

[Beardown91737]

In spots along the DNT, I don't think there is right of way available. Not sure about the 635 route but the daily users have to be ready for a break from the construction.

[Phil75230]

Originally Posted by BCB

DART needs to focus on both improving and expanding its bus service before any expansion to the light rail.

Agreed. It needs at least 50% more buses for the same number of miles and stops per line.

Originally Posted by Beardown91737

In spots along the DNT, I don't think there is right of way available. Not sure about the 635 route but the daily users have to be ready for a break from the construction.

Hence, why I brought up the 4th Amendment issues ("just compensation", imminent domain, court tie-ups). Still, I think that would be theoretically and even in principle more doable than a DART route paralleling 635 with any meaningful closeness.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by Beardown91737

In spots along the DNT, I don't think there is right of way available. Not sure about the 635 route but the daily users have to be ready for a break from the construction.

They could bury it, but....$$$$$$$$$$$!

[TowerGuy]

I want D2 and a Circle Line at or within Loop 12. If suburbia and exurbia want in on rail transit, then they can follow Denton's lead and build their own line in order to hook up with DART. I want DART to focus on the city, now. I also want DART to enhance bus service and make the Cotton Belt an urban transit line (like the other lines) as opposed to a commuter line that is only operating at rush hours.

[Phil75230]

First, a correction from misediting

I said the following was a (more or less east-west line)

"3)from about the AA center along the Tollway to George Bush"

This, of course is very close to due north-south.

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

They could bury it, but....$$$$$$$$$$$!

Impossible to disagree. Then again, maybe we can get the Feds to help pick up the tab. Texas does have the 2nd largest delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, after all. Air pollution, reduced CO2 emissions, etc., after all. Plus commuters sick of fighting Frisco to Downtown traffic. Lots of white collar (i.e. high paying) jobs along that route.

Originally Posted by TowerGuy

I want D2 and a Circle Line at or within Loop 12. If suburbia and exurbia want in on rail transit, then they can follow Denton's lead and build their own line in order to hook up with DART. I want DART to focus on the city, now. I also want DART to enhance bus service and make the Cotton Belt an urban transit line (like the other lines) as opposed to a commuter line that is only operating at rush hours.

At or within Loop 12. My NW Highway proposal has that covered. As you said, the areas along the Cotton Belt (Ricardson-Addison-DFW Airport) should follow Denton's lead and fund their own, especially if that's primarily a suburban route.