The Texas High-Speed Train will build its North Texas passenger station in the revitalized Cedars neighborhood of Dallas, just south of downtown, near the Interstate 30 and Interstate 35 interchange. From this location, passengers will have a quick connection to the Greater Houston region and the Brazos Valley as well as to multimodal transportation networks in Dallas, including DART light rail.

This location, on a largely vacant 60-acre plot south of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, was identified as the preferred spot by the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) in its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), released in December 2017. The neighborhood is undergoing a remarkable transition from predominately light industrial and manufacturing facilities to a walkable neighborhood featuring repurposed and new-build mixed-use developments.

The introduction of the Texas High-Speed Train to the Cedars will accelerate and enhance the growth of this previously underserved area of Dallas, creating additional opportunities for economic growth in the southern edge of downtown, including office, retail, entertainment, restaurants, hotels, apartments and condominiums. As Dallas’ population continues to soar, this project will also attract new residents to the area, encouraging the densification of the Cedars neighborhood and aiding the region’s highway congestion relief efforts.

The Cedars neighborhood has already seen a burst of new buildings and conversion projects, including Southside on Lamar, the Dallas police headquarters, restoration of historic industrial buildings to mixed-use facilities and the opening of a movie theater, Alamo Drafthouse Cedars, and a boutique hotel, NYLO Dallas South Side

The development would be comparable to the recent transition of the Uptown area of Dallas, according to the DEIS, which also stated construction of the high-speed train station could boost The Cedars neighborhood and potentially “increase land use densities” near the terminal and encourage transit-oriented development in downtown Dallas, “which would be consistent with local plans and policies.”

“It’s no surprise that this area is ideal for the bullet train station and the many benefits it will bring… ‘Location is everything, and the southern sector of Dallas continues to be one of the hottest spots for the city’s growth. The station is sure to help local establishments, continue our organic growth and support our cultural amenities. We are very excited to be part of such an amazing project,”
— Phillip Robinson, president of the Cedars Neighborhood Association

INSIDE THE STATION

The DEIS went into detail and outlined potential amenities in and around the station, saying the different levels would consist of public areas, such as restaurants, bars, seating areas, fast foods, concessions, newsstands and rental car counters.

Enclosed, elevated pedestrian bridges would then connect the station to new parking facilities, which may be extended to provide easy access to public transit, such as DART’s nearby stations at the convention center and Union Station as well as an extension of the Trinity Railway Express commuter line from Union Station to the high-speed train terminal.

Improvements are also planned for Riverfront Boulevard at Cadiz Street, Riverfront Boulevard at Corinth Street and Belleview Street at South Akard Street. These would be designed in part to alleviate current congestion and improve traffic flow.

NORTH TEXAS STATION — BY THE NUMBERS

The DEIS findings on the North Texas High-Speed Train Station’s many economic benefits:

• $43 million to $86 million – Estimated increase in property assessment values within a half-mile of the terminal (not including any new and related transit-oriented development in the area).
• $3.8 million – Estimated amount station would generate in annual tax revenue for local property-taxing entities by 2023, and another estimated $12 million would come from the system’s support and maintenance facilities.
• $10 million – Estimated local sales tax produced from the train’s ticket sales in Dallas County.

HOW TO COMMENT

The (EIS) process is specifically designed for public involvement. This is your opportunity to provide comments and raise issues you would like to see addressed. Your comments and feedback provided during this process will enable the project to better address community and environmental concerns.

The 60-day public comment period that began with the Dec. 22nd notice (Extended through March 9th, 2018) in the Federal Register provides an important opportunity for the public to review and provide input to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on the Texas Bullet Train’s route and low-impact designs. Texas Central looks forward to continuing to hear from landowners and other stakeholders at the FRA’s upcoming hearings and informally as we are working every day in the community.

You can review all DEIS-related documents and provide comments to the FRA directly at this link: https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0779

Comments may also be provided orally or in writing at the public hearings scheduled on January 29, 30, 31 and February 5 and 6, 2018 in 10 counties at the times and dates listed below. Before the public hearing presentation begins, an open house will be held to allow for comments, questions and review of project exhibits. FRA and TCR staff will be available to answer questions at that time.

We look forward to seeing you at these public hearings!

NEW! Houston Public Hearing
Date: Monday March 5, 2018
Time: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (public presentations begin at 6:00pm)
Location: Sheraton Brookhollow Hotel, 3000 North Loop West , Houston, TX 77092

Texas Central is building YOUR Texas Bullet Train – using the safest, most reliable transportation technology anywhere in the world. Take time to provide your comments…. And let’s make your Texas Bullet Train even better – by working together.