Bullet Train Speeds Closer

Routes revealed for $10 billion Dallas-to-Houston bullet train project

The privately funded bullet train that aims to connect Dallas and Houston is continuing to move forward, as several potential rail routes between the two cities have been revealed. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) released maps of nine potential routes, although only two were "selected for detailed evaluation."

Evaluating potential routes is only one step in a federally mandated environmental impact statement process to assess the rail line, a process that could take several years to complete.

Tickets for the 90-minute train trip between Dallas and Houston will be competitive with airlines.

According to existing rail codes, the project's backers — who are paying for the evaluations — would have to purchase the properties that the proposed 205 mph rail would run through from the companies or agencies that currently own them.

The first public meeting addressing the project, held by officials from both FRA and TxDOT, took place in Dallas on Tuesday. The meeting drew unanimous support, according to the Texas Tribune, but also comments from residents and officials stating that selecting the right station locations is critical.

Most of the land needed by Texas Central Railway (TCR) is flat, meaning costs for tunnels and overpasses would be kept to a minimum. Still, the project will cost upward of $10 billion according to estimates, and its backers hope to have it completed by 2021. To offset the substantial cost, TCR has said that tickets for the 90-minute train trip between Dallas and Houston will be competitive with airlines.

More public meetings are planned, including a final meeting in Houston on October 29 at NRG Center.

Texas Central Railway's proposed high-speed train would take passengers from Houston to Dallas in 90 minutes.

Central Rail high-speed bullet train rail

Photo courtesy of JR Central

Texas Central Railway's proposed high-speed train would take passengers from Houston to Dallas in 90 minutes.

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DART News

DART to replace escalators at their only underground Dallas station

DART

DART Cityplace

Over the next three years, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is going to replace and refurbish six escalators and two elevators at the Cityplace/Uptown Station.

According to a release, replacing aging escalators is a component of DART's infrastructure improvement efforts and part of their commitment to maintaining a safe and reliable transit system.

Located at Haskell Avenue and US-75, the Cityplace/Uptown station is a stop on the Red Line, Blue Line, and Orange Line and also serves as a transfer point to the M-Line Trolley, which runs through Uptown.

While this work is underway, train service will remain unaffected. However, riders may experience minor inconveniences during the construction period. Accommodations for ADA passengers will be provided as needed.

To minimize disruption, no more than one escalator will be taken out of service at a time. Escalators at the station operate in pairs; therefore, when one is temporarily decommissioned for replacement, its counterpart will be designated for upward movement to assist passengers in accessing the platform without using stairs.

Their target completion date is 2028.

Here's a fun fact: The station is the only underground station on the DART rail system, as well as the only active underground rail station in the state of Texas. It's the stop point on a 3.5-mile tunnel that runs from downtown Dallas to SMU/Mockingbird station. Excavation began in 1991 and the station opened in 2000.

It's a "tri-level" station with escalators to boarding platforms that are located 10 stories, or 120 feet, below US-75. There are three pairs of escalators plus two inclined elevators plus a staircase with 213 steps total.

No public parking, however.

Entrances to the station are available on both sides of US-75: from the Cityplace Tower office building on the east frontage road, to the left and right of the entrance to the Cityplace Tower office building; and directly across the freeway on the west frontage road, on the edge of West Village.

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