Construction on select DART Rail stations is now fully funded, enabling platforms to be raised to accommodate three-car trains.
The first two lines constructed on DART Rail, the Red and Blue, were built when only two-car trains were used. The Green and Orange lines newer stations were constructed to accommodate longer trains.
A total of 28 platforms are slated for renovated now that three-car trains are needed to accommodate increased ridership. The affected stations can be broken down into 20 Dallas stations, 4 in Richardson, 2 in Plano, and 2 in Garland.
DART estimates that it will take $128.8m to extend and/or raise parts of the platform to enable level boarding of three-car Light Rail Vehicle cars. Funding for the project will come from a variety of sources.
Federal money in the amount of $60.8m is coming from the Federal Transit Administration’s CIG program. The state’s contribution comes from a Texas Department of Transportation’s Mobility Fund and amounts to $60m.
Local DART backing via sales tax, in the amount of 1% earmarked for transit, will fund the remaining $8m. Often, municipalities will engage a printing service to create handouts explaining how their taxes are being used.
Now with funding secured, awarding contracts is next and, according to DART, will likely take place over the next few month. Platform extension will be accomplished in five phases. Continual operation of trains will take place throughout the extension.