Dallas

DART Rail Line Fight Winds Down

A fight over where to place a second downtown light rail line is heating up as Dallas Area Rapid Transit pushes for a final agreement with city leaders by the end of September.

A preferred Young Street route cuts through a portion of First Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest Dallas churches, at the current location at South Harwood and Young streets since 1911.

"It would substantially burden the ministry of the church," said the Rev. Joseph Clifford.

The church parking garage structure, with classrooms and meeting space, would be lost along with a chapel garden along Young Street. Construction of a 400-foot station structure on the street would separate the remaining church from social ministries it supports across the street and make access to both areas difficult.

"We're certainly supportive of the expansion of public transportation and excited about what that can mean for downtown Dallas, and we support the Jackson Street alignment," Clifford said.

The Jackson alternative would replace a private parking structure as it swings to the north from Young Street, but it would avoid the church property and some recently constructed townhomes near the Dallas Farmers Market which are also in DART's Young Street path.

"They're not being sensitive to the neighborhood at all," Dallas City Council Member Philip Kingston said. "There hasn't been enough discussion of these alignments and they're being very uncreative about where the funding is coming from."

DART officials have said their preferred Young Street route is the most likely to win federal funding and time is of the essence in Washington, D.C.

But Kingston favors a more expensive Commerce Street subway route that would substantially increase the cost. Kingston said other sources of money could be tapped to make up the difference. He believes the line would better support larger buildings along Commerce Street already set for renovation.

"There's going to be a much greater economic impact from serving people where they currently live and work," Kingston said.

The second rail alignment has been in the works for many years to relieve rail transit congestion on the single route along Pacific Avenue. Every DART train currently travels on that one path through downtown.

"It definitely gets jammed up and there are a lot of delays," passenger Tim Hettinger said.

"We could probably use another track," said rail passenger Terrance Dennis. "Just get more of it for better service."

A Dallas City Council Committee heard a DART briefing on the issue earlier this month. Another one is scheduled Monday.

 
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DART Priorities Overview 081015 (Text)
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