Irving leaders are working to ensure that the third and final phase of the DFW Orange Line includes a direct connection between Terminals A and B at DFW International Airport as originally promised by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).
The 14-mile Orange Line will be built in three phases, with the first phase scheduled to reach Las Colinas by December 2011. Construction on phase one is under way.
The third phase has drawn the concern of Irving leaders as an optional alignment to connect with the proposed Cotton Belt Line would relocate the DFW Station away from a direct connection with Terminals A and B.
This alternative approach would negatively impact Irving and its corporate/business corridor. The change would:
The Las Colinas Association website states, "The DART Board is now considering changing the route to either: a) end in Grapevine, where Dallas and Irving passengers would have to remove baggage and catch another vehicle going to D/FW Airport, or b) go through Grapevine/Cotton Belt Station and then continue to D/FW Airport Terminals A and B, adding at least seven minutes to the trip."
The 14-mile Orange Line will be built in three phases, with the first phase scheduled to reach Las Colinas by December 2011. Construction on phase one is under way.
The third phase has drawn the concern of Irving leaders as an optional alignment to connect with the proposed Cotton Belt Line would relocate the DFW Station away from a direct connection with Terminals A and B.
This alternative approach would negatively impact Irving and its corporate/business corridor. The change would:
- Add rail outside the DART service area and increase the time it takes travelers to get to the terminals at DFW International Airport.
- Negatively impact much of the planned economic development in the Las Colinas Urban Center surrounding the Orange Line, as well as the Dallas Hospital District, American Airlines Center, Downtown Dallas business district, and other parts of Dallas County.
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Create increased development opportunities outside the DART service area in detrimental competition to the growth of sales tax needed to help pay for the construction, operation and maintenance of the DART rail lines.
According to the Las Colinas Association Irving has contributed approximately $1 billion in sales taxes to DART initiatives with the promise that the Orange Line would connect through Irving and terminate at Terminals A and B at D/FW Airport.
The City of Irving website includes the following information, "DART officials have introduced an additional alignment option for the Orange Line that would maintain a direct connection from Irving’s planned Belt Line Station to DFW International Airport. This option would include looped track that connects the Orange Line to the Cotton Belt Line north of the airport."
Irving leaders need to analyze the specifics of this option, as well as cost estimates in order to fully assess its impact. A decision on the final alignment is anticipated at a DART Board meeting in late June.
To ensure the smooth development of the Orange Line to DFW International Airport, the Irving City Council has adopted numerous ordinances to make the creation of transit-oriented development as easy as possible. The plan for this line has generated more than $4 billion in designated development projects.
Irving leaders need to analyze the specifics of this option, as well as cost estimates in order to fully assess its impact. A decision on the final alignment is anticipated at a DART Board meeting in late June.
To ensure the smooth development of the Orange Line to DFW International Airport, the Irving City Council has adopted numerous ordinances to make the creation of transit-oriented development as easy as possible. The plan for this line has generated more than $4 billion in designated development projects.
The Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau is urging city leaders to stick with the original plan for the Orange Line.
In a Board of Directors resolution passed on April 13th, it includes, "Be it resolved, that the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau, on behalf of the travel and tourism industry and its annual expenditures of $1.47 billion in our community, ONLY supports the DART D/FW Orange Line original Plan incorporating a final Terminal Station between Terminals A&B."
The resolution further states, "Be it further resolved, that the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau opposes any DART D/FW Orange Line terminus station that requires passenger transfers, additional monetary funds and that would benefit any city that is not a contributing member of the DART system."
