Search found 187 matches

by northsouth
13 Mar 2024 22:00
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Reunion (Tower, hotel, and??)
Replies: 71
Views: 20346

Re: Reunion (Tower, hotel, and??)

Joking aside, I was wondering has there been any proposals of making the HSR station under ground in just that section where hunts project is? Would that work at all? Not really. Due to I-30 and the soil/rock conditions due to being in the floodplain, and the need to minimize the grade for the trai...
by northsouth
10 Mar 2024 21:41
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Reunion (Tower, hotel, and??)
Replies: 71
Views: 20346

Re: Reunion (Tower, hotel, and??)

An idea I've had before would be to rebuild the hotel and integrate it into the HSR station (Reunion Tower itself would of course stay). The Hunts would get a shiny new hotel with great integration with the station and potential retail, and the station would be immediately adjacent and connected to ...
by northsouth
06 Mar 2024 21:21
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Reunion (Tower, hotel, and??)
Replies: 71
Views: 20346

Re: Reunion (Tower, hotel, and??)

The Hunts have had decades to do something, anything, with all the Reunion land and they've continually done nothing, waiting for some outside catalyst instead of making one themselves. I'm not holding my breath on the HSR getting built, but I have even less confidence in any development even vaguel...
by northsouth
03 Mar 2024 01:13
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423581

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

DART is still rolling out seat conversions to vinyl from their longtime fabric covered seating. The next phase will start in March. Seats on buses have already been changed to vinyl, according to the article. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dart-starts-second-phase-of-seating-upgrade/3441113/ Rod...
by northsouth
13 Feb 2024 20:39
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Hoque Global Cedars- So Good
Replies: 62
Views: 46446

Re: Hoque Global Cedars- So Good

Are they talking about the section north or south of Hickory? Because the section south through the old chicken plant is still in use by the scrapyard for storing/sorting cars (and also as part of a connection between the main railway network and the guy who owns all the old passenger cars over by F...
by northsouth
07 Feb 2024 23:21
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Dallas Convention Center
Replies: 206
Views: 86912

Re: Dallas Convention Center

This is what happens when shiny rendering that was primarily a concept drawing is forced to confront reality. Constructing such a large building over a highway isn't impossible but it's difficult and impractical, and if you insist on doing it anyway it's more expensive than just nudging it over onto...
by northsouth
24 Jan 2024 22:20
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas - Fort Worth high-speed rail project
Replies: 44
Views: 7045

Re: Dallas - Fort Worth high-speed rail project

They could do something with the UPRR alignment too. While that would be more difficult and they'd have to deal with UP it could in theory be done and you'd be close to the Arlington entertainment and UTA. Yeah, if only UP wasn't so hostile to passenger trains being built on or run on their lines. ...
by northsouth
23 Jan 2024 20:47
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas - Fort Worth high-speed rail project
Replies: 44
Views: 7045

Re: Dallas - Fort Worth high-speed rail project

Dallas to Fort Worth high-speed rail has some planning head scratchers https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/01/23/dallas-to-fort-worth-high-speed-rail-has-some-planning-head-scratchers/ Michael Morris, the council of government’s director of transportation, said an underground option ...
by northsouth
23 Dec 2023 21:28
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Mavs arena-hotel by Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Replies: 63
Views: 9903

Re: Mavs arena-hotel by Las Vegas Sands Corp.

I'm old enough to know that in the end, everything is about short term money gain. It'll be sad when the Mavs and Stars move out of the downtown area. People love going to games and concerts when they can hang out before and after in Uptown/Downtown/Victory. Irving is a terrible area for this. Texa...
by northsouth
18 Dec 2023 22:38
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Rowlett: Crystal Lagoon
Replies: 51
Views: 40652

Re: Rowlett: Crystal Lagoon

If there's nobody inside to save, and no property inside to grab since it's still unoccupied, then the safest thing to do is to put some water on it but otherwise let it burn itself out. These things are mostly made of engineered lumber like plywood and laminated timbers, which mean they're full of ...
by northsouth
15 Dec 2023 23:32
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Reunion (Tower, hotel, and??)
Replies: 71
Views: 20346

Re: Reunion (Tower, hotel, and??)

Can't help but laugh at how they put DART LRVs on the Streetcar track on the Houston Ave Viaduct.
by northsouth
06 Dec 2023 18:31
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: DTD: West End Square
Replies: 72
Views: 53885

Re: DTD: West End Square

Went by for the first time since the spring, they've put the swinging seats/benches back in again (all of them this time). Hopefully they stay this time. Happen to remember if they were rebuilt/reinforced (as they said would be the case after the original swings were broken opening weekend)? I can'...
by northsouth
06 Dec 2023 18:24
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 401
Views: 421102

Re: Silver Line

do we have anyone here who regularly rides the A-Train who can see if they've started any work on the facility to get it ready for the FLIRTs? Scratch that, looks like instead of rooming with DCTA, what was previously planned as a layover facility just west of Shiloh station will now be the full ma...
by northsouth
03 Dec 2023 00:42
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Richardson Telecom Corridor Development Updates
Replies: 49
Views: 40484

Re: Richardson Telecom Corridor Development Updates

As the vacant lot has continued to lay fallow, we finally have an update on the Sherman Lofts project (SW corner of Spring Valley and the Red Line): https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/richardson/development/2023/11/30/amended-plan-for-sherman-lofts-in-richardson-recommended-for-approval/ ...
by northsouth
02 Dec 2023 20:11
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 401
Views: 421102

Re: Silver Line

In the most recent Streetview pics from southbound 161 at the TRE yard you can see the other three FLIRTs that have arrived. The most recent images from the road that runs by DCTA's maintenance facility are a year and a half old; do we have anyone here who regularly rides the A-Train who can see if ...
by northsouth
02 Dec 2023 19:16
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Mavs arena-hotel by Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Replies: 63
Views: 9903

Re: Mavs arena-hotel by Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Until they actually pull the trigger on expansion and put the new team in Vegas, I'll still be a little nervous in the back of my mind about it. I'm not a fan of Cuban's oddly strong desire to put a casino in the new arena, and I'm not a fan of the Adelson family, so the whole thing's put a bad tast...
by northsouth
16 Nov 2023 20:50
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: Dallas Trail System
Replies: 94
Views: 87460

Re: Dallas Trail System

https://www.fox4news.com/news/new-pedestrian-bridge-across-central-expressway-in-dallas-opens

The bridge has opened as of today, formal ribbon-cutting will be held in a few weeks on December 2.
by northsouth
06 Nov 2023 21:25
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Arlington: Mass Transit
Replies: 27
Views: 29970

Re: Arlington: Mass Transit

Part of the problem is that most/all of their free sales tax revenue that could go towards transit has been dedicated to the stadiums; the old ballpark is paid off (not sure about the cost of converting it to football), Jerryworld is still going to be on the books for a while, and the new Rangers st...
by northsouth
14 Oct 2023 18:49
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown/Victory Park: NorthEnd
Replies: 800
Views: 346081

Re: Uptown/Victory Park: NorthEnd

Excavation has begun on the southern half or so of the lot.
by northsouth
13 Oct 2023 23:32
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423581

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

It's operationally way simpler to just add more Green Line trains and a few special Red Liners instead of the one-day realignment (and way easier to navigate as a rider), but I did miss getting to ride trains through the yard this year (I don't ever go to the game, I just have other reasons to be do...
by northsouth
11 Oct 2023 20:44
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: It’s time to close Dallas’ Triple Underpass and build a memorial park
Replies: 19
Views: 14651

Re: It’s time to close Dallas’ Triple Underpass and build a memorial park

Got a closer look at it today. It is in fact a memorial for Black people of Dallas who suffered violence at the hand of white supremacist violence, noting in particular three men who were lynched near the spot in 1860. The construction fencing has been removed, but there is not yet a concrete path t...
by northsouth
22 Sep 2023 22:07
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: It’s time to close Dallas’ Triple Underpass and build a memorial park
Replies: 19
Views: 14651

Re: It’s time to close Dallas’ Triple Underpass and build a memorial park

I didn't notice this until a few days ago, but it seems that they have installed what appears to be a sundial in Martyrs Park. Looking back at older photos of mine, the concrete base was installed in mid to late August, but I didn't notice at the time. When it cools down again (at this rate, Novembe...
by northsouth
13 Sep 2023 19:26
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: DTD: West End Square
Replies: 72
Views: 53885

Re: DTD: West End Square

Went by for the first time since the spring, they've put the swinging seats/benches back in again (all of them this time). Hopefully they stay this time.
by northsouth
08 Sep 2023 22:05
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: Dallas Trail System
Replies: 94
Views: 87460

Re: Dallas Trail System

Over the last few days they've moved a pair of big many-wheel very-heavy-duty moving devices (the kind of thing they use to move buildings) under each end and removed the stacks of lumber it had been resting on forever.
by northsouth
15 Aug 2023 21:55
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402375

Re: DART D2 Subway

Downtown Dallas Subway ‘D2’ Is No Longer Part of DART’s Long-Term Plans Looks like it'll be a while before D2 happens. At the least the debt space it was taking up in the budget should be used for other things that need to be worked on. Can't say I'm not disappointed, since long-term this does need...
by northsouth
13 Aug 2023 18:43
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 401
Views: 421102

Re: Silver Line

I guess they'll store them there at the TRE yard until the work to expand DCTA's yard/facility is done. EDIT: found some pictures of the FLIRTs being moved through Saginaw yesterday. Four units; based on the pics above two of them are numbers 903 and 904, presumably 901 and 902 are the others. https...
by northsouth
21 Jul 2023 20:46
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Autonomous Vehicle Thread
Replies: 75
Views: 77052

Re: Autonomous Vehicle Thread

Regional Transportation Council to pilot automated vehicle project in DFW https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/lewisville-coppell/transportation/2023/07/21/regional-transportation-council-to-pilot-automated-vehicle-project-in-dfw/ They're going to try running new autonomous vehicles on the...
by northsouth
15 Jul 2023 20:30
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Uptown Dallas: McKinney/Boll Tower - 2614 McKinney Ave - (18 ST)
Replies: 227
Views: 175953

Re: Uptown Dallas: McKinney/Boll Tower - 2614 McKinney Ave - (18 ST)

The building that Jake's was in has been demolished.
by northsouth
06 Jul 2023 23:35
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Richardson: misc. developments
Replies: 13
Views: 4045

Re: Richardson: misc. developments

While the Sherman Lofts project at the corner of Spring Valley and Sherman continues to not happen, in April the city council approved another apartment development on the lot just to the south, projected to open late 2025-early 2026. https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/richardson/housing-...
by northsouth
15 Jun 2023 20:56
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: Dallas Trail System
Replies: 94
Views: 87460

Re: Dallas Trail System

The arch has finally been assembled! Only took them five months to get around to actually doing it. It's not easy to see in all of the pictures, but there are cables running from the arch to the deck.
by northsouth
12 Jun 2023 22:13
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: Jackson at Market Parking Garage
Replies: 65
Views: 30603

Re: Downtown Dallas: Jackson at Market Parking Garage

Well it looks like they are actually more or less topped out. Still working on one of the structures up there but the decks have stopped.
by northsouth
23 May 2023 20:20
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: Jackson at Market Parking Garage
Replies: 65
Views: 30603

Re: Downtown Dallas: Jackson at Market Parking Garage

Tucy wrote:
Hannibal Lecter wrote:Was downtown Sunday. Damn that building is huge.


Is it finished?


Nope, still going up. I feel like they might be getting close to topping out, but every time I've thought that so far they just keep going.
by northsouth
13 May 2023 19:14
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Richardson: Main Street Improvements
Replies: 47
Views: 32833

Re: Richardson: Main Street Improvements

Proper construction has resumed over the last few weeks. The difference in wood color between the new work and the stuff that's been sitting out exposed for many months is obvious.
by northsouth
15 Mar 2023 21:13
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Richardson: Main Street Improvements
Replies: 47
Views: 32833

Re: Richardson: Main Street Improvements

Work has slowly started to resume over the last few weeks. So far it seems to mostly be workers checking things out, assessing the state of things, safety, etc. Hopefully it's not too long until construction resumes in earnest.
by northsouth
01 Mar 2023 20:19
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: DTD: West End Square
Replies: 72
Views: 53885

Re: DTD: West End Square

The dead trees have been replaced recently. The replacement redbud is just in time to bloom, while with the sycamores they took out the one that (as far as I was aware) survived, I guess to match better with the new trees.
by northsouth
31 Jan 2023 19:55
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: MATA: M-Line Trolley
Replies: 98
Views: 104445

Re: MATA: M-Line Trolley

They actually did buy an old Dallas PCC in 2009. After sitting in temporary storage at the Illinois Railway Museum for a few years, they finally got it down here to start restoring it, only to find that the decades of winter road salt it had dealt with in Boston had caused extensive underframe damag...
by northsouth
31 Jan 2023 19:34
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402375

Re: DART D2 Subway

I think it might partially be a thing, but the frequency of trains and spacing of the stations interfere enough to lessen any positive effects. During off-peak times it works better, but at rush hour it gets a bit chaotic; if anything's off-schedule by more than a few minutes you can get trains back...
by northsouth
25 Jan 2023 23:10
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402375

Re: DART D2 Subway

https://www.reddit.com/r/dart/comments/10l31zs/d2_delayed_10_years/ Welp. Reset the clock. Was anyone else there and can confirm this? Let's hope so. D2 has to be among the biggest transit boondoggles ever. Its alleged purpose is to provide "needed capacity and improving system reliability. . ...
by northsouth
14 Jan 2023 22:55
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: Dallas Trail System
Replies: 94
Views: 87460

Re: Dallas Trail System

Bridge arches are being assembled.
by northsouth
14 Jan 2023 22:47
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Richardson: Main Street Improvements
Replies: 47
Views: 32833

Re: Richardson: Main Street Improvements

Work seems to have stalled out on this project. There are plenty of materials stacked around everywhere, even some equipment, but little to no progress on the structure has been made since the last pics in September. There's often a car or two parked in there, presumably security hired to make sure ...
by northsouth
09 Dec 2022 18:06
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423581

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

https://www.dart.org/about/board/boardagendas/custitem12_13dec22.pdf Update on new LRV procurement and associated programs. Of note: -new LRVs will begin design next year, production in late 2026 (so likely 2027) -construction work to raise platforms not already rebuilt to full raise will begin nex...
by northsouth
03 Dec 2022 19:50
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Oak Cliff: Bishop Arts
Replies: 524
Views: 516322

Re: Oak Cliff: Bishop Arts

New phase of the Victor Prosper development - to replace The Local Oak and Ten Bells - to start next year. More apartments and retail on the way in Dallas’ Bishop Arts district Dallas-based builder Alamo Manhattan Corp. is eyeing a more than $43 million apartment and retail building to be construct...
by northsouth
25 Oct 2022 22:06
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423581

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Mainly money, also a bit of the draw of a shiny new thing. Reagan's government was less willing to spend big bucks on heavy rail systems than his predecessors, especially after pretty much all of the Great Society era metro systems ended up being more expensive to build than originally thought. WMAT...
by northsouth
25 Oct 2022 20:49
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: DTD: West End Square
Replies: 72
Views: 53885

Re: DTD: West End Square

Went by today, updated dead tree total is 5 (four sycamores and one redbud). But in a better development, two of the swinging benches have been reinstalled!
by northsouth
20 Oct 2022 20:41
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: DTD: West End Square
Replies: 72
Views: 53885

Re: DTD: West End Square

Been walking through here on lunch breaks again recently now that the weather has finally cooled down, and it looks like some of the trees didn't make it through the summer drought. Super unfortunate. How’s the activity level here? Sometimes there a few people and others a bit more, but that might ...
by northsouth
19 Oct 2022 20:32
Forum: The Parks, Trails, + Miscellaneous Infrastructure
Topic: DTD: West End Square
Replies: 72
Views: 53885

Re: DTD: West End Square

Been walking through here on lunch breaks again recently now that the weather has finally cooled down, and it looks like some of the trees didn't make it through the summer drought.
by northsouth
16 Oct 2022 21:08
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423581

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Given how poorly DART maintains the elevators at the stations that have them, I don't have much faith in their ability to keep platform doors working well even on the underground stations on D2 where they plan to put them in. Off the top of my head, I don't know of any system anywhere that does plat...
by northsouth
14 Oct 2022 22:32
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423581

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Having to go over the wheels/axles is an issue for low floors. The middle trucks (sets of wheels) on DART's trains (and most LRVs) are unpowered (i.e. no big motor that has to go somewhere), so one thing that a lot of modern trams do in Europe is not have full-length axles on middle trucks, instead ...
by northsouth
13 Oct 2022 21:23
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423581

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

From what I remember from reading a board meeting presentation a few years ago, the plan (pre-covid at least) was to start introducing new trains to replace the oldest ones in 2025. The oldest trains were built in 1995, with a mid-lifetime rebuilt at 15 years (so around 2010; the program to add the ...