DART defers expansion plans as revenue shrinks
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Officials from Dallas Area Rapid Transit Tuesday announced the projected long-term shortfall in sales tax revenue will result in the indefinite delay in the third section of the Orange Line, from Irving to Terminal A at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, a second Downtown Dallas alignment (either LRT or streetcar), and the Blue Line extension from Ledbetter Station to the UNT Dallas campus.
The connection to Terminal A had been scheduled for completion in December 2013, the second downtown alignment for 2014, and the UNT Dallas extension for 2018.
DART spokesman Morgan Lyons stressed that more near-term expansion projects are not affected by the decision. These include completion of the Green Line from Pleasant Grove to Carrollton and the new Lake Highlands Station in December; the Blue Line extension from Garland to Rowlett; and the first two sections of the Orange Line from Bachman Station in Northwest Dallas to Irving in 2012.
The proposed 20-year financial plan includes $4.7 billion in capital project funds for the rail expansion and other projects, such as the planned purchase of new buses and other items required to maintain the agency’s state of good repair.
“We are pleased we will be able to maintain almost all of our current expansion. Every transit agency around the country is not so fortunate,” DART President Gary Thomas said. “At the same time, we are very disappointed that it does not appear we willcomplete all of our projects as planned. We will continue working to find ways to advance these projects as best we can based on the current and anticipated economic and financial conditions.”
More than 75% of DART’s income is from the collection of a 1% sales tax in each of the 13 cities served by DART. Anticipated sales tax receipts for fiscal year 2010 are expected to be between $13 million and $15 million below the original estimate of $387.8 million.
