Dallas — Trolley Expansion

Rail Transit Online, April 2002

A huge celebration complete with a real circus is planned for Apr. 13 marking the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority's 13^th anniversary and the opening of a 1.25-mile (2 km) extension north to DART’s CityPlace light rail subway station.  Also being inaugurated will be a shuttle from the St. Paul Street trolley stop in the Arts District to the West End light rail station using historic buses.  The $3.5-million rail project will make the heritage trolley system an integral part of the city’s rail transit network, although it’s unique character will not be lost.  “We may have to be more businesslike, but we certainly don't want to lose that volunteer spirit,” Transit Authority Executive Vice President Ron Kovatis told the Dallas Morning News.  The company’s annual budget will increase four-fold to $1.5 million, subsidized by DART, the Downtown Improvement District and the Uptown Public Improvement District.  The jump is being primarily fueled by the replacement of volunteer operators with a paid staff of up to 10 people who will operate McKinney’s four vintage cars, which range in age from 76 to 96 years.  However, most of those being hired come from the ranks of the volunteers.  In addition, operating hours will be longer and the current 30-min. headway will be shortened to 20 min. during rush hours.  The trolley’s expansion program is not yet completed.  The planned turntable at the CityPlace station has not been installed but trolley officials hope to start work on it this summer.  Also proposed is another route extension to the West End station, replacing the bus shuttle by 2004.