Dallas city manager calls for enhanced safety measures for DART’s new silver line

DALLAS – The Dallas metropolis supervisor says DART must do extra to make the brand new silver line secure.

T.C. Broadnax wrote a letter to DART’s CEO urging the transit company to make a number of modifications to its plans for the stretch of the silver line that goes via Dallas.

The 26-mile rail line cuts via seven completely different cities between DFW Airport and Shiloh Street in Plano. 

As development on the silver line ramps up in Far North Dallas, the letter from the town supervisor to DART’s CEO asks the transit company to “strongly think about” the security issues being voiced by Dallas residents for years now.

Chabeli and Guillermo Leija stay on Davenport proper subsequent to the tracks DART is putting in.

“They inform us one factor and do the opposite,” Chabeli mentioned. “They lower each single tree down after they agreed they had been going to protect that. Now, we’re caught with all of the stumps.”

DART’s new silver line continues going through backlash from some householders

The Leijas say they’re inspired by the letter from the town supervisor stating DART “shall embrace” metropolis requested enhanced security measures.

Final week, Dallas Metropolis Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn confirmed us the security issues she has with at Grade Crossings at Meandering Manner and Dickerson.

“I am so grateful for the town supervisor, mayor and council colleagues who’ve come out to see it for themselves, andDal they are saying, ‘Wow, I see what the issue is,’” she mentioned.

The letter from Broadnax is asking DART to think about making these crossing under grade. 

DART Spokesman Gordon Shattles says the company will likely be contemplating the town’s requests and reply by April 30.

“We’ve gone above and past with security and safety,” he mentioned. “Twelve-foot partitions had been initially required. We elevated that to fifteen ft all through the hall.”

The town’s letter additionally requests extra security measures in its quiet zones the place a prepare horn will solely sound if somebody is just too near the tracks. 

“At Campbell, it descends steeply, and you do not see tracks till you’re proper on them,” Mendelsohn mentioned. “We have simply requested for a lit signal letting individuals know the prepare is coming, they usually mentioned no.”

Mendelsohn says DART wants the town to be on board. 

“I hope DART will determine to be the hero and take the win. If they do not, on the finish of the day, the town controls the quiet zones, that are important for them to function the prepare,” she mentioned. “I’d hope we’d not must get there, however the metropolis does have the ability to use or not apply for the quiet zones. The prepare wouldn’t be allowed to function in Dallas with out them.”

The town supervisor’s letter will not be solely asking for a written response from DART but in addition a gathering so the town and DART can decide “a mutually acceptable path ahead.”