Residents of a North Dallas neighborhood have expressed concerns about some issues with Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) new Silver Line between Plano and DFW Airport.
Unlike DART’s light rail network, Silver Line trains will not have overhead electric wires. Instead, the rail line will use independent diesel-electric cars to link Fort Worth with DFW Airport.
While the design of DART’s design-build contract is in the works, construction has started, and in the past several months, some residents have been voicing their fears at Dallas City Council meetings, according to a CBS 11 News report.
Resident Jocelyn Ickes, who lives near the rail path around Hillcrest Road, said she is worried that the project will cause a high water issue on the roadway, and Hillcrest will be flooded.
“I’m worried for the safety of my children,” Ickes said. “I’m worried about flooding of the streets. I’m worried that they’re going to cross train tracks.”
“We’re trying to make the train as safe as possible with less intrusion on our community in terms of our quality of life, and I think that’s completely reasonable,” City Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn said.
DART spokesman Gordon Shattles assured residents that the project is safe and is targeted for ease of travel.
“We’re going to continue doing everything we can to make sure people know, one that it’s coming and two, that it’s safe and hopefully makes their travel easier across North Texas,” Shattles said.
In regards to the potential water issue, Shattles further said that all necessary equipment would be installed. He also commented that the new arrangement might lead to the improvement of existing flooding problems.
Despite reassurances from DART, some residents insist that the rail path should be tunneled through the area or depressed in a trench to avoid disrupting the intersection of a hike and bike trail beside Meandering Way.
However, DART said the creeks that cross the rail path would make it difficult to depress or to tunnel through the area. According to DART officials, it would require elaborate pumps to move water over the depressed line.
DART maintained that the current arrangement is the best bet for the safety of residents. The transportation line also said that the grade crossings would be made in line with the standards of the Federal Railroad Administration and the City of Dallas.