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Jan 14, 2008 7:45 am US/Central
New DART Lines Face Funding Dilemma
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority is dealing with a major cash crunch.
The slowing economy means that there will be less sales tax revenue from member cities. The agency has also learned that it will cost about $900 million more than expected to run light rail lines into the cities of Irving and Rowlett.
Residents in those cities are pressuring the agency to develop a plan that will keep expansion on track and open the anticipated lines in 2011 as scheduled.
DART has come up with one solution so far: shaving $350 million in funds from projects planned for Oak Cliff and downtown Dallas. This plan, however, is not sitting well with Dallas city leaders.
Dallas officials insist that the DART rail line expansion is critical to the continued growth and revitalizing occurring in the downtown area, and it is simply unacceptable to disrupt that progress to fund lines in other cities.
DART officials have said that they are committed to the long-term plan, and wish to see all lines completed on time. A plan is expected to be announced on Monday.
The City of Dallas has been rather calm about this situation, but that could change depending on what the council's transportation committee hears about the future of Dallas lines.
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