DPatel304 wrote:I'm pretty sure I heard the existing rail infrastructure is not compatible with DART LRT. Meaning, even if we go with rail, we would still have to tear up the rail line and build a new one.
I have no idea if that's true or not, and I'm not sure if it would require a full tear-down, or if we could partially use the existing infrastructure. With the huge price tag of the project, I'd imagine we would basically have to start from scratch.
Using rail on the Cotton Belt doesn't always mean using DART SLRVs. The rolling stock could be commuter rail, like DCTA and TRE are using, or what FWTA will be using. Commuter rail could use all the existing bridges, railbed, and signals the freight railroad DGNO is using.
Running BRT on the Cotton Belt means removing DGNO and affecting many industries using the railroad in Carrolton. BRT will not be able to reuse any of the existing structures within the corridor. Installing BRT will require two 10-12 feet lanes for the through lanes, and possibly another two 10-12 feet lanes at the bus stops/stations. That's 40-48 feet of payment just for the bus lanes that needs to be laid in the 100 feet wide corridor, vs a single track 10 feet wide train in most of the corridor, expanding to 50 feet or so wide rail AND the platform infrastructure only at the stations.
BRT will be far noisier than the trains in far north Dallas. Buses can be just as noisy as trains, except for the train's horns which could be silenced with quiet zones.