DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Developers of the Texas Bullet Train unveiled new details Monday on its passenger station in Dallas.
Texas Central said the terminal will be built on a largely vacant 60-acre plot south of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in the revitalized Cedars neighborhood, near the Interstate 30 and Interstate 35 interchange. The area is undergoing a transition from mostly light industrial and manufacturing facilities to a walkable neighborhood, featuring re-purposed and new-build mixed-use developments.
The announcement comes a month after federal regulators overseeing the project said in an environment analysis that the 200-mph, North Texas-to-Houston train would “alleviate the strain” on the state’s infrastructure and “is needed to accommodate growing demand.”
From the Dallas station, passengers will have a 90-minute connection to the Greater Houston region, along with a midway stop in the Brazos Valley. Plans call for connecting the local station to multi-modal transportation networks, including DART services. Texas Central officials say the introduction of the Texas Bullet Train to the Cedars is expected to accelerate and enhance economic growth in the southern edge of downtown, including office, retail, entertainment, restaurants, hotels, apartments and condominiums.
“This station will be a magnet for economic activity in an area ripe for development, said Texas Central CEO Carlos Aguilar. “And it will connect seamlessly with local roads and public transit.”
The Texas Bullet Train would bridge the two largest cities in the state. Last month, the F.R.A. identified the train’s preferred route, mostly following transmission lines in a utility corridor between North Texas and Houston, with the Brazos Valley stop serving Bryan-College Station, Texas A&M University and others. The federal report provides additional guidance as the project moves into its pre-construction phases, ensuring the safety and environmental well being of counties and communities along the 240-mile route. Aguilar said the Texas Bullet Train also is a draw for Amazon’s new headquarters, providing easy access to the urban, suburban and rural parts of the state, and puts highly ranked research facilities within a train ride away.
“This creates a super economy. It’s an amazing way to accelerate transit-oriented development that sets Texas apart from any other state, and provides businesses with unparalleled access to workers, suppliers and other critical needs,” said Aguilar.
The Railroad could create as many as 10,000 jobs during each year of construction and about 1,500 full-time jobs when operations start. Improvements also would be planned for Riverfront Boulevard at Cadiz Street, Riverfront Boulevard at Corinth Street, Belleview Street at South Akard Street and Hotel Street north of I-30, along with an extension south along the station area. These would be designed in part to alleviate current congestion and improve traffic flow.
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