Dallas — McKinney Transit Opening Delayed

Rail Transit Online, May 2002

April 13th was the 13th Anniversary of the opening of McKinney Avenue Transit Authority and the scheduled opening date for the 1.25-mile (2 km) extension of the service to City Place and a connection with DART light rail (see RTOL, Apr. 2002).  The actual beginning of service has now been delayed until May 6th because of unexpected, weather-related track construction problems.  Nevertheless the celebration, which involved a real circus, arts and crafts exhibits, and a contest to pick the best birthday cake prepared by local businesses, was held.  A ceremonial ribbon cutting by dignitaries was postponed, however. The track, like the present two miles (3.2 km) of line, shares its right of way with other traffic and is laid in cement. The most recent delay was caused by portions of the dirt base being washed into an unsealed storm drain. The drain had to be sealed and the dirt replaced before cement could be laid and overhead erected. Trolleys were brought to the site using a section of completed track.  The extension to the DART station is expected to bring a significant increase in ridership.  MATA currently operates four heritage streetcars, two of which served in Dallas before all streetcar service was ended in 1954.  The other two came from Porto, Portugal, and Melbourne, Australia.  Two additional PCC cars from Toronto are being rebuilt and the Authority also owns several other former Dallas cars that will eventually be rebuilt.