Search found 348 matches

by TNWE
17 Apr 2019 10:58
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Las Colinas/North Irving Development
Replies: 1519
Views: 1373512

Re: Las Colinas/North Irving Development

Finally we're getting a coffee shop in the Urban Center... A place called Pax & Beneficia has signed a lease in Water Street in the space right next to Go Fish Poke. Don't know much about it. Only Pax coffee shop I could find is in Kerrville, TX. So might be the same owners. Great addition, esp...
by TNWE
17 Apr 2019 10:48
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 419945

Re: DART D2 Subway

I have a dumb question that maybe someone on here can help with... Is it possible for the Brooville Liberty streetcars to run on the the DART light-rail tracks? I believe they use the same rail gauge, but I know nothing about other specs such as voltage, height limits, etc. I only ask because it se...
by TNWE
11 Apr 2019 12:12
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas - 505 North Ervay (owned by First Baptist)
Replies: 95
Views: 86893

Re: Downtown Dallas - 505 North Ervay (owned by First Baptist)

I don't have an issue with their beliefs or religion at all. I guess I'm just confused why there needs to be more convient parking here. If convenient parking is what the people want, then it would seem a suburban location would be more of a win-win, no? Perhaps I'm missing something about this par...
by TNWE
11 Apr 2019 10:49
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: DART D2 Subway
Replies: 508
Views: 419945

Re: DART D2 Subway

Can't wait to see what trips up the process this time. Last time it was NIMBYs in half a million dollar townhomes, and DART caved to them. There's no way the current plan gets through without another group finding some nit to pick and sending DART back to the drawing board for another 4 years...
by TNWE
11 Apr 2019 10:38
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas - 505 North Ervay (owned by First Baptist)
Replies: 95
Views: 86893

Re: Downtown Dallas - 505 North Ervay (owned by First Baptist)

Honestly, because The methodist church and the Baptist Church are close to each other... They create a huge dead space that offers nothing to downtown Dallas outside of Sunday. I'm surprised people even go there if "parkin'" is so bad... There's literally hundreds of Baptist/Methodist chu...
by TNWE
09 Apr 2019 10:29
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 402
Views: 446379

Re: Silver Line

Given that the Silver line will have separate rolling stock, I'd guess the branding will "stick" a little more because it is a standalone line. If future developments result in DART running additional DMU-based commuter service (like Frisco or Madill) there may be a rebrand, but for the ti...
by TNWE
01 Feb 2019 14:39
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 443021

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Isn't that true of most every mass transit system, though? To first and foremost provide mobility for those who can't afford any other alternative? city. Time to talk about Japan again. Japan IMO is the most effective and most successful system of all time. They have a model that makes money and co...
by TNWE
01 Feb 2019 14:08
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-345
Replies: 449
Views: 325640

Re: I-345

art_suckz wrote:If TXDot is left to their own devices they will turn it into that monstrosity that they put in downtown Carrollton.


Did we all completely forget the disastrous signature bridges? The City of Dallas can tell TxDOT how to do their jobs as soon as they fix the I-30 "bridge" :roll:
by TNWE
31 Jan 2019 15:21
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-30 South & East Dallas reconstruction
Replies: 131
Views: 126195

Re: I-30 South & East Dallas reconstruction

Surely you're not advocating for continuing to separate and strangle the city's neighborhoods with even bigger roads? Would you support expansion but moving highway below grade to reunify the surrounding areas? Sunken/decked freeways are good, but we shouldn't assume that plopping them in south and...
by TNWE
31 Jan 2019 12:31
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: I-30 South & East Dallas reconstruction
Replies: 131
Views: 126195

Re: I-30 South & East Dallas reconstruction

Time and again it's been empirically shown that expanding roadways leads to ever more traffic and congestion, in addition to killing neighborhoods and polluting the environment. Really hope recent developments signal a sea change in how this city thinks about and fights for a proper transportation ...
by TNWE
31 Jan 2019 11:39
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 443021

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

DART seems to be built for those who have no choice instead of trying to serve the area population as a whole. I'm not suggesting that it's a bad objective as it does provide an option to those who have no other option. But when you do that, you have little motivation for providing 'better' service...
by TNWE
29 Jan 2019 13:23
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Richardson: Eiland Coffee Roasters
Replies: 4
Views: 7699

Re: Richardson: Eiland Coffee Roasters

I read through the planning commission materials, and I'm concerned about the critical thinking skills of the Richardson homeowners who wrote to oppose- their only reasoning for opposing the Eiland development was to regurgitate the existing zoning restrictions - Newsflash- That's why it went to the...
by TNWE
29 Jan 2019 10:30
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: The Christopher @The Union (31 ST) + The Union office tower (22 ST)
Replies: 217
Views: 234861

Re: The Christopher @The Union (31 ST) + The Union office tower (22 ST)

100,000 sf lease says a lot. There is room for more, time to build even more! Given that SalesForce has been on a leasing spree lately, getting naming rights and/or flagship tenant status on big towers in major cities, is it possible that they only leased as much space as they did so they could be ...
by TNWE
28 Jan 2019 15:05
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Northpark Center
Replies: 1642
Views: 882148

Re: Northpark Center

^ I do think a JW Marriott hotel is sorely needed in Dallas but this is 100% the wrong place to put it. A hotel like that belongs downtown. Putting something like that at Northpark is the type of sprawl that created the mess we have on our freeways and the smog in the air. It is the exact opposite ...
by TNWE
25 Jan 2019 14:23
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Collin Creek Mall
Replies: 84
Views: 81537

Re: Collin Creek Mall

Sweet^ It's a no-brainer; I'm not so concerned what sort of vehicle is used, just that the connection is made, Mall-Downtown-Cotton Belt. Didn't DART experiment with rubber-tired trolleys connecting suburban locales to rail stations back in the 90s and early 2000s? I know they're a lot cheaper than...
by TNWE
25 Jan 2019 10:30
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 402
Views: 446379

Re: the Cotton Belt line

I'm sure this is mentioned in plans somewhere, but is the North Lake station planned to be within walking/scootering distance of Cypress Waters? I've seen maps that mention a Cypress Waters alternative, but that seems to be a pretty compelling spot to have a station. If I remember correctly, Billin...
by TNWE
25 Jan 2019 10:08
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: TexRail
Replies: 178
Views: 184785

Re: TexRail

Great report, itsjrd1964. I took a similar trip on Monday the 14th. There are also no TEXRail signs at the T&P Station in Fort Worth and only a screen mentioning TEXRail at the ITC station. I emailed Trinity Metro about these problems and they said they are working on their station signage and ...
by TNWE
24 Jan 2019 11:15
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 402
Views: 446379

Re: the Cotton Belt line

The main issue with this idea is that it requires significant aerial construction at both the DFW and Plano ends, full overhead electrification, and (most difficult) closing the Cotton Belt line to all freight traffic. Right now, DART owns the ROW and makes money leasing track capacity to freight ra...
by TNWE
23 Jan 2019 10:38
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: TexRail
Replies: 178
Views: 184785

Re: TexRail

Thanks jrd. Good stuff! It is funny about about the station to terminal signage. I swear, when I talk to some folks about the DFW DART stop, they talk like it's a mile walk to the terminal, and not possible. It seems that anybody who us used to transit ridership has no issue with short walk to eith...
by TNWE
22 Jan 2019 10:55
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Las Colinas/North Irving Development
Replies: 1519
Views: 1373512

Re: Las Colinas/North Irving Development

More about the Texican Court hotel, with pictures. Looks like something Motel 6 or Alamo Plaza would do in Santa Fe. A little surprised about the exterior-entrance rooms. In most new hotel construction these days, the rooms face inside. https://www.guidelive.com/fun-places-and-events/2019/01/16/hot...
by TNWE
21 Jan 2019 14:31
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: Bryan Tower
Replies: 50
Views: 42021

Re: Downtown Dallas: Bryan Tower

I would love for Energy Plaza and one of the Southland Center towers to turn residential in the future, otherwise they'll have to build on top of the many parking garages here to make it a neighborhood. Energy Plaza is poorly suited to residential conversion- the utility and elevator core eats up a...
by TNWE
21 Jan 2019 11:18
Forum: The Airports
Topic: DFW Airport
Replies: 420
Views: 350174

Re: DFW Airport

The next terminal addition is likely to abandon the horseshoe layout. With the design departure from existing terminals should come the expansion readiness to accommodate a competitive hub to oneworld & AA. I don't see how the future terminal F doesn't substantially copy Terminal D- the Skylink...
by TNWE
21 Jan 2019 10:18
Forum: The Bus + Roads/Highways/Bridges
Topic: Dallas: Loop 12
Replies: 2
Views: 7191

Re: Dallas: Loop 12

The bill is one of many being submitted by lawmakers as the Texas Legislature gets underway in Austin. There’s no guarantee the bill will even get a hearing in front of a committee, much less make it to the floor for a vote. Not gonna happen. Just a meaningless gesture that he can point to when vot...
by TNWE
19 Jan 2019 14:01
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: First Baptist Church
Replies: 36
Views: 29491

Re: Downtown Dallas: First Baptist Church

Never thought I'd see the day when there would be check-in kiosks at a church. It's not an airport or hotel. Pretty much anything dealing with childcare (which includes church Sunday school) these days has to have some sort of record of who picked up or dropped off kids. It's a bit unusual to see k...
by TNWE
17 Jan 2019 16:32
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Dallas: Medical District
Replies: 179
Views: 149615

Re: Dallas: Medical District

You misunderstand "net worth"- someone can own a $300k home, but if the mortgage balance is $250k, they're not in the highest percentiles of wealth. If you look at the SCF with this quick shortcut calculator you can either include or exclude home equity in the assets. https://dqydj.com/ne...
by TNWE
17 Jan 2019 11:11
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Dallas: Medical District
Replies: 179
Views: 149615

Re: Dallas: Medical District

261k is no extravagant home for sure, but if you have that plus $50k in other assets, your net worth is in the top quartile of Dallas County residents. I estimate this because the Federal Reserve's latest Survey of Consumer Finance says that a $361,000 net worth is above 71st percentile nationwide ...
by TNWE
14 Jan 2019 16:59
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: The Grocery Store Thread 2.0
Replies: 51
Views: 54699

Re: The Grocery Store Thread 2.0

Amazon/Wholw Foods cancels Whole Foods 365 store plans. https://www.foodandwine.com/news/whole-foods-365-stores-ending From the article, it sounds like the 365 brand is going away, but the broader strategy is being retained (i.e. lower prices on staple items). Not really surprising as the 365 conce...
by TNWE
14 Jan 2019 15:57
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: TexRail
Replies: 178
Views: 184785

Re: TexRail

The same could be said for DART itself... It's fare structure essentially benefits long distance commuters the most, while penalizing the short haul. For example, commuting from cityline to Victory Park would cost the same as commuting from Pearl Arts station to Victory Park. As such, you end up di...
by TNWE
14 Jan 2019 11:20
Forum: Suburban + Exurban Development
Topic: Grapevine: Grapevine Mills
Replies: 10
Views: 13068

Re: Grapevine: Grapevine Mills

The mall has landed the first US location of Peppa Pig's World of Play, based on the children's show from the UK. It will open next year. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/leisure/2018/06/05/grapevine-mills-get-first-us-location-peppa-pig-play-center Update: the Peppa Pig's World of Play space is...
by TNWE
14 Jan 2019 11:08
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: TexRail
Replies: 178
Views: 184785

Re: TexRail

There is a walkway between the DART light rail and the TexRail area at DFW. It is adjacent to the Crossunder that is just north of the 2 stations. The first pic is on the DART side, with the DART area on the left, and the walkway under the bridge and leading off to the right of the pic. The other p...
by TNWE
12 Jan 2019 00:11
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 443021

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

https://www.dart.org/about/inmotion/winter18/images/trainseats.jpg I was on a bus not too long ago that had a few (not all) of the seats redone in this blue color. You can't tell from the picture, but there is a bit of texture in the vinyl, it's not shiny-smooth. I guess it'll be easier to tell if ...
by TNWE
11 Jan 2019 09:01
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 443021

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

I'm also not much a fan of the cloth 'padding' on the seats. I realize its considered a bit of a luxury item, but it always seems a bit ikky to me (okay, yes... I'm a little OCD). Who knows what has been spilled there previously? I'd love for a long, uniform piece of stainless steel running the len...
by TNWE
10 Jan 2019 13:13
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 443021

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

but the current stock has a very tiny portion of low-floor area compared to most other LRT systems in North America. As someone who rarely rides the DART, I do hope they address this with the newest trains. I'm sure frequent DART riders would disagree with me, as the current trains offer a lot more...
by TNWE
10 Jan 2019 12:05
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 443021

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Saw this nugget buried in a DART rail replacement project overview on slide 8 ( https://www.dart.org/about/board/boardagendas/constructionitem2_08jan19.pdf ): Replacement of the rail will eliminate the ongoing maintenance issues, regauge the rail throughout the CBD, eliminating the use of transition...
by TNWE
09 Jan 2019 16:18
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Deep Ellum 1.0
Replies: 1024
Views: 798145

Re: Deep Ellum 1.0

I think you would do better being in Oak Cliff if you want to maintain the "small town feel" after all Deep Ellum is a part of a major Downtown despite it not being the center of DFW life. Its likely hood of maintaining all aspects of the small township is a losing battle. Most if not all...
by TNWE
09 Jan 2019 14:11
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Deep Ellum 1.0
Replies: 1024
Views: 798145

Re: Deep Ellum 1.0

Bittersweet Day as 121-Year-Old Deep Ellum Business Makes Way for Progress https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/121-Year-Old-Dallas-Butcher-Company-Closing-504042041.html "They're hoping to see a CVS or a bank go in here, instead of another bar." God no, I hope it's not another CVS! They're ...
by TNWE
09 Jan 2019 10:42
Forum: City Issues/News
Topic: Corporate Relocations/Expansions
Replies: 767
Views: 551808

Re: Corporate Relocations/Expansions

If I were a Lake Dallas resident, I might be a little bit unhappy with the tone in this thread. Thank God, I'm not. I don't think your typical LD resident reads this forum, nor do they particularly care what the forum might think of their city. As for the HQ site selection, the article says it all:...
by TNWE
07 Jan 2019 15:51
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: AMLI Fountain Place (562 FT / 46 ST)
Replies: 789
Views: 822467

Re: Downtown Dallas: AMLI Fountain Place (562 FT / 46 ST)

I’m just curious as to why it is not running below grade all the way through Victory? I would assume part of it is cost but did not know if there were other major factors. TIA for any insight. As far as I know, there hasn't been any uproar about the tracks being at-grade through Victory Park; so wh...
by TNWE
03 Jan 2019 11:51
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 402
Views: 446379

Re: the Cotton Belt line

^ That's why I said "pretty much all". But they still had to submit bids for each project, and there are relatively few firms that have the experience and capabilities to deliver major rail transit projects. Insinuating that all their project work is no-bid handouts based on an article by...
by TNWE
02 Jan 2019 12:11
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: TexRail
Replies: 178
Views: 184785

Re: TexRail

I still don't understand why Collyville rejected a station. Because in their warped minds, they equate public transportation with poor people and criminals. They're the kind of people who rent a car when to go to Manhattan, and drive it so they can go see Times Square. I hear that attitude from an ...
by TNWE
02 Jan 2019 12:02
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: TexRail
Replies: 178
Views: 184785

Re: TexRail

I still don't understand why Collyville rejected a station. Collyville did not wish to pay for a train station. Bingo- Colleyville doesn't have a huge number of residents who work in Downtown FW or at the airport, and the ones that do wish to take transit to DTFW are probably already driving to a T...
by TNWE
24 Dec 2018 13:57
Forum: The Airports
Topic: Dallas Love Field Airport
Replies: 98
Views: 105533

Re: Dallas Love Field Airport

Starting Aug 27, 2019, Alaska is expanding their flights out of DAL again. Per airliners.net: PDX 3x daily (+1) SAN 2x daily (+1) SEA 4x daily (+2) SFO 4x daily (+1) SJC 3x daily (+1) LAX 3x daily 19 AS, 5 DL, and SWA is expanding to 195 flights a day in January. Going to be one busy airport, both ...
by TNWE
19 Dec 2018 10:58
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 402
Views: 446379

Re: the Cotton Belt line

Archer Western gets pretty much all of DARTs rail construction contracts, without actually having to bid on them. https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/low-bid-to-no-bid-6373777 At present, as far as I can tell, her original $5.6 million contract is now worth $429.2 million—a 770 percent increase in ...
by TNWE
17 Dec 2018 15:00
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Silver Line
Replies: 402
Views: 446379

Re: the Cotton Belt line

I missed this from a few days ago, but DART has selected Archer Western Herzog to build the Cotton Belt- they're the same JV currently wrapping up on TexRail, so I imagine that experience had a lot to do with winning the contract... https://www.dart.org/about/board/boardagendas/wholeitem15_11dec18.pdf
by TNWE
17 Dec 2018 14:16
Forum: Rail + Guided Transit
Topic: Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Replies: 519
Views: 443021

Re: Dallas Area Rapid Transit

One of the most glaring inadequacies, particularly relevant for a place like Dallas with lower frequencies, is bus-rail timed connections. US transit agencies typically set those schedules completely separately from each other under the impression that they serve different groups with little overla...
by TNWE
14 Dec 2018 09:16
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Arts District: 1900 Pearl (362 FT | 25 ST)
Replies: 203
Views: 192153

Re: Arts District: 1900 Pearl (362 FT | 25 ST)

I think someone is just a little panty twisted that a DOWNTOWN office building (You guys refuse to accept that a Downtown property is in fact Downtown. It's not Uptown, so what is it, UpDownTown? TownUpDown?) leased up a large amount of unspoken for office space right before completion. Done with t...
by TNWE
13 Dec 2018 21:11
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Could Dallas land Amazon HQ '2'?
Replies: 1075
Views: 903080

Re: Could Dallas land Amazon HQ '2'?

Keep in mind that Seattle is relatively new to the rail-based transit game - They've only had light rail/streetcars for a decade or so, and Amazon's Seattle campus is only connected to the streetcar. Seattle is still a bus-first transit city, so I'd have a hard time taking them seriously if they sa...
by TNWE
13 Dec 2018 19:35
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Could Dallas land Amazon HQ '2'?
Replies: 1075
Views: 903080

Re: Could Dallas land Amazon HQ '2'?

I never understood proposals such as this one, or ones along the Cotton Belt line. For a company that emphasized how important public transit is, I couldn't see them seriously considering a location out in the suburbs with one proposed station. Even if it wasn't a proposed station and it did exist,...
by TNWE
13 Dec 2018 17:54
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Could Dallas land Amazon HQ '2'?
Replies: 1075
Views: 903080

Re: Could Dallas land Amazon HQ '2'?

I never understood proposals such as this one, or ones along the Cotton Belt line. For a company that emphasized how important public transit is, I couldn't see them seriously considering a location out in the suburbs with one proposed station. Even if it wasn't a proposed station and it did exist,...
by TNWE
13 Dec 2018 17:30
Forum: Urban Development
Topic: Downtown Dallas: 2000 Ross Project
Replies: 654
Views: 551999

Re: Downtown Dallas: 2000 Ross Project

I am new to this process but I do have a question. Assuming they only build the parking garage, which seems very likely, is it not possible for an individual or the city to take legal action against such projects? It makes me very uncomfortable that a developer can go to the city, present a project...