Additional track arrives for DART’s Silver Line

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has received a second delivery of rail for its $1.2-billion Silver Line. 

Another 50 segments of new rail were off-loaded Aug. 3 in Carrollton. The project's first 50 rail segments from Steel Dynamics, Inc., arrived July 15. 

Construction update 

DART's design-builder for the 26-mile Silver Line Regional Rail Project, Archer Western Herzog, has been concentrating on the removal of abandoned rail along the right-of-way and utility relocation. 

The design-builder has also prepared 30 percent, 60 percent and 100 percent design packages for civil, guideway, track, stations, bridge layouts, street modifications and traffic control. 

Overall, DART has received 281 of 436 total design submittals through Aug. 5, 2020. 

With the arrival of the second load of rail, work moves into the heavier construction phase with an anticipated completion of the project and its 10 new stations in early 2023. 

For the northern portion of its 13-city, 700-square-mile, service area, an area currently seeing growth in employment, population and activity centers, DART plans to use eight Stadler FLIRT trainsets that were ordered in June 2019. 

DART is reviewing vehicle design packages including engine and cooling system performance reports and interior layout, and has received 150 of 164 total vehicle submittals, through Aug. 5, for a scheduled vehicle design completion date of September 2020. 

The Silver Line's equipment maintenance facility is currently at a 65 percent level of design. 

DART has forecasted the Silver Line at 5,630 daily boardings at the beginning of revenue service anticipated in March 2023.