This is the first day of DART’s Orange Line service to Irving. The trains on the track at the new Las Colinas station could change the route for some local joggers.
The first segment of the Orange Line branches west at the Bachman Station in Dallas and makes stops in Irving at University of Dallas, Las Colinas Urban Station, and the Irving Convention Center.
The Las Colinas Center is part of the Lake Carolyn area that’s seeing new corporate and residential development. DART’s Mark Ball says some neighbors have used the paved DART track right of way as a sort-of sidewalk.
“DART has gone in there and built its light rail system, paved our right of way to make it look compatible to the rest of the aesthetics in the area,” said Ball. “But people like to jog, push strollers, ride their bikes because there’s not sidewalks on the property – taking advantage of our area where our trains are.”
Ball says they’ve put up signs, done local outreach and will have plenty of police officers on hand to make sure people don’t casually jog across the tracks now that the trains are officially running. Crossing outside of designated areas is considered trespassing and a ticket could cost up to $500.
Two more Orange Line stops are expected to be added in December: North Lake College and Belt Line Road. In 2014 the Orange Line will roll into DFW Airport.
In addition to the new Orange Rail Line launching service today, a dozen bus routes will be adjusted to feed into the new stations – most of them serving the Las Colinas Urban Center Station.
For more info on the Dart Line go to DART.org
