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Coordinates: 32°50′16″N 96°46′30″W / 32.837874°N 96.774922°W / 32.837874; -96.774922
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'''Mockingbird Station''' is a [[mixed-use development]] adjacent to the station, which contains an [[Lifestyle center|open-air shopping district]], an [[Angelika Film Center]], apartments, and office space. {{Citation needed span|text=Because of this, SMU/Mockingbird has the highest population density within three miles of any mass transit station in Texas.|date=December 2019|reason=Unsupported statistic/potentially original research. As many other TODs have been built in Texas since this one was built, it is also possible this information is dated.}}
'''Mockingbird Station''' is a [[mixed-use development]] adjacent to the station, which contains an [[Lifestyle center|open-air shopping district]], an [[Angelika Film Center]], apartments, and office space. {{Citation needed span|text=Because of this, SMU/Mockingbird has the highest population density within three miles of any mass transit station in Texas.|date=December 2019|reason=Unsupported statistic/potentially original research. As many other TODs have been built in Texas since this one was built, it is also possible this information is dated.}}

== Station ==
[[Image:Mockingbird Station 3.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A northbound train at the station]]SMU/Mockingbird is the only entrenched station in the DART Light Rail system, with the main platform located {{Convert|40|ft|m}} below ground level.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=DART Gallery: A Collection of Public Art |url=https://dartorgcmsblob.dart.org/prod/docs/default-source/station-art/dartgallery.pdf |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]] |pages=5}}</ref> The station is the northern end of a {{Convert|3.5|mi|km|adj=on}} tunnel to [[Downtown Dallas]].

The station's upper level consists of a small plaza containing [[Ticket machine|ticket machines]], an elevator, and a pair of escalators. The west entrance to the plaza leads to the Mockingbird Station development and the University Crossing Trail, while the east entrance leads to buses, passenger drop-off/pick-up, bicycle parking, and vehicle parking. A stairwell to the rail platform is located at each end of the bus platform.

On the lower level is the rail platform, which is an [[island platform]]. Southbound and westbound trains board on the western side, while northbound and eastbound trains board on the eastern side. All three lines use the same platforms.

=== Artwork ===
The eastern entrance to the station contains six {{Convert|20|ft|m|adj=on}} archways, each of which are decorated with colorful mosaic tiles and topped with a stained-glass mockingbird. The western retaining wall is decorated with a colorful ribbon pattern, while the eastern retaining wall is landscaped with shade-tolerant plants.<ref name=":0" />


== History ==
== History ==
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[[Image:Mockingbird Station 2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Transit-oriented development]] adjacent to, and eponymous with, the station]]
[[Image:Mockingbird Station 2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Transit-oriented development]] adjacent to, and eponymous with, the station]]
[[Image:Mockingbird Station 3.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A northbound train at the station]]

==Surrounding development==
==Surrounding development==
Stairs, escalators and elevators connect the below-ground station to a ground-level outdoor mall, which was one of Texas' first modern transit-oriented developments, or TODs. The mall brought new life to the area, spurring more development around the station as years passed.
Stairs, escalators and elevators connect the below-ground station to a ground-level outdoor mall, which was one of Texas' first modern transit-oriented developments, or TODs. The mall brought new life to the area, spurring more development around the station as years passed.

Revision as of 00:10, 4 July 2024

SMU/Mockingbird
DART Light Rail station
Station platform viewed from street level
General information
Location5465 East Mockingbird Lane[1]
Dallas, Texas
Coordinates32°50′16″N 96°46′30″W / 32.837874°N 96.774922°W / 32.837874; -96.774922
Owned byDallas Area Rapid Transit
PlatformsIsland
ConnectionsDART Routes 3, 17, 105, 209, 249, 440-Mustang Express (M-Sat), 441-Museum Express (M-Sun)
Lakewood GoLink Zone (M-F)
Park Cities GoLink Zone (M-Sun)
Katy Trail
Construction
Structure typeTrenched
Parking712 spaces[1]
Bicycle facilities8 lockers,[2] 6 racks
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJanuary 10, 1997[3]
Services
Preceding station Dallas Area Rapid Transit Following station
Cityplace/Uptown
toward Westmoreland
 Red Line Lovers Lane
toward Parker Road
Cityplace/Uptown
toward DFW Airport
 Orange Line
Cityplace/Uptown
toward UNT Dallas
 Blue Line White Rock
toward Downtown Rowlett
Location
Map

SMU/Mockingbird station (originally Mockingbird station) is a DART Light Rail station in Dallas, Texas. The station is located at the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and North Central Expressway (US 75); it and Southern Methodist University (SMU) are directly across from each other over US 75. The station serves the Red Line, Orange Line, and Blue Line. It is the northernmost station to serve all three lines: the Red and Orange Lines continue north towards Richardson and Plano, while the Blue Line continues northwest towards Garland and Rowlett.

The station serves SMU, the University Crossing neighborhood, and the Park Cities (i.e., Highland Park and University Park). In addition, the station directly connects to the University Crossing Trail, which in turn connects to the Katy Trail, Ridgewood Trail, and SoPac Trail.[4]

Mockingbird Station is a mixed-use development adjacent to the station, which contains an open-air shopping district, an Angelika Film Center, apartments, and office space. Because of this, SMU/Mockingbird has the highest population density within three miles of any mass transit station in Texas.[citation needed]

Station

A northbound train at the station

SMU/Mockingbird is the only entrenched station in the DART Light Rail system, with the main platform located 40 feet (12 m) below ground level.[5] The station is the northern end of a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) tunnel to Downtown Dallas.

The station's upper level consists of a small plaza containing ticket machines, an elevator, and a pair of escalators. The west entrance to the plaza leads to the Mockingbird Station development and the University Crossing Trail, while the east entrance leads to buses, passenger drop-off/pick-up, bicycle parking, and vehicle parking. A stairwell to the rail platform is located at each end of the bus platform.

On the lower level is the rail platform, which is an island platform. Southbound and westbound trains board on the western side, while northbound and eastbound trains board on the eastern side. All three lines use the same platforms.

Artwork

The eastern entrance to the station contains six 20-foot (6.1 m) archways, each of which are decorated with colorful mosaic tiles and topped with a stained-glass mockingbird. The western retaining wall is decorated with a colorful ribbon pattern, while the eastern retaining wall is landscaped with shade-tolerant plants.[5]

History

The station opened on January 10, 1997.[3]

DART renamed the station to SMU/Mockingbird Station on August 12, 2019.[6] after SMU paid DART $463,000 for a 10-year naming rights agreement.[7]

Transit-oriented development adjacent to, and eponymous with, the station

Surrounding development

Stairs, escalators and elevators connect the below-ground station to a ground-level outdoor mall, which was one of Texas' first modern transit-oriented developments, or TODs. The mall brought new life to the area, spurring more development around the station as years passed.

The mixed-use developments surrounding the station contain retail, restaurant, service, and entertainment options, along with office buildings and loft apartments. Events are held on a regular basis and are open to the public. DTZ manages the property and Madison Marquette manages leasing initiatives. (Cassidy Turley managed the property until it merged into the DTZ brand in January 2015.)

In a 2004 report, the Transportation Research Board called Mockingbird Station "a TOD success story," praising it for its location with "strong local demographics, and an abundance of adjacent regional attractions," and for being driven by private developers.[8]

The station also connects to the University Crossing Trail, a largely grade-separated biking and walking trail oriented toward recreational and commute cycling.

References

  1. ^ a b "SMU/Mockingbird Station". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "Bicycle Parking". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Howell, Curtin (February 2, 1997). "DART's light rail making tracks: First-week ridership exceeds expectations by 33 percent". The Dallas Morning News. A. H. Belo Corporation. pp. 37A – via NewsBank.
  4. ^ "Linear Trails". Dallas Parks and Recreation Department. City of Dallas, Texas. July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "DART Gallery: A Collection of Public Art" (PDF). Dallas Area Rapid Transit. p. 5. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  6. ^ "DART station renamed SMU/Mockingbird Station". Southern Methodist University. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  7. ^ Dickson, Gordon (September 6, 2019). "SMU paid naming rights for DART Mockingbird Station. Can TEXRail do this in Fort Worth?". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  8. ^ Transit-Oriented Development in the United States: Experiences, Challenges, and Prospects (PDF). Transit Cooperative Research Program. Transportation Research Board. 2004.


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