Plans for DART’s billion-dollar subway project have been removed from the agency’s 20-year financial plan, but the idea may not have been scratched completely.
The D2 Subway Project was discussed for years and was expected to cost taxpayers around $1.7 billion, according to NBC 5 DFW.
DART’s 20-year plan evaluates the agency’s finances and determines what priorities to focus on. The plan can be amended each year to adjust for new circumstances that may arise.
Gordon Shattles, a spokesperson for DART, said last week that the agency plans to use the funds on other projects.
“So now to be able to take the funds out of our 20-year plan, we can spend them on new and exciting programs like our cleanliness, reliability and safety programs,” he said, per NBC 5.
Shattles added that DART ridership decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic and is still only at 68% of the levels it reached in 2019, per D Magazine.
Similarly, Shattles said that work-from-home trends and changes around Dallas and surrounding areas contributed to the agency’s decision to remove the project from the plans, reported WFAA.
Although the D2 Subway has been removed from this year’s financial plan, Shattles said it could be added back if trends change.
“As we move forward, we’re going to continue monitoring those trends,” said Shattles, per NBC 5. “If ridership increases it’s something we can revisit.”
Patrick Kennedy, an appointee to DART’s board of directors, confirmed that the project had not been entirely scratched.
“Taking it off the 20-year financial plan doesn’t mean it’s dead,” said Kennedy, according to D Magazine. “It can always be added back at any time. The big issue is it takes up a lot of space on the 20-year financial plan, therefore you can’t do anything else.”
Shattles said the agency would focus on improving existing services, such as buses and trains, per WFAA.
Plans for the D2 Subway Project were unanimously approved by the Dallas City Council in 2021.
A press release following the project’s approval stated the goal was to “add long-term passenger carrying capacity to the DART light rail system and provide operational flexibility and added reliability — especially important for the thousands of riders that use the DART system every day to get to work, services, and school.”
Initial plans for the project had it running from Victory Park to Deep Ellum, with three subway stations and one above-ground station at Museum Way.
Following DART’s decision to remove the D2 Subway Project, some residents have begun to consider other options.
Jennifer Scripps, CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc., said that streetcars are a cheaper alternative with a proven track record in other cities.
“Streetcars have proven to be good generators for street-level activity. They provide retail opportunities and they’re really excellent for tourism. So, those are all things that downtown would love to see. It could be a real amenity,” said Scripps, per NBC 5.
Streetcars also have an advantage in that they could be used in conjunction with a potential high-speed rail station.
Amtrak announced on August 9 that they are “exploring” how they can partner with Texas Central to develop a high-speed train between Dallas and Houston.
“We believe many of the country’s biggest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas, like Houston and Dallas, deserve more high quality high-speed, intercity rail service and we are proud to bring our experience to evaluate this potential project and explore opportunities with Texas Central so the state can meet its full transportation needs,” said Andy Byford, Amtrak senior vice president of high-speed rail development programs, per a press release.