D2 Subway Status

Planning and Capital Programs CommitteeJuly 7, 2020

Steve Salin, AICP

Vice President, Capital Planning

D2 Subway Alignment

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• The purpose of today’s briefing is to provide an update on:– Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS)

o Public and agency review comments– City of Dallas park use approval steps– TxDOT coordination update– Schedule/Next steps

Today’s Briefing

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SDEIS Update

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• 45-day public comment period concluded June 29, 2020

• June 11 – Two call-in public hearings– 64 attendees, 3 comments– 17 attendees, 3 comments

• June 25 – In-person public hearing– 2 attendees, 2 comments

• Several additional comments in writing or via project email

• City of Dallas staff provided design review and SDEIS comments

SDEIS Status

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June 11 Hearing Comments

• Landowner stated continued opposition mostly due to property impacts around CBD East Station

• NCTCOG staff and Director of Transportation– Support for project; consistent with Mobility 2045 plan– Project must be coordinated with potential I-345 improvements– Director noted continued desire to place D2 at-grade under I-345 to maximize

flexibility for TxDOT• DDI Mobility Committee initial comments focused on urban design• Member of DART Citizen Advisory Committee support for project• Landowner asked about impacts to property along Good Latimer and how

excavated materials would be moved and disposed of

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June 25 Hearing Comments

• Comments regarding potential changes to project schedule and suggestions for emphasis on urban design to enhance access and support "place making"

• General comment about support for DART and thankful for services and employees that help her

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City of Dallas Staff Comments

• Most comments relate to historic resources and coordination related to a Programmatic Agreement

• Opposition to use of historic Magnolia Gas Station building for construction staging area

• Transmitted Urban Design Peer Review Panel comments – most related to urban design, Commerce Station vertical access, relationship to streets/buildings and historic resources

• Provide more information on truck haul routes and on how DART intends to repair damage incurred on City streets due to heavy truck traffic

• Construct wide sidewalks, pathways, bicycle/pedestrian trails along the alignment, where existing facilities are impacted and to support the D2 Project

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Additional Written Comments

• Agency letters– Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)– Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

• Public and Stakeholders– Do not support fare gates– Do support added security of fare gates; concerns around West End– Do not support station access point in West End Commons area– Noise and vibration question– Larry Good support, including Pegasus Plaza concept– Hoque Global support

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Next Steps for Final EIS

• All comments (written, email, verbal) will be documented and categorized into subject area

• All substantive comments will be addressed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision (FEIS/ROD)

• Mitigation Monitoring Program (MMP) will be developed and included in FEIS/ROD

Park Use Approval Process

• D2 Subway will require subsurface easement under Belo Garden and temporary use/surface/subsurface easements at Pegasus Plaza

• Working with City for approvals under federal and state regulations• June 4 – Park and Recreation Board Briefing on project status and

process/schedule for approvals• Key steps:

– Surveys/legal descriptions (complete)– Appraisals (in progress)– Term sheet (draft in development)– Park Board recommend Public Hearing (scheduled for August 6)– City Council call for Public Hearing (tentative August 26)– City Council holds Public Hearing (tentative October 13)

Dallas Park Use

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• Park and Recreation Board provided input on key items for term sheet to frame future agreement. Key items:

– Compensation – DART suggesting some level of good and valuable consideration as partner agency and since we will be rebuilding plaza; Park board member asked about revenue sharing

– Safety/Security - cameras, DART police presence at fare control– Maintenance – Park board suggestion that DART fund all or some

percentage of plaza maintenance due to increased pedestrian traffic– Restrooms – Stakeholders do not support based on workshop

feedback; DART position is restrooms not needed for this station given nearby restrooms and not a major transfer facility

– Design review/approval process, including public engagement– Construction coordination and mitigation

Pegasus Plaza Term Sheet

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Recent and Upcoming Meetings

• TxDOT continues to work on I-345 options with City input on street/ramp connections

• NCTCOG voiced support to help expedite D2 Subway as part of post COVID-19 program

• TxDOT reviewed several options including elevated, depressed, removal of freeway with boulevard improvements, and a hybrid of removal/depressed– D2 Subway as currently designed with portal under I-345 is shown

with all options• Next steps will be traffic modeling and then public review• Potential for multi-agency briefing to Dallas Transportation and

Infrastructure Committee

TxDOT I-345 Update

• June 18 - TxDOT, City, NCTCOG regarding I-345• August 6 – Dallas Park Board action to recommend Public Hearing for

park use under Chapter 26• Aug/Sept - City of Dallas Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

briefing• October - Dallas City Council - Park use hearing/approval• Fall - Dallas City Council - Service Plan Amendment• Pending - Dallas Landmark Commission (historic resources)• Pending - Dallas Arts & Cultural Advisory Commission (public art)

Recent/Upcoming Meetings

D2 Board Schedule

Future Briefings/Board Goals

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Board/Committee Meeting Topic/Action

January 28 Planning Corridor preservation progress Status of TxDOT coordination Progress on LONP to FTA for pre-award authority Progress on FTA Review of SDEIS Chapters Review of key issues

February 25 Planning Review 20% design submittal/key issues Progress on advance notice to request entry into Engineering Proposed date for Federal Register notice on SDEIS Proposed dates for SDEIS Public Hearings FTA Funding Review (covered in other briefing)

March 10 Planning Process for 20% design review Schedule update

April 14 Planning Review 20% design submittal cost methodology SDEIS 45-day public and agency review timeline

May 12 Planning Service Plan Amendment schedule (briefing) Discussion of Capital Investment Grant (CIG) core capacity

submittal schedule/approach and FY2021 Financial Plan assumptions

Future Briefings/Board Goals

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Board/Committee Meeting Topic/Action

June 9, 2020 Planning Entry into Engineering progress Summary of SDEIS status and public review

July 7, 2020 Planning Progress on FEIS/ROD developmentDevelopment of Mitigation Monitoring Program (MMP)Update on potential refinements to 20% designProgress on 30% design submittalCall for Public Hearing on Service Plan Amendment (action)

August 11, 2020 COTW/Board Call for Public Hearing on Service Plan Amendment (action)

August 11, 2020 Planning Status of 30% design submittalStatus of CIG submittal (typically due in Aug/Sept)Status of FEIS/ROD

September 8, 2020 Planning Status of CIG submittal (typically due in Aug/Sept)Proposed date for Federal Register notice on FEIS/ROD

September 22, 2020 FY2021 Financial Plan approvalApproval of Service Plan Amendment

FUTURE FY2021 Negotiation of Full Funding Grant Agreement

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