Officials would like to speed up the arrival of the Cotton Belt—a planned rail line connecting Dallas to Plano—but that might require sacrificing service.
"A key part of fast-tracking rail service on the Cotton Belt line from DFW International to Plano hinges on lowering construction costs," according to an article by Brandon Formby. "To do that, Dallas Area Rapid Transit is considering single-tracking most of the route instead of double-tracking the entire path."
The project is currently expected to be complete by 2035. Single-tracking the line could speed up project completion to 2025.
Meanwhile, Cotton Belt planners are presented with the following dilemma: "Having two sets of tracks the entire way would allow trains to move in both directions without interfering with each other. But that's more expensive. Having one set is cheaper, but also comes with some operational inflexibility."
FULL STORY: Getting Cotton Belt rail service a decade early could come with some limitations
Seeking a Voice for Suburban Transit Interests in Dallas
An advocate for the Cotton Belt line to connect Dallas with suburbs to the north is tired of the project taking a backseat to the transit interests of the urban core.
Dallas Adopts an Urban-Centric Vision for its Transit Future
The Dallas City Council picked a side with regard to the D2 line (it prefers a subway to above ground light rail) and the proposed Cotton Belt line (it can wait).
DARTzoom System Redesign Launched for Dallas and Surrounding Cities
The Dallas region is the latest to update its transit system on a high-frequency grid with on-demand transit service to fill in the gaps.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
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BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule
The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.
Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.
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