![]() Some issues discovered during the EIS project, such as the presence of endangered species within the proposed construction area, can significantly lengthen the pre-planning process. The public transit agency is expected to accommodate public concerns as appropriate. This step of the process allows members of the public to provide feedback on issues such as noise abatement, vibration reduction, pollution, and concerns about the specific location of the preferred route. When the transit agency has identified the preferred location for a new route and has formed an idea of where the initial funding will come from, the agency must then conduct exhaustive environmental impact studies (EIS) to identify how the new construction will affect the surrounding area. ![]() This information is then presented to possible investors, and used to make an argument that the new route should receive funding from a local, state, or even federal level. During this stage, the agencies identify the projected cost of the project, the preferred route of the tracks and any possible alternatives, and how many riders they expect to patronize their services. ![]() It must be physically feasible to build a new route, and there must be both a regular customer base large enough to justify the substantial cost of construction and maintenance in the future. A better understanding of the process could help residents of Dallas-Fort Worth plan for our transportation future.Ĭlick to enlarge (Infographic: Joanna England)īefore proposing a new light rail or streetcar route, public transportation agencies will first examine population data and traffic patterns to identify where there is a need for additional services. However, what makes expanding the system to keep up with demand difficult isn’t so much that civic planners are unaware of the need for additional capacity, but that there is a complex pre-planning process that must be carried out before any new construction can begin. This gives ammunition to those who call for wider highways and more toll roads, and believe that public transportation cannot efficiently serve Dallas-area residents. One hour drive times, even for small errands, have created a population eager to invest in light rail, streetcars, and other forms of public transportation.ĭespite the demand, new public transportation projects and expansions to the existing system have been slow to materialize. Rail expert Hayley Enoch breaks down the long process of how new mass transit comes on line.ĭallas-area residents don’t have to travel too far from their driveways to see that our local highway system has not kept up with demand. It took years for the Oak Cliff Streetcar route to go from a dream to reality.
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