Residents for Improving Dart Efficiency and Ridership

8/2/19 Responses from dart #1

City of Dallas Resolution 1) DART Considered 2) DART Non-Compliant -No Interlocal signed -MPH change

Please see the responses to your questions as of 8/2/19. We will show in-progress design as it becomes available.

Q Do you know how many “Riders” use the current light rail each day.  It has been flat for 5 years so not growing.  Ex:  Current light rail is 30,000,000 rides per year.  Taking 30,000,000 / 2 = 15,000,000 roundtrip rides (my assumption is people go back and forth).  15,000,000 / 365 = 41,000 riders per day. What is your estimate of number of riders per day?     

A Average Weekday Ridership for FY '18 is 93,400 for the DART light rail system. 

Q 1 Did Dart incorporate the entire city of Dallas resolution for the Cotton Belt?

A The City of Dallas resolution was considered in the project approved by the DART Board in August 2018. DART Board Resolution No. 180084 outlined a program for additional potential betterments to address the City of Dallas resolutions in addition to mitigation measures. The following provisions were incorporated in the project:

- Cypress Waters Station and Knoll Trail Station in City of Dallas

- Grade-separated street crossings at Hillcrest Road and Coit Road

- 15-foot sound wall (12-foot sound wall plus additional 3 feet for screening)

- 12-foot or 15-foot betterment wall based on input from residential adjacent property owners

- Vibration mitigation in residential areas to address the 65vdB standard

- Landscaping to reduce visual impacts

- Quiet zones based on FRA approval of application from City

- Vehicle noise level restriction at maximum headways

- Crossing bell mitigation

- Cooperation in the implementation of the hike and bike trail as funds become available.

Q 2a Has DART entered into the Interlocal Agreement which was from Section 1 of the Resolution? Section 1 states: “DART will enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Dallas to assure that freight service will never be allowed on the Cotton Belt rail line between Waterview Parkway and the Dallas North Tollway, and”      

A DART does not believe an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the City of Dallas is necessary since freight abandonment occurred through a federal action by the Surface Transportation Board in December 2009. Pursuant to federal regulation 49 CFR 112, Subpart F-Exempt Abandonments and Discontinuances of Service and Trackage Rights for Rail Road Right of Way (RRROW) abandonment or discontinuance of trackage rights occurred in over 5.34 miles of the Cotton Belt, extending between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive.  There are no plans for freight activity or service in this area.

Q 2b If DART has not, when will DART enter into the interlocal agreement?      

A DART does not believe an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the City of Dallas is necessary since freight abandonment occurred through a federal action by the Surface Transportation Board in December 2009. Pursuant to federal regulation 49 CFR 112, Subpart F-Exempt Abandonments and Discontinuances of Service and Trackage Rights for Rail Road Right of Way (RRROW) abandonment or discontinuance of trackage rights occurred in over 5.34 miles of the Cotton Belt, extending between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive.  There are no plans for freight activity or service in this area.

Q 2c How long does the interlocal agreement last once implemented?      

A DART does not believe an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the City of Dallas is necessary since freight abandonment occurred through a federal action by the Surface Transportation Board in December 2009. Pursuant to federal regulation 49 CFR 112, Subpart F-Exempt Abandonments and Discontinuances of Service and Trackage Rights for Rail Road Right of Way (RRROW) abandonment or discontinuance of trackage rights occurred in over 5.34 miles of the Cotton Belt, extending between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive.  There are no plans for freight activity or service in this area.

Q 2d/2e Can this interlocal agreement be removed or cancelled in the future? What is the process in the future to remove or cancel the agreement?        

A DART does not believe an Interlocal agreement (ILA) with the City of Dallas is necessary since freight abandonment occurred through a legal process that included federal action by the Surface Transportation Board in December 2009. There are no plans for freight activity in this area. The process for initiating freight activity in this area would include 1) DART Board resolution; 2) City of Dallas resolution, and 3) action by Surface Transportation Board. The process includes an Environmental Impact Statement, public hearing and a finding relative to the economic benefit of reestablishing service.

Q 3a  Freight Rail Questions – Per Union Pacific website, their average freight train is 1.4 miles long and growing in length.  It appears a 1.4-mile-long train or longer would be 3 minutes or more at a crossing arm.  Assuming trains run every 20 minutes and both ways, this will be 10 minutes each way. It appears a 1.4 mile long train or longer would be 3 minutes or more at a crossing arm.  Assuming trains run every 20 minutes and both ways, this will be 10 minutes each way.

Every 3 of 10 minutes, roads will not be moving.  Do you think this create a safety hazard for fire, etc?     

A Freight has been abandoned through the Dallas portion of Cotton Belt corridor between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive.  Questions regarding freight operations within this location are not applicable.

Q 3b The fire station is west of the train of davenport and will be blocked off by a freight train.  Do you think waiting 3 minutes or more for a fire engine to cross the road East creates a safety issue?

A Freight has been abandoned through the Dallas portion of Cotton Belt corridor between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive.  Questions regarding freight operations within this location are not applicable.

Q 3c/3d Davenport to Coit is a little over 2 miles.  Assuming a train is 1.4-2.0 miles.  Do you think this will shut down all the traffic between this area except Hillcrest? Has this been discussed?

A Freight has been abandoned through the Dallas portion of Cotton Belt corridor between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive.  Questions regarding freight operations within this location are not applicable.

Q 3e Does the EIS consider a 3 minute or longer train for the sound, vibration impact for betterments?  It not, why? Would you want 6 crossing arms going down every 3 minutes out of 10 minutes in your neighborhood?

A Freight has been abandoned through the Dallas portion of Cotton Belt corridor between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive.  Questions regarding freight operations within this location are not applicable.

Q 4a Per Mr. Meshack, the average speed between Knoll Trail Station and UTD Dallas Station is 43 mph.  I reviewed Table 5-3 and the table says times are estimated and include dwell times.

Do you know the estimate dwell time at each station?"

A   Per the FEIS Section 2.4.4 "Travel Time", the dwell time is anticipated to be 30 seconds at all stations except for Downtown Carrollton, Addison Transit Center, CityLine/Bush, and 12th Street Station, where dwell times will be one minute.  The Silver Line service through the most densely populated areas of the project between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive will not exceed 45 miles per hour.

Q 4b Is it 32 seconds per B_18OperationsSimulation, page 21?

A Per the FEIS Section 2.4.4 "Travel Time", the dwell time is anticipated to be 30 seconds at all stations except for Downtown Carrollton, Addison Transit Center, CityLine/Bush, and 12th Street Station, where dwell times will be one minute.

Q 4c/4d Do you know how many dwell times are estimated in the 7 minutes travel time? Is it 1 or 2 dwell times?

A It is 2 dwell times.  Since these are not terminal stations, one-half of the dwell time is included at each station.

Q 4e If it is 1 dwell time than the 43 MPH goes to 47 MPH.  If it is 2 dwell times than the 43 MPH goes to 50 MPH.  Do you agree with this math?

A The Silver Line service through the most densely populated areas of the project between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive will not exceed 45 miles per hour.

Q 4f/4g Can you please explain why you keep discussing 35 MPH when train speeds will be significantly higher, range of 47 MPH to 50 MPH per e, above? Does this impact all of the items in the EIS?  Ex:  sound mitigation, line of sight, etc.

A The Silver Line service through the most densely populated areas of the project between Waterview Parkway and Knoll Trail Drive will not exceed 45 miles per hour and will not impact items in the EIS.

Q 5a Questions about Hillcrest and McCallum.  Per EIS, hillcrest will depress 22 feet but per this drawing it will depress minimum 16.5 feet.  Page 10 & 11.  Everything says preliminary.

Do you know if the line labeled McCallum 3 is on the Northside entrance to McCallum?       

A The environmental study was performed using planning level engineering documents. Final plans are being developed as part of the final design process. Updates to the design will be presented at the Quarterly Design and Construction Update Meeting to be conducted on Aug 15, 2019.  McCallum is street intersecting with Hillcrest and is included in area of street modification.

Q 5b Will hillcrest depress 22 feet per the EIS?      

A The environmental study was performed using planning level engineering documents. Final plans are being developed as part of the final design process. Updates to the design will be presented at the Quarterly Design and Construction Update Meeting to be conducted on Aug 15, 2019.

Q 5c-5g Questions about Hillcrest and McCallum...Do you know why the drawing shows minimum 16.5 feet?

Will hillcrest depress 22 feet per the EIS?

Do you know why the drawing shows minimum 16.5 feet?

If it goes 22 feet, do you know the grade of the road?

Do you know when they will they come up with final plans for hillcrest?

Do you know if there is a limit to the grade of the depression in the road?

How many feet will McCallum be depressed? It is 8-10 feet? Do you know if McCallum will be level when you enter it from the train track side to where you exit at the police station side?

A The environmental study was performed using planning level engineering documents. Final plans are being developed as part of the final design process. Updates to the design will be presented at the Quarterly Design and Construction Update Meeting to be conducted on Aug 15, 2019. 

Q 5h Questions about Hillcrest and McCallum…

Streetlights – are there limits to street lights if drivers can’t see the light since effectively in a tunnel?     

A The environmental study was performed using planning level engineering documents. Final plans are being developed as part of the final design process. Updates to the design will be presented at the Quarterly Design and Construction Update Meeting to be conducted on Aug 15, 2019.  Hillcrest will not be constructed in a tunnel.

Q 5i-5k How will you be able to remove all the water from this depressed area in the road, seems prone to flooding?

This is all preliminary.  If this does not comply with the city, will DART build a bridge?

If the current plan did not comply, would the Train be on a bridge or would the road be on a bridge?

All the drawings are preliminary, why?

How often does DART materially change the drawings?           

A The environmental study was performed using planning level engineering documents. Final plans are being developed as part of the final design process. Updates to the design will be presented at the Quarterly Design and Construction Update Meeting to be conducted on Aug 15, 2019. 

Q 6 Coit – This drawing shows Coit will go up 20 feet in the air from existing ground line. Does this adhere to the Dallas Resolution?  Grade-separated street crossings are constructed at Hillcrest Road and Coit Road Infrastructure changes are at-grade or below grade.        

A The environmental study was performed using planning level engineering documents. Final plans are being developed as part of the final design process. Updates to the design will be presented at the Quarterly Design and Construction Update Meeting to be conducted on Aug 15, 2019.

Q 7 What happens if you cannot mitigate the noise impact since some residents could now get a chain wall?  This is just one of a couple maps with a lot of red dots.  Exhibit referenced: "Exhibit – B.12 Noise and Vibration Technical Report Page 144, Labeled Page 138".         

A The referenced exhibit "Exhibit – B.12 Noise and Vibration Technical Report Page 144, Labeled Page 138" represents noise impacts without mitigation.  The implementation of quiet zones will mitigate 95% of the noise impacts from the Cotton Belt Project. Remaining moderate noise impacts will be mitigated by reducing the noise from the stationary warning bells and installing noise barriers.

Q 8a Do you know the capital cost to build each station under the current plant?  Do you know the prior forecasted capital cost to build the following stations which have been removed, Preston Road/Keller Springs station and Coit Road station?     

A The value of removal of the Coit Station and the Preston Station is $30,314,000 per the August 2018 service plan amendment approved by DART Board.

Q 8b Do you know the betterment budget for residential areas of the Cotton Belt?          

A Per DART Board Resolution 180084, August 28,2018, the DART residential Betterments policy provides funds of $158.00/LF, and the Cotton Belt Corridor Betterments policy provides funds of $866.00/LF for residential adjacent property owners. 

The total funds available to residential adjacent property owners across the Cotton Belt Regional Rail Corridor for DART Residential Betterments is $8,792,700 (55,650LF X $158.00/LF). The total funds available to residential adjacent property owners across the Cotton Belt Regional Rail Corridor for Cotton Belt Corridor Betterments is $28,924,400 (33,400LF X $866.00/LF).

Q 8c Do you know the allocation of this betterment budget for the Far North Dallas Area?

A Per DART Board Resolution 180084, August 28, 2018, the DART residential Betterments policy provides funds of $158.00/LF, and the Cotton Belt Corridor Betterments policy provides funds of $866.00/LF for residential adjacent property owners. 

The total funds available to the Far North Dallas Area for residential adjacent property owners across the for DART Residential Betterments is $4,692,600 (29,700LF X $158.00/LF). The total funds available to residential adjacent property owners across the Cotton Belt Regional Rail Corridor for Cotton Belt Corridor Betterments is $10,392,000 (12,000 LF X $866.00/LF).

Q 8d Do trees costs $16,819.60?  Is it 35 feet x $480.56?  

A No, the cost estimate pricing was preliminary and conservative.   DART is working with the Design-Build contractor to establish cost parameters and designs that maximize the benefit for the community.

Q 8e Does a 5 gallon shrub cost $2,031.09?  Is it 3 feet * $677.03

A No, the cost estimate pricing was preliminary and conservative.   DART is working with the Design-Build contractor to establish cost parameters and designs that maximize the benefit for the community.

Q  8f Does concrete paving cost $161 per sq foot?  $108,845.12 / 675 SQ FT = $161/sq ft         

A No, the cost estimate pricing was preliminary and conservative for the Plaza Paving and Street Crossing Landscape Enhancement.   DART is working with the Design-Build contractor to establish cost parameters and designs that maximize the benefit for the community. 

Q Follow-up:

At the 10% level, it appears per your answer that the betterment walls go to the intersection and that is ok with DART.  To me that does not take into the line of sight issue which I believe is an FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) item. I am a little confused why an exhibit would not take into consideration all items especially an item that is mandated by the FRA.

1.   Do you know what the 10% level is?

2.   Do you know when the Final design will be completed?

3.   Can you please re-answer this question.        

A The 10% level represents the level of in-progress design at the conclusion of the planning phase.  The final design process is expected to be complete by Spring 2021.  DART is working with the design build team to optimize the limits of the betterments wall near the at-grade crossing and comply with safety requirements. Details related to specific configuration at each at grade crossing is a final design issue and has not been defined. This design activity will include review of equivalent measures that may be available as an alternate to the required sight distance. DART will show the in‐progress design as it becomes available.

Q Follow-up:

DART does not have to suggest a chain link fence if it is mandated by the FRA for safety.

1.   Similar question above, do you know when the Final design will be completed?

2.   If the Final design completion is after the betterment meetings, when will DART notify the residents that they will receive a chain link fence instead of a betterment or mitigation wall?

3.   Can you please re-answer this question.        

A The final design process is expected to be complete by Spring 2021. DART is working with the design build team to optimize the limits of the betterments wall near the at-grade crossing and comply with safety requirements. Details related to specific configuration at each at grade crossing is a final design issue and has not been defined. This design activity will include review of equivalent measures that may be available as an alternate to the required sight distance. DART will show the in‐progress design as it becomes available.

Q Follow-up:

I attended the DART betterment meeting on June 20th.  Michele Krause was also in attendance.

DART has the video and can review but I asked the question is it fair to show distance at each crossing and I believe David Ehrlicher said that was fair.

1.   Can you please re-answer this question? At what distance will the betterment or mitigation walls start, specifically the line of sight distances for the 8 crossings and 4 corners or 32 and distances?  This is an item David said was fair.

2.   What is an in-progress design?

3.   Are there three different designs now – preliminary, in-progress and final?  Do you know when each will be completed.

A An in-progress design submittal is a design submittal that is incomplete and not ready for construction. 

The stages of design for this project are: 30% (preliminary), 60% (in-progress), and 100% (final).  The anticipated dates for each stage of design for this project are listed below:

30% Design – Jan 2019 to July 2020

60% Design – May 2019 to Sept 2020

Final Design – Oct 2019 to Apr 2021

Final design is expected to be complete by Spring 2021. DART is working with the design build team to optimize the limits of the betterments wall near the at-grade crossing and comply with safety requirements. Details related to specific configuration at each at grade crossing is a final design issue and has not been defined. This design activity will include review of equivalent measures that may be available as an alternate to the required sight distance. DART will show the in‐progress design as it becomes available.