Orange Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)
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Orange Line
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| Overview | |
| System | light rail |
| Operation | |
| Opened | December 6, 2010 |
| Technical | |
| Track length | 14 miles |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
The Orange Line (labeled as the Purple Line on maps prior to 2006) will be a 14 mile (23 km) mass transit light rail line in Dallas, Texas (USA) operated by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system. It will operate in addition to the currently existing Blue, Red and Green Line lines. The Orange Line started operation on December 6, 2010 with weekday peak service from the Parker Road Station to Bachman Station. The Orange Line shares alignment with the Green Line until its split north of Bachman Station. It was originally scheduled to open in phases starting in December 2011, with a route through downtown Dallas terminating at DFW Airport Station by December 2014. Openings of these phases, however, have been delayed with the plans and timetables subjected to many updates. As of December 2011, service is expected to begin July 2012 to the Las Colinas Convention Center, in December 2012 to Belt Line and December 2014 to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.[1] Through the use of interlining with Red Line and Green Line tracks, the Orange Line will terminate at Lawnview Station. During peak hours, Orange line trains will also terminate at Parker Road Station.[2] This peak hour service was initiated on December 6, 2010 in conjunction with the opening of the Green Line.
Future phases of the Orange line include a DFW North Station loop[3] and an eastern extension down Scyene Road to Masters Drive (previously planned as a Green Line expansion).[4]
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[edit] Planned opening
[edit] Opened December 2010
The following stations began selected weekday trips in conjunction with the opening of the Green Line:
- Listed from East to West
- Parker Road (Also served by Red Line)
- Downtown Plano (Also served by Red Line)
- Bush Turnpike (Also served by Red Line)
- Galatyn Park (Also served by Red Line)
- Arapaho Center (Also served by Red Line)
- Spring Valley (Also served by Red Line)
- LBJ/Central (Also served by Red Line)
- Forest Lane (Also served by Red Line)
- Walnut Hill (Also served by Red Line)
- Park Lane (Also served by Red Line)
- Lovers Lane (Also served by Red Line)
- Mockingbird (Also served by Red Line and Blue Line)
- Cityplace (Also served by Red Line and Blue Line)
- Pearl Station (Also served by Red Line, Blue Line, and Green Line)
- St. Paul (Also served by Red Line, Blue Line, and Green Line)
- Akard Station (Also served by Red Line, Blue Line, and Green Line)
- West End Station (Also served by Red Line, Blue Line, and Green Line)
- Victory Station (Also served by Green Line and Trinity Railway Express)
- Market Center Station (Also served by Green Line)
- Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station (Also served by Green Line)
- Inwood/Love Field Station (Also served by Green Line)
- Burbank Station (Also served by Green Line)
- Bachman Station (Also served by Green Line)
[edit] Opened December 2011
- Listed from East to West
- Lawnview Station (Also served by Green Line)
- Hatcher Station (Also served by Green Line)
- MLK, Jr. Station (Also served by Green Line)
- Fair Park Station (Also served by Green Line)
- Baylor University Medical Center Station (Also served by Green Line)
- Deep Ellum Station (Also served by Green Line)
[edit] Opening August 2012
- University of Dallas Station
- Las Colinas Urban Center Station
- Irving Convention Center Station
- North Lake College Station
- Belt Line Station
[edit] Opening December 2014
[edit] Future/Deferred
- Loop 12 Station (Deferred)
- South Las Colinas Station (Deferred)
- Las Colinas Carpenter Ranch Station (Deferred)[6]
- DFW North Station (Future branch)
[edit] Construction issues
On 12 March 2007, the City of Dallas officials and DART made an agreement to make Love Field Station a surface-level facility after a long debate of whether or not to make it an underground station.[7][8]
On December 5, 2007, the Dallas Morning News ran a story reporting that DART President Gary Thomas stated that a previous cost estimate of $988 million was too low. A new cost estimate for the 14 mile project was $1.8 - $1.9 billion.[9] The $900 million overrun in costs has caused considerable outrage amongst political leaders[10] in the City of Irving Texas, where the line passes on its way to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Irving leaders subsequently made inquiry as to the cost overruns.[11] Texas State Representative Linda Harper Brown sent an official letter [12] to Mr. Thomas also making inquiry into the project's substantial cost overruns.
In February 2010 DART officials announced that the first two phases may be delayed due to TXDOT problems along State Highway 114, which the Orange Line route follows. Utility relocation and road construction will delay access to portions of the construction area where the rail line and highway intersect. The delay could push the connection to Las Colinas from December 2011 to August 2012. DART is determined to keep the original schedule and minimize any delay.[13][14]
In June 2010, DART placed the line on indefinite hold due to declining revenue; on 15 September 2010, the agency said that due to cost savings and federal funds, the plans for the line have been revived.[15]
On 13 December 2011, DART awarded a contract to design and build the Orange Line extension from the Belt Line station to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, valued at about $150 million, with construction to start in early 2012 and an opening date of December 2014.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "DART awards design-build contract for DFW Airport connection". Progressive Railroading. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63xkbDL7T. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
- ^ http://www.dart.org/about/expansion/noiorangelinedfw.pdf
- ^ http://www.dart.org/about/expansion/orangelinedfwnewsletter1.pdf
- ^ http://www.dart.org/about/expansion/2030plan.asp
- ^ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/091510dnmetdartbudget.f1c2685f.html
- ^ http://www.dart.org/about/expansion/orangelinestations.asp
- ^ The Dallas Morning News - 9 February 2007.
- ^ "Rail will not tunnel under Love Field." Retrieved 12 March 2007
- ^ A new cost estimate
- ^ outrage amongst political leaders
- ^ inquiry
- ^ an official letter
- ^ "Irving light-rail segments may be delayed." The Dallas Morning News. February 24, 2010.
- ^ DART
- ^ "DART finance committee OKs service changes, new debt in $1.26 billion budget". 15 September 2010. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/091510dnmetdartbudget.f1c2685f.html. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
[edit] External links
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