Cotton Belt-CS090522 Meeting Summary
Advancing Rail in North Texas Strategy Meeting
Cotton Belt Rail Corridor
Friday, May 22, 2009
Attendance
There were 68 participants signed -in, with representatives from Addison, Carrollton, Colleyville,
Coppell, Dallas, Flower Mound, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Irving, North Richland Hills, Plano,
Richardson, Collin County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART),
Denton County Transit Authority (DCTA), Dallas -Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport, Fort
Worth Transportation Authority (The T), North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)
staff and consultants from Archer Western Contractors, Billingsley Company, Blaydes Consulting,
Dannenbaum Engineering, Dean International, Herzog Transit Services, HNTB, Jacobs, Kimley-
Horn, Stemmons Corridor Business Association, Texas Rail Advocates, URS, and Ziebarth &
Associates. A copy of the sign -in sheet is located on the Web site.
The meeting was held in the Transportation Council Room at the NCTCOG offices in Arlington.
Handouts included: an agenda, a copy of the presentation, a copy of Wayne Friesner's
presentation "The North Texas Regional Vehicle ", two maps illustrating the eastern and westem
segments of the proposed Cotton Belt Corridor, and the January 23, 2009 meeting minutes.
These materials can be found on the Web site at: nctcoq.orq /trans /spd /index.
No amendments to the January 23, 2009 minutes were noted.
Current Status of SW2NE Commuter Access to Union Pacific Railroad (UPP) Duncan
Subdivision through Tower 60 — Dick Ruddell, The T
Mr. Rudell gave a brief update on the negotiations between TxDOT, NTTA, The T, and UP. The
negotiations are ongoing, but the discussions up to this point have been positive. The deadline for
completing negotiations has been pushed to June 17.
Comments /Concerns:
• None
Status of DART's Request for Information (RFI) on Potential Public - Private Partnerships
(PPP) — Steve Salin, DART
DART noted all information relayed at any corridor strategy meeting is for purposes of an open
forum of discussion. Nothing said by DART is to be considered or inferred as final DART policy or
commitment.
DART gave a brief overview of the RFI process. The RFI includes four corridor segments or
phases.
• Segment 1: DFW Airport to DART Red Line
• Segment 2: Southwest Fort Worth to Downtown Fort Worth
• Segment 3: Downtown Fort Worth to DFW Airport
• Segment 4: DART Red Line to Downtown Wylie
The Request for Information (RFI) is considered a preliminary phase in the public procurement
process. If DART elects to move forward with a formal procurement process involving any
combination of design, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of the Cotton Belt Rail
project using some form of PPP, DART's Procurement Department (DART Procurement)
anticipates issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to anyone interested in competing for the
PPP. Although a firm procurement plan has not been established, DART Procurement anticipates
issuing such an RFQ by September 2009. Following the RFQ will be a Request for Proposals
(RFP).
DART will be hosting a RFI symposium on Friday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Union
Station, 400 South Houston St., in downtown Dallas. Expert speakers will present information on
the proposed Cotton Belt PPP and answer any questions.
Comments /Concerns:
• None
Colleyville Position of Commuter Rail Project and Stations — Dick Ruddell, The T
At the May 5 council meeting, the Colleyville City Council considered an ordinance submitted by
citizens opposed to a rail stop in Colleyville, requesting permanent prohibition of a rail stop and
lowering of the rail bed, as well as rescinding a previous resolution. By city charter, all ordinances
require a first and second reading. The May 5 meeting marked the first reading for proposal and,
therefore, was not eligible for a council vote. At the May 19 meeting, the Colleyville City Council
again considered the resolution and ordinance proposed in a petition submitted to the city in April.
Is it anticipated the ordinance will make it to the ballot.
Comments /Concerns:
• None
Potential Vehicle Technology — Wayne Friesner, DART
A comprehensive presentation was given on vehicle technology entitled The North Texas
Regional Vehicle, A Federal Railroad Administration — Compliant Diesel Multiple Unit. The
presentation is available on the Web site.
Comments /Concerns:
• Important to be sensitive to neighborhood concerns
• There are currently no efforts to blend a FRA Compliant Vehicle with the Light Rail
Technology
• Need to be cognizant of Crash Energy Management
Current Status of DFW Airport Rail Access
Various scenarios are being considered for how passenger trains will access passengers at
terminals at the DFW Airport. A decision by DART is anticipated in June. Ridership forecasts
need to be made for how connections will be made.
The RTC has had plans for commuter rail service in the Cotton Belt Corridor for years and still
believes this is a corridor that must be pursued.
Comments /Concerns:
• None
Corridor Alignment and Station Alternatives
NCTCOG staff met with individual cities and other agencies to discuss rail stations and other
concerns within each area for the rail corridor. Results of each meeting were highlighted in the
presentation and additional comments requested from the participating city or agency.
• Coppell; no additional comments
• Carrollton; additional comments:
o An agreement has been signed with the developer to build in the next ten years
o Important to consider transfer options
• Addison; additional comment:
o Town of Addison is eager to move forward
• Dallas; additional comments:
o There will likely be three stops in Dallas
o Consideration of hike and bike trails to the stations
• Richardson; additional comments:
o UT has been a great neighbor and working on Phase 2 of a joint study
o There has been $1 billion in construction at UT Dallas, they are eager for a station
o Need to work with DART on a Red Line connection.
• Plano: additional comments:
o Rail technology going to have a big impact
o Vehicle technology at the Bush station must be compatible to light rail
o Many complex issues that need to be solved
o Most ridership will be from the north
o Need to respond to future growth patterns during planning
o Parking limitations
Comments /Concerns:
• Important to encourage and develop private /public partnerships
• Carrollton going to be a complex hub with the proposed six trains traveling through
the downtown area
• Depression of Belt Line road
• Need to consider station parking implications in Dallas
• Important to consider station and rail accessibility for all educational institutions
• Addison has been paying and waiting a long time for rail service and this has to be
considered a priority
• If TLOTA fails to pass, the rail corridors will have to be taken off the MPO long range
plans
• Prioritization of the corridors is not at the forefront currently, but the Cotton Belt is a
corridor that is anticipated being completed
Project Mission /Study Goals and Objectives
The mission statement and suggested study goals and objectives were presented. These are
available in the presentation handout and on the Web site. Please review the goals and
objectives and send amendments to kfeldt(c�nctcoa.orq. It is vital all interested parties are
proceeding under the same guiding principles.
To make the meetings more productive, the meeting focus has been designated on the project
schedule:
T = Technical focus
P = Policy focus
C = Combined technical and policy focus
Comments /Concerns:
• None
Conceptual Engineering and Funding Study
There was a brief update on the Conceptual Engineering and Funding Study. Progress to date is
in the presentation.
Action Items:
• Meeting summary from the May 22, 2009 meeting will be distributed, please send any
comments or suggestions to kfeldt
• Review the mission statement, project goals and objectives, please send any
comments to kfeldt
• DART will be hosting a RFl symposium on Friday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at
Union Station, 400 South Houston St., in downtown Dallas
• NCTCOG staff to work with City of Carrollton to try to speed along development
• Airport connections be considered as a bullet point on the next agenda.
• Obtain GIS map of the University of Texas in Richardson
• Due diligence in exploring all opportunities for near- and long -term expansion
considering Wylie and Hunt County