City Encourages DART to Keep Orange Line on Time, Within Budget
City leaders participated in several meetings in January to encourage DART Board members to build its Orange Line on time and within budget. A $900 million dollar shortfall and possible project delays were revealed late last year.
The DART Board adopted a resolution on Jan. 22 confirming its intentions in accordance with the 20-year financial plan previously adopted by the board.
The city, Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, and Dallas County Utility and Reclamation District hosted a meeting on Jan. 15, where board members received a presentation and a tour of key development projects.
Many of the key developments planned for the area take into account the Orange Line rail that will run through Irving from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to Downtown Dallas. Projects planned for the area surrounding the proposed Las Colinas Station total $3.9 billion. These developments include 6.7 million square feet of office space, retail, restaurants, hotels, entertainment and civic space.
“This rail line will benefit the entire area and we are excited about all of the changes that are to come,” said City Manager Tommy Gonzalez.
The Orange Line also will make the Urban Center more accessible to rail passengers who live in Dallas, Plano, Richardson and Carrollton-Farmers Branch.
In addition to gathering more than 10,000 signatures of support from Irving residents andbusiness leaders, the chamber organized buses on three occasions for residents to attend the meetings.DART Key Focus Area