Dallas seeks $80 million in federal funds for downtown streetcar project

Dallas Morning News -- Marjorie Korn // June 13, 2009

WASHINGTON – The city of Dallas is pursuing about $80 million in federal transportation money to move forward on the first phase of a planned streetcar system.

The streetcars would complement buses and light rail to give the car-dependent city a multi-modal transportation system, said John Brunk, assistant director for public works and transportation for the city of Dallas. City officials hope that the project, which has been discussed for about two years, would spur economic development downtown by encouraging people to spend more time there.

The route won't be decided until planners know how much money is available, said City Council member Angela Hunt. She said she envisions two north-south corridors and one east-west route to connect points such as the Arts District, Victory Park, the Dallas Farmers Market, the West End, Uptown, the future Main Street Garden and the Dallas Convention Center.

"We want to make a strong showing for this first phase," Hunt said.

The city asked Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, to include the streetcar project in the surface transportation bill that the House transportation committee will consider later this month. But if the funding isn't granted, Brunk said, the project will proceed.

After all, building a comprehensive transit system is always an incremental process.

"It's a long-term goal – it's not something that happens even in 10 years," Brunk said.

The streetcars cost about $20 million per mile of track, Brunk said. Dallas hopes to obtain between $60 million and $100 million for the initial phase.

The economic crisis has made it harder for cities to finance projects, forcing planners to look for new funding sources. Hunt said Dallas is also seeking public improvement district and federal economic stimulus funds in addition to money committed by regional transportation planners.

"We are looking under every stone to figure out ways to fund this because, at the end of the day, it will help be an economic generator for downtown," Hunt said.

Gary Thomas, president of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, said transportation projects cannot be limited to traditional government financing and fare boxes for funding, but need to take a "holistic perspective," looking at things like public-private partnerships and advertising revenues.

DART is helping plan the project and will eventually operate and maintain the streetcars.

Robert Puentes, a transportation expert at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington, said streetcars are one transit project with the potential to strengthen downtown Dallas – particularly its real estate values. But as with any project, city planners must weigh the city's needs against streetcars' capabilities.

"You can waste a lot of money on a stupid transit project if you don't think it through, but if it's done correctly, it can be transformative," Puentes said. "It's mostly about driving development and revitalizing commercial corridors and providing options for travel."

Cities are being more selective in pursuing projects because it's harder to get funding, said Karen Walz, project manager for Vision North Texas, a public-private partnership. She said streetcars will offer residents a useful alternative to driving, but public transportation in Dallas still has a ways to go.

"We're headed in the right direction, but we need a lot more mobility options," Walz said.