State Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Phil Wilson, DART Chair John Danish and UD President Thomas Keefe represented the key stakeholders during a ceremonial ribbon cutting at the University of Dallas on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The event, which was attended by dozens of city, state and business leaders, as well as university administrators, celebrated the State Highway 114, DART Orange Line and Irving Diamond Interchange projects.
"Today, we celebrate what has already been completed and look forward at what is to come," said Harper-Brown. "We also acknowledge how much the city of Irving and state of Texas have benefited from the University of Dallas."
The three projects make up a large portion of the approximately $2.5 billion that has been spent recently on improvements to transportation infrastructure in the Irving/Las Colinas area. According to TxDOT, the 114 and DART projects mark the first time a Texas highway is sharing right of way with light rail.
The second phase of the Orange Line's extension, with stops to North Lake College and Belt Line Station, will open Dec. 3. The final stretch will connect the light rail all the way to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
"We're actually building a station right now in Terminal A and December 2014, DART will actually be approaching DFW Airport, entering DFW Airport and connecting to our terminal buildings," said Jeff Fegan, airport CEO.
