Search found 348 matches

by TNWE
27 Sep 2021 10:32
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail
Replies: 556
Views: 455085

Re: DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail

Or keep it open and eat the maintenance costs because it's there and some people want to use it? Top That's not really a theoretical. Private entities build stuff regularly and the government takes them over if they feel they are valuable. Neighborhood streets in newer master-planned communities ar...
by TNWE
14 Sep 2021 11:17
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Corporate Relocations/Expansions
Replies: 765
Views: 529664

Re: Corporate Relocations/Expansions

So much for those folks who seemed so sure our elected officials wouldn't negatively impact business activity with their far-right extremist laws: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/11/salesforce-texas-abortion-law So SalesForce will still stay in Texas? I wonder how many will actually en...
by TNWE
14 Sep 2021 10:40
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

I wish it made logistical sense to wrap the DART trains being used in the State Fair loop with a Texas-OU/State Fair wrap to make it a little more obvious. Maybe after they get all the destination boards on a train car to show the same (correct) destination, they can tackle operating specific wrapp...
by TNWE
14 Sep 2021 10:32
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail
Replies: 556
Views: 455085

Re: DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail

Now, let's assume the worse. Texas Central declares bankruptcy 8 years after initiating train services. What does the Federal government do with 240 miles of HSR tracks and three HSR train stations in Texas? Abandon it to rot in place, or give it all to Amtrak? But wouldn't that costs the taxpayers...
by TNWE
16 Aug 2021 10:54
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

at least someone at DART has recognized that any two branches of the network can be connected, rather than blindly following the paths set 10-20 years ago... Ideally they should do this for all trains! Just like the redline/orange line dynamic, they should alternate north/south forks going east/wes...
by TNWE
13 Aug 2021 13:24
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

https://www.dart.org/shareroot/about/expansion/d2/D2SubwayEastEndPublicMeeting05aug21.pdf A look at the proposed solutions of what to do with the east end of D2. Looking at Slide 26 - seems like someone at DART decided to listen to me :lol: Granted it's just an accompaniment to the long-shot altern...
by TNWE
03 May 2021 11:06
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

Couldn't support the weight of the trains? The concrete "tunnel" was a bridge built for a freight rail yard...I find that hard to believe. Nonetheless, I really want to see D2 come to fruition. The rapid growth and densification of Dallas now necessitate a subway system. To be clear, D2 i...
by TNWE
29 Apr 2021 09:54
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: DART: Bus system
Replies: 105
Views: 114932

Re: DART: Bus system

Service on Arapaho between 75 and Coit disappears completely as well, meaning no access to Richardson Library or City Hall. That's a major early voting location - does that mean we can drag Jarret Walker & Co through the mud for voter suppression? There's actually a westward extension of the Na...
by TNWE
28 Apr 2021 15:11
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: DART: Bus system
Replies: 105
Views: 114932

Re: DART: Bus system

Yikes, that's highly unfortunate. It really sounds like more funding is needed so that current bus routes can be kept in tact and additional frequency can be added to a few select routes, but I doubt that'll happen anytime soon. Perhaps the idea is to screw over people in the short term with the ho...
by TNWE
28 Apr 2021 14:06
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: DART: Bus system
Replies: 105
Views: 114932

Re: DART: Bus system

Sounds like a step in the right direction. Of course, I'm saying this as someone who rarely rides the bus, so perhaps people who rely on it might have a different opinion. Either way, I'm glad there is at least some focus on improving the bus infrastructure. I've ridden the bus some crosstown throu...
by TNWE
28 Apr 2021 13:34
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 401
Views: 421124

Re: Silver Line

Plano City Council OKs permits to allow DART transit stations along 12th Street https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/plano/transportation/2021/04/26/plano-city-council-oks-permits-to-allow-dart-transit-stations-along-12th-street/ So, the 12th Street light rail station will be Dart's first ...
by TNWE
24 Apr 2021 14:12
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-345
Replies: 426
Views: 306698

Re: I-345

Requiring more affordable/subsidized housing in Collin county will aid the workers far more than retaining a highway so poor people from South Dallas can get to a job on Coco.... I'm not sure what was the point of deflecting to Collin County (Plano, richardson etc). When I say the North, it is quit...
by TNWE
19 Apr 2021 20:50
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-345
Replies: 426
Views: 306698

Re: I-345

Next. The article and report make no qualms about hiding their bias. They are FOR street level and only present I345 trench option as a straw man. They hide the benefit of loop redundancy with the trench, assume NO deck parks will be built, b/c they are "expensive" and require maintenance...
by TNWE
12 Apr 2021 16:03
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

The Deep Ellum community fought HARD to keep the Good-Latimer grade separation, especially the Gaston tunnel. The murals lining the tunnel were a beloved gateway to the area. Similarly, the vast majority of current residents are strongly opposed to replacing I-345 at grade. That effort, like so man...
by TNWE
29 Mar 2021 13:33
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Not really surprising - DART ... set the constraints that they weren't buying more buses. And that's the root of the issue with this plan. When DART's cut as much service as it has over the years, there isn't much the agency can do to provide good service for ridership or coverage. At some point th...
by TNWE
29 Mar 2021 10:48
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

https://dartzoom.dart.org/docs/default-source/draft-network/report-on-draft-new-network-20210305-print-quality.pdf?sfvrsn=3a27e527_4 DART recently released the draft plan for the DART Zoom redesigned bus network. The frequent routes they picked make sense, but it's staggering to see just how few of...
by TNWE
29 Mar 2021 10:25
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

The construction would look something like this, where they put in retaining walls and dig out the station box all the way down to track level (except once they finish digging things out, they'll deck over the hole with a temporary road surface) They'll then build up from that level, adding the mez...
by TNWE
26 Mar 2021 11:32
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

My understanding is that Commerce station itself will be cut-and-cover, as will the other two underground stations and the tunnels from them to the portals, but the sections in between the stations will be bored. Hmm well then that further complicates the question. Commerce Station has an entrance ...
by TNWE
23 Mar 2021 12:45
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

Really, so silly. Just dumb. Boulevard the thing. It would harm absolutely no one (and be great in many ways). Except for all the extra thru traffic that gets dumped onto 30/35/366, since all the rosy predictions about the efficacy of an at-grade boulevard replacement assumed Trinity Parkway would ...
by TNWE
23 Mar 2021 12:34
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-345
Replies: 426
Views: 306698

Re: I-345

What solutions have the tear down proponents offered other than "everything will just work out"? 1) You might not agree with the solution, but they've shown many examples of how many comparable highway tearouts have been done elsewhere . The specific road changes for Dallas would need to ...
by TNWE
23 Mar 2021 12:12
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

When did an I-345 tunnel/trench become a viable option? This is so silly. Either eliminate I-345 or rebuild it. I absolutely prefer rebuilding I-345 with a much smaller footprint, two interfaces, one with each downtown street grid. Really, so silly. Just dumb. Boulevard the thing. It would harm abs...
by TNWE
19 Mar 2021 13:15
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

I haven't followed the *dramatic saga of DART D2* as closely as many, so from my limited knowledge on the topic... This basically means it's dead in the water for now, right? No.See patrick kennedys twitter. Basically ,he's saying engineering the subway and a trenched 345 is NOT the point of conten...
by TNWE
16 Mar 2021 11:25
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Posted this in the D2 thread as well, but the City of Dallas has informed DART that they won't be able to fund their share of Streetcar operational costs. Based on the limited funding available, the proposed service pattern after April is 6:30 AM - 7 PM, Monday-Saturday, at a 40 minute frequency. ht...
by TNWE
16 Mar 2021 11:19
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

Nothing will be built lol Yup - the City has already told DART it's no longer interested in paying to run the Streetcar at any meaningful frequency, citing a shortfall in the city's General Fund that was previously the source of streetcar O&M funds. https://www.dart.org/about/board/boardagendas...
by TNWE
04 Feb 2021 13:03
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Knox District / Knox Park
Replies: 813
Views: 580573

Re: Knox / Henderson - Knox Street Side

Can anyone find any indication that the feasibility study was ever done? I can’t comment on the above, but peep page 69 of the DART Reference Book. • City of Dallas working with NCTCOG to study potential extension to Knox Street, including potential upgrades to accommodate modern streetcar in the M...
by TNWE
04 Feb 2021 11:25
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DCTA (Denton Co. Transportation Authority)
Replies: 24
Views: 27074

Re: DCTA (Denton Co. Transportation Authority)

Interesting nugget from a DART board presentation on the interlocal agreement for cost-sharing with DCTA (Slide 6 of this deck: I knew that there was a structure for sharing regional fare revenue, but never knew that DCTA actually paid a (very nominal) fee for DART to run a 3rd car. Assuming 2 peak...
by TNWE
02 Feb 2021 13:14
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DCTA (Denton Co. Transportation Authority)
Replies: 24
Views: 27074

Re: DCTA (Denton Co. Transportation Authority)

Interesting nugget from a DART board presentation on the interlocal agreement for cost-sharing with DCTA (Slide 6 of this deck: https://www.dart.org/about/board/boardagendas/adminitem4_26jan21.pdf) • DCTA shall compensate DART for an “Impact Fee” when the loads transferring to the DART Green Line tr...
by TNWE
27 Jan 2021 12:36
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

^ Are you sure they weren't talking about flanges? https://www.reliance-foundry.com/blog/single-and-double-flanged-metal-wheel-difference#gref I was making a reference to the Friends finale, where Phoebe tries to get Rachel to not take the plane to Paris by saying "there are no phalanges on th...
by TNWE
27 Jan 2021 10:57
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

That's a PR/marketing and publicity staff member probably a intern level employee making that mistake. Lord knows we know DART has been pushing the same marketing angle since I was in high school. I remember when they would visit my school and teach us train safety. Their messaging hasn't changed a...
by TNWE
25 Jan 2021 13:40
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

https://www.dart.org/about/inmotion/winter21/2.asp Current projected opening dates for projects under construction: -Hidden Ridge Station - first half of this year -Platform Extensions - late fall of this year -Silver Line - March 2023 Already, 16 stations have been completed, and another six are u...
by TNWE
14 Jan 2021 21:30
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

The Cityplace tunnel isn't any more of a constraint than any other section of track not named the Downtown Transit Mall. The capacity North of the Pearl wye is unaffected no matter what direction the trains go when they pop out the other side of Downtown. Right now there are 12 trains per hour (tph...
by TNWE
14 Jan 2021 10:30
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings
Replies: 636
Views: 626530

Re: Uptown Dallas: Business Openings and Closings

Awful news. I had really hoped we were past the point of seeing this suburban developments in prime areas like Uptown. The success of Uptown has always been rooted in the fact that it provides an urban lifestyle (being able to walk to bars and events) while retaining all the conveniences of suburbi...
by TNWE
12 Jan 2021 22:14
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 402404

Re: DART D2 Subway

Also, IMO the best course of action after D2 is to stop running the Orange Line up the North Central Corridor and double the frequencies of Red/Blue line trains to make up for it whenever DART has the resources to do so. Otherwise the Cityplace tunnel will still constrain the outer Red, Blue, and O...
by TNWE
12 Jan 2021 11:04
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: Margaret McDermott Bridge by Santiago Calatrava
Replies: 148
Views: 114855

Re: Margaret McDermott Bridge by Santiago Calatrava

The separation is intentional. The original signage and striping plan has cyclists and pedestrians in their own spaces on the approaches and on the bridge itself. On the bridge pedestrians transition to the raised portion while cyclists continue in their own 'bike lane'. I really hope they plan to ...
by TNWE
11 Jan 2021 19:31
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: DART: Bus system
Replies: 105
Views: 114932

Re: DART: Bus system

But energy is being exerted by the buses already regardless if people right them or not. More people riding buses that already exist and are already circulating would mean energy savings, right? I understand that buses only start to make sense after a certain number of people are riding it, but wha...
by TNWE
11 Jan 2021 12:28
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Dallas to get another Area Code
Replies: 7
Views: 9597

Re: Dallas to get another Area Code

Since groups of phone numbers aren't assigned in such big groups as were done in the past (1000 numbers at a time now -vs- 10,000 numbers at a time before), new area codes aren't needed as often. A lot of the concern about number exhaustion has been alleviated by the proliferation of low-cost (comp...
by TNWE
11 Jan 2021 11:59
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: DART: Bus system
Replies: 105
Views: 114932

Re: DART: Bus system

DART is looking to purchase a "long range battery electric bus" with some remaining funds from the grant they received to buy the 7 Proterra buses for D-Link (that have since been repurposed for regular routes). This bus is also made by Proterra and has a stated range of 275 miles. Looks l...
by TNWE
11 Jan 2021 10:46
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Trinity Railway Express
Replies: 11
Views: 14171

Re: Trinity Railway Express

I wish to let every HO modeler aware that a well known company from Canada is releasing limited editions of TRE F59PH locomotives and BiLevel cars this year (2021). So, if you are interested, now is the time to pre-order them at your local hobby shop. As an aside, I wish other DCTA, TexRail, and DA...
by TNWE
11 Jan 2021 10:22
Forum: The Airports
Topic: American Airlines
Replies: 32
Views: 34135

Re: American Airlines

American Airlines ground crews plead for help amid COVID-19 outbreaks Unions at DFW, LAX and MIA said dozens of employees a day are out on leave due to new coronavirus cases. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2021/01/08/american-airlines-mechanic-crews-plead-for-help-amid-covid-19-outbre...
by TNWE
08 Jan 2021 09:09
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-345
Replies: 426
Views: 306698

Re: I-345

So you want to route traffic going from Woodall Rodgers to East Dallas and Deep Ellum along a winding path of downtown streets through downtown and the Arts District? You really want to dump all that thru traffic onto downtown streets? Actually, I've taken that route more than a few times. And it s...
by TNWE
08 Jan 2021 08:08
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail
Replies: 556
Views: 455085

Re: DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail

^they should, and continue TRE to Fair Park, Mesquite, Forney and Terrell. Didn't UP shoot down a proposal to run TRE trains through to Fair Park for TX-OU? I recall it being something about insurance or liability. As northsouth noted, reworking <1 mile of track to accommodate a TRE platform at the...
by TNWE
07 Jan 2021 12:39
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-345
Replies: 426
Views: 306698

Re: I-345

That modified footprint was one of the options presented in the City Map studies of I recall correctly (image) Oh man, the empty median in that image is still huge. If they go for the 4-lane elevated option they need to make it one narrow viaduct with a jersey barrier to preserve space. That means ...
by TNWE
07 Jan 2021 12:03
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail
Replies: 556
Views: 455085

Re: DALLAS to HOUSTON High Speed Rail

DART could tie the Texas Central HSR station to Union Station with its sole remaining RDC using the freight tracks, or just extend all the TRE trains there. They all idle for some time at Union Station anyways, they could just idle for less time a mile further south. If they did, there would be an ...
by TNWE
07 Jan 2021 11:41
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 401
Views: 421124

Re: Silver Line

Plano receives 16,000 feet of additional rail for DART Silver Line construction Sixteen thousand feet of rail — 200 sections, each one 80 feet long — recently arrived in Plano for DART’s Silver. The rails were delivered Dec. 18 on a special train from Steel Dynamics of Indiana to an area east of Sh...
by TNWE
07 Jan 2021 11:32
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: TexRail
Replies: 178
Views: 172851

Re: TexRail

February 2019 ridership: 32,998 March 2019: 39,093 April 2019: 33,589 May 2019: 35,878 June 2019: 39,154 July 2019: 41,818 August 2019: 42,637 September 2019: 43,757 October 2019: 41,943 November 2019: 44,741 (1,491 per day; about 21 people per train) December 2019: 51,217 January 2020: 43,795 Febr...
by TNWE
09 Dec 2020 10:29
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 401
Views: 421124

Re: Silver Line

https://www.dart.org/about/board/boardagendas/planningitem7_08dec20.pdf Interesting info on page 31: Approval from FTA received on November 12, 2020 for locating the EMF at DCTA – “The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has reviewed the supplemental environmental documentation DART submitted for ...
by TNWE
08 Dec 2020 15:43
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-345
Replies: 426
Views: 306698

Re: I-345

I haven't heard any updates about I-345 in a while. I used to be in the 'tear it down' camp, but now I'm pretty on board with keeping it. It would be nice if it were possible to 'skinny' it up a little bit, sell some of the excess land to developers, and make the area underneath the highway much mo...
by TNWE
07 Dec 2020 22:40
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

https://www.dart.org/about/board/boardagendas/planningitem7_08dec20.pdf Some interesting bits: -Instead of just extending the platforms and adding/moving humps, 5 stations (Mockingbird, 8th & Corinth, Westmoreland, LBJ/Skillman, Downtown Garland) will have full platform raises (as did Ledbetter...
by TNWE
03 Dec 2020 12:35
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Thanks for your reply and efforts over the years making this list. The thing I would like to point out is the stations on your list with different colors on the roll. 8th and Corinth with red and blue Cedars with red and blue Bachman with green and orange Parker Road with red and orange Fair Park w...
by TNWE
02 Dec 2020 10:39
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 423596

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Also wow that sign with Park Lane in Blue, looks like they hadn't ruled out that service pattern initially. The old temporary platform from the starter system still exists (https://goo.gl/maps/PZDWvGHkVj6ACYkb7) and theoretically could be put back into service if they installed TVMs and opened up s...