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Scoping Meetings July 28, 2010 Agency ScopingJuly 29, 2010 Public Scoping

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AgendaAgenda• Introductions• Scoping• Project History and Community Issues• Project Development Process• Project Overview• Public Involvement • Comments

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Why is transit important to the region?Why is transit important to the region?• 4th Largest Metropolitan Area

in the United States• Ranked first for Population

Growth among U.S. Metropolitan Areas during 2009

• Represents Over 34 Percent of the State’s Economy

• 6.5 Million Persons in Year 2009• Growing to 10 Million Persons

by the Year 2035• Air quality and traffic will

worsen

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Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area

ScopingScopingPurpose of Scoping:• To involve community

in outlining the “scope”of the project

• To ensure that citizens, elected officials, and government agencies are involved in the decision-making process

• To provide an opportunity to voice comments and concerns during the planning of a project

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Federal NEPA ProcessFederal NEPA ProcessWE ARE HERE

Notice of Intent

Published July 8, 2010in Federal Register

Notice of Intent

Published July 8, 2010in Federal Register

ScopingScopingPreliminary

Engineering/EISPreliminary

Engineering/EISDraft EIS

DistributionDraft EIS

Distribution

45-day Public Comment

45-day Public Comment

Final EIS Preparation

Final EIS Preparation

Final EIS Distribution

Final EIS Distribution

30-day PublicComment

30-day PublicComment

Record of Decision*

Record of Decision* *FTA will not issue a ROD until funding of

the project is well defined

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Agency CoordinationAgency Coordination• Lead Agencies

– DART and Federal Transit Administration (FTA)• Invited to be Cooperating Agencies

– Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

• Participating Agencies– Local, state and federal agencies

• Regional Partners– The T, NCTCOG, Airports, DCTA, NTTA, TxDOT

• SAFETEA-LU Coordination Plan– To enable more efficient and effective reviews of

the environmental review process 8

Stakeholder CoordinationStakeholder Coordination• Property Owners• Neighborhood Associations• Freight Rail Companies

― DGNO, BNSF, KCS, FWWR and UP• Chambers of Commerce/business

community• Developers• Schools and Universities• Utilities• Other interest groups

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The Cotton Belt Corridor The Cotton Belt Corridor Regional Rail ProjectRegional Rail Project

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Cotton Belt Corridor HistoryCotton Belt Corridor HistoryApril 1983 DART Final Service Plan

Oct. 1990 Corridor was purchased by DART.

Nov. 1995 2010 DART Transit System Plan

Dec. 1996 Mobility 2020 – The Metropolitan Transportation Plan

Jan. 2000 Mobility 2025 – The Metropolitan Transportation Plan

May 2001 Mobility 2025 Update – The Metropolitan Transportation Plan

Jan. 2004 Mobility 2025 – The Metropolitan Transportation Plan – 2004 Update

April 2005 Mobility 2025 – The Metropolitan Transportation Plan – April 2005 AmendmentOct. 2006 DART 2030 Transit System Plan

June 2007 Mobility 2030 – The Metropolitan Transportation Plan

April 2009 Mobility 2030 – The Metropolitan Transportation Plan – 2009 Amendment

April 2010 Cotton Belt Corridor Conceptual Engineering and Funding Study

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Revenue Service Projected:Revenue Service Projected:20252025--20302030

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Key Community IssuesKey Community Issues• Noise and Vibration• Traffic and Safety• Visual• Air Quality• Natural Resources

– Vegetation– Water Resources

• Property Values• Comments received have influenced efforts

to date13

Corridor Development ConditionsCorridor Development ConditionsDART Board Resolution

060177 to guide planning efforts in corridor:

• Pursue removal of freight• Impacts mitigated to a level consistent

with DART light rail. DART acknowledges City of Dallas’preference for trench option.

• Locomotive-hauled passenger rail will not be considered

• Size of rail car generally consistent with DART light rail vehicle

• Emissions will meet or beat Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards

• City of Dallas preference for stations at Knoll Trail, Preston Road, and west ofCoit Road

• City of Dallas preference to minimize number of tracks

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The Cotton Belt Corridor Freight The Cotton Belt Corridor Freight AbandonmentAbandonment

DART requested formal freight abandonment on portion of the Cotton Belt. STB approved request effective January 27, 2010

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Regional Rail Regional Rail –– New TechnologyNew Technology• New concept vehicle• Characteristics similar to DART Light Rail• Will be Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

Compliant• Environmentally and community-friendly • Self propelled (No locomotive haul rail)

Service Frequency• 20-minute peak service• 60-minute off-peak service

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Why Now?Why Now?

• Regional desire to advance corridor– Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton– Regional Transportation Council

• Improved connectivity with DART radial corridors– Red Line, Green Line, Orange Line

• Opportunity for regional connections– The T (SW2NE), DCTA (The A-Train)

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The T: SW2NE

DCTA: A-Train

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Conceptual Engineering and Conceptual Engineering and Funding StudyFunding Study• Completed by the NCTCOG in

April 2010• Identified design options and

potential station locations• Provided foundation for further

environmental study • Key element to identify funding

sources

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Financial StudyFinancial Study

• May 2010, DART and The T authorized Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Regional Transportation Council (RTC) to pursue funding

• RTC/NCTCOG leading an innovative funding initiative concurrent with PE/EIS effort

• DART PE/EIS will coordinate with and inform the innovative funding initiative

• Funding Plan required to move project forward

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Project Development ProcessProject Development Process

PE/EISPE/EIS Scoping

Record ofDecision

Design/Construction

Design/Construction

Operation

2010-112010-11

Regional Transportation

Plan

Regional Transportation

Plan

DART 2030 Transit System Plan

NCTCOG CE&FS

DART 2030 Transit System Plan

NCTCOG CE&FS

Public Involvement

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ScopingScopingWe want your input on:

• Draft Purpose and Need • Key issues, impacts, or concerns that

should be addressed• Alternatives or design options to be

considered– Alignments and Station Locations– Operations – Maintenance Facility Location

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Draft Purpose and NeedDraft Purpose and Need• To improve mobility, accessibility in the

corridor• To provide system linkages to major

employment, population and activity centers in the northern part of the DART Service Area

• To maintain regional competitiveness• To enhance quality of life• To provide opportunity for economic

development

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Environmental Analysis Environmental Analysis CategoriesCategories• Land use and

socioeconomic conditions • Zoning • Community services and

resources• Environmental justice• Acquisitions/displacements

and relocations• Soils and geology• Ecosystems• Wildlife• Water resources (water

quality, wetlands, surface water, groundwater, floodplains)

• Noise and vibration• Habitats• Vegetation• Electromagnetic radiation• Air quality• Hazardous and regulated

materials• Historic, archeological, and

cultural resources• Public parklands • Traffic and transportation• Visual and aesthetic resources• Safety and security

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Initial AlternativesInitial Alternatives• No Build (No Action)• Primarily At-Grade

(Below Grade in North Dallas)

• Primarily At-Grade(Grade Determined by NEPA Process)

• NEPA requires evaluation of all feasible and prudent alternatives

NorthDallas

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Key Issue AreasKey Issue Areas

Western terminus

North Lake Downtown Carrollton –Green Line interface

North Dallas Trench Option

Eastern terminus and Red Line

interface

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Eastern Terminus OptionsEastern Terminus Options

*

*

*

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Potential Station LocationsPotential Station Locations

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PE/EIS Project SchedulePE/EIS Project Schedule

*FTA will not issue a ROD until funding of the project is well defined

*

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How to Stay InformedHow to Stay Informed• Public Meetings• Public Hearings• Newsletters

– Quarterly• Website –

http://www.DART.org/cottonbelt– Project Information– Project Documents– Newsletters

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Scoping Comments and InputScoping Comments and Input• Make a public comment (oral or written)• Close of Scoping period:

– August 30, 2010• Comments will be documented in the

Scoping Summary Report and made available to the public on the project website

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Ways to Comment Ways to Comment -- WrittenWritten• Complete a comment sheet• Send comments through project

website: http://www.DART.org/cottonbelt

• Send written comments to DART COMMUNITY AFFAIRS - 7232Dallas Area Rapid TransitP.O. Box 660163Dallas, TX 75266-9672

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Ways to Comment Ways to Comment -- OralOral• We Want to Listen to Everyone• Your statement recorded today by a

court reporter– Please fill out a request to speak card– Please say your full name before your

statement• Your statement – up to 3 minutes

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http://www.DART.org/cottonbelt

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