[00:00:04]
WATCHING THE MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WITH MAYOR ERIC L. JOHNSON, MAYOR PRO TEM CANAL, ATKINS, DEPUTY MAYOR, PRO TEM CAROLYN KING ARNOLD.
COUNCIL MEMBERS SHAD WEST, JESSE MORENO, ZAIN GRACIE, JAIME RESENDEZ, OMAR NVAS, ADAM, BASIL DUA, PAULA BLACKMAN, KATHY STEWART, JANIE SCHULTZ, KARA MENDELSON, GAY DONELLE WILLIS PAUL RIDLEY, AND CITY MANAGER TC BROAD, MAX CITY SECRETARY BILLY RAY JOHNSON AND CITY ATTORNEY TAMMY PALINO.
[Call to Order]
GOOD MORNING.TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2024, AND THE TIME IS NINE 13.
I NOW CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCILOR.
ORDER FIRST TODAY, THE INVOCATION SPEAKER WILL BE COUNCILMAN ZAN GRAYSON FROM DISTRICT THREE.
GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD, AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY IN THE PRESENCE OF DALLAS CITY COUNCIL.
DURING THIS WOMAN'S MONTH, WE ARE REMINDED OF THE FAITH AND RESILIENCE OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US, JUST AS LYDIA IN ACTS 16, 13 THROUGH 15.
OPEN HER HEART TO RECEIVE YOUR WORD.
MAY WE ALSO BE OPEN TO YOUR GUIDANCE AND WISDOM IN ALL OUR DECISIONS TODAY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO LEAD WITH STRENGTH, COMPASSION, AND GRACE.
MAY THEIR VOICES BE HEARD AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS VALUED AS WE SEEK TO CREATE A CITY THAT IS INCLUSIVE AND JUST FOR ALL.
GUIDE US LORD IN OUR DELIBERATIONS AND HELP US TO REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING TO ALL PERSPECTIVES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE MARGINALIZED AND VULNERABLE AMONG US.
MAY THE DECISIONS MADE HERE TODAY REFLECT YOUR LOVE AND DESIRE FOR JUSTICE.
WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS MEETING.
UH, UPON THE LEADERS GATHERED HERE AND UPON ALL THE RESIDENTS OF DALLAS, GRANT US THE COURAGE TO ADVOCATE FOR EQUALITY, THE WISDOM TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND THE COMPASSION TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WE OFFER THIS PRAYER IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST.
NOW WE STAND FOR THE PRESIDENT LEGION, OUR PRESIDENT LEGION FLAG UNITED.
UH, BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE HAVE SOME ANNOUNCEMENT.
[Special Presentations]
UH, I WILL NOW TURN OVER TO COUNCILWOMAN MENISON FOR THE SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.IN RECOGNITION OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ON FRIDAY THIS YEAR, I CHOOSE TO SPEAK ABOUT ISRAELI WOMEN.
HUNDREDS OF ISRAELI WOMEN WERE MURDERED ON OCTOBER 7TH.
THE UN REPORT RELEASED THIS WEEK SAYS THERE ARE REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING RAPE AND GANG RAPE OCCURRED AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS DURING THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACK.
THE REPORT SAYS, IN MOST INSTANCES, VICTIMS WERE FIRST SUBJECTED TO RAPE, THEN KILLED, AND AT LEAST TWO INCIDENTS RELATE TO THE RAPE OF WOMEN'S CORPSES.
THE UN REPORT SAYS THERE IS QUOTE, CLEAR AND CONVINCING INFORMATION THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING RAPE, SEXUALIZED, TORTURE AND CRUEL, INHUMANE, AND DEGRADING TREATMENT WAS INFLICTED AGAINST SOME WOMEN AND CHILDREN DURING THEIR TIME IN CAPTIVITY.
IT ALSO SAID THERE ARE REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE SUCH ABUSE IS TAKING PLACE AGAINST THE HOSTAGES STILL BEING HELD IN RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY,
[00:05:01]
I SHARE THE NAMES OF THE 14 ISRAELI WOMEN'S STILL IN CAPTIVITY, HAVING, HAVING BEEN HELD HOSTAGE FOR MORE THAN 150 DAYS BY THE TERRORIST GROUP, HAMAS, NOAH ARGA, KATRINA AEV, AAM BERGER, SHERI BIBAS, AMIT QUILA, EMILY DAMARI, LEARY ELBA, KAMAL GOT DANIELLA GILBOA, ROMI, NONAN, NAMA LEVY, DOONE, STEIN BECKER, ARBEL UD AND EDEN YAMI.THESE 14 WOMEN ALONG WITH THE OTHER 120 CHILDREN AND MEN BEING HELD CAPTIVE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
[Open Microphone Speakers]
NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM AN OPEN MIC SPEAKER.THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL NOW HEAR ITS FIRST FIVE REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
I'LL RECITE THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE SAME RULES OR PROPRIETY DECORUM AND GOOD CONDUCT APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL IMP PERTINENT PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR WHO BECOMES BOISTEROUS.
WHILE ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, YOU'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE SESSION.
INDIVIDUALS BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
FOR THOSE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, YOU'LL NOTICE A TIME ON THE MONITOR AT THE PODIUM WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.
PLEASE STOP FOR THOSE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ALSO, SPEAKERS, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DURING YOUR COMMENTS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REFER TO A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BY NAME.
PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO MAYOR ATKINS, ONLY YOUR FIRST SPEAKER.
I'M HERE FOR, UM, I'M NEEDING ASSISTANCE FROM YOU GUYS, UM, NEEDING HELP.
UM, I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE OVERSIGHT BOARD, UH, SINCE AUGUST.
I HAD A ISSUE AT A RESTAURANT, AT A RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT.
I HAD AN ISSUE AT THE RESTAURANT WHERE, UM, I HAVE A DISABILITY.
I'M A RETIRED UNITED STATES ARMY SERGEANT.
UM, I WAS DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN, KUIA, IRAQ.
UM, I SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT LED ME TO THE WTU WARRIOR TRANSITION UNIT, ALSO KNOWN AS A WOUNDED WARRIOR IN FORT SAM HOUSTON.
I SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF RECOVERING FROM MY INJURIES.
I HAVE A DISABILITY THAT MY PROVIDER GAVE ME A DOCUMENT THAT ALLOWS ME ACCESS TO THE RESTROOMS DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS.
I WAS AT A RESTAURANT BY NAME OF SIRIUS PIZZA IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
DURING THE NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS, I ORDERED MY FOOD AND I TRIED TO GO TO THE RESTROOM.
I TRIED TO PROVIDE MY DOCUMENTS TO THE MANAGER AS WELL AS THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE WERE TWO UNIFORM OFFICERS AND AN ESTABLISHMENT.
THEY CHOSE NOT TO ASSIST ME, ME.
I THEN CALLED 9 1 1 TO ASSIST ME BECAUSE THE POLICE OFFICER CHOSE NOT TO LOOK AT MY DOCUMENTS NOR MY ID.
AFTER THE NINE ONE ONE PHONE CALL, I THEN SPOKE TO THE OFFICERS AGAIN, TRYING TO ASSIST THEM WHILE MY FOOD WAS BEING PREPARED.
I ENDED UP HAVING AN ACCIDENT IN THE RESTAURANT, LEAVING THE RESTAURANT.
I TOLD THE OFFICERS I HAD AN ACCIDENT MYSELF, AND THEY JUST LOOKED AT ME AND JUST NONCHALANTLY, JUST, IT'S WHATEVER.
UM, I'M ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE.
THIS IS WHY MY PROVIDER PROVIDED ME THESE DOCUMENTS TO PRESENT THIS TO THESE OFFICERS TO ASSIST ME AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.
I DON'T KNOW OTHER, NO OTHER WAY.
WHEN THIS MATTER HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, UM, I TRY TO BRING UP THE PEOPLE.
IF Y'ALL COULD PLEASE GRANT ME, UH, AN EXTRA MINUTE AND A HALF.
UM, BUT I'M HERE FOR ASSISTANCE.
I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE POLICE, UH, INTERNAL AFFAIRS JUNE 12TH.
UM, WE ARE NOW AND IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
[00:10:01]
UM, I SPOKE TO THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IN AUGUST.UM, THAT WAS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT THE OVERSIGHT BOARD POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.
AND WE AT THIS MATTER NOW, UM, NINE MONTHS OUT AND IT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED.
I DID RECEIVE A LETTER THIS PAST.
UH, IF IT'S OKAY, IF YOU GUYS GRAB ME ANOTHER MINUTE, MINUTE AND A HALF PLEASE, MAYOR.
UM, I'M NEEDING AN ASSISTANCE JUST GETTING, UH, JUST TO LOOK INTO, I CALL YOU.
SO SOMEONE GONNA MEET WITH YOU, JUST GO TO THE CONRAD THERE.
I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
JUST GO RIGHT THERE FOR THE OFFICER JOHN FORTUNE.
YOU MAY GO AHEAD, STEP TO THE RIGHT.
UH, JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT.
UH, MR. LANE IS A, IS A DISTRICT THREE RESIDENT.
UH, FROM THERE, AND, AND FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES.
UH, BUT ALSO, UH, THANK HIM FOR HIS COURAGE TO COME BEFORE US.
THAT WAS A VERY, UH, EMBARRASSING MOMENT, UH, THERE IN THIS, UH, DELAY.
UH, IN ADDRESSING THIS SITUATION.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NECESSARY BUREAUCRACY AND THEN THERE'S UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRACY.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY WHO DOESN'T HATE THE POLICE, BUT ARE LONGING FOR A RELATIONSHIP, THESE TYPE OF DELAYS HINDER THAT RELATIONSHIP.
SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE, I KNOW MR. FORTUNE IS TALKING TO HIM RIGHT NOW, BUT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE, UH, CHIEF GARCIA, IF HE'S LISTENING, THESE TYPE OF DELAYS HURT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO IF WE CAN GET THIS ADDRESSED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND REMOVE THE UNNECESSARY RED TAPE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO ACCOUNTABILITY, IT WILL SERVE THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND I JUST WANT TO, UM, ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE WORK THAT, UH, MY POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD MEMBER, JONATHAN MAPLES, IS WORKING.
I KNOW THAT I BELIEVE THIS IS COMING BACK TO THEM NEXT MONTH, AND I, I HOPE AGAIN FOR A SPEEDY, UH, RESOLUTION TO THAT.
THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY, YOUR NEXT SPEAKER, AMAR NANJIANI.
UH, I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE DALLAS CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE AGAINST RACIST AND POLITICAL REPRESSION.
UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE DYNELL LANE CASE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE THAT IT'S, UM, A REALLY BAD SITUATION.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME ADDITIONAL FACTS.
UM, WHAT THE INCIDENT WAS IN JUNE AS DI UH, MR. LAND, UH, EXPLAINED.
IT'S NOW MARCH, 2024, AND DPD HAS CONTINUED TO STALL ON PROVIDING ANSWERS FOR THIS CASE.
UM, DPD HAS DEMONSTRATED A, UH, LACK OF INITIATIVE IN INVESTIGATING THIS CASE.
AT SEVERAL, UM, OVERSIGHT BOARD MEETINGS, UH, UH, THEY ADMITTED THAT, UH, THE CASE WAS CLOSED BEFORE THEY'D EVEN SEEN THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE.
OF THE FOUR OFFICERS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION, UM, THEY HAD DEFENDED THE INVOLVED COP'S CONDUCT ON THE GROUNDS THAT MR. LANE WAS NOT PRESENT TO HEAR THEIR COMMENTS.
UH, THEY DEFENDED THE COP'S DECISION TO DECLINE, HELPING MR. LANE TO GET ACCESS TO A BATHROOM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE LAW.
I MEAN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE POLICE OFFICERS.
THEIR JOB IS TO UPHOLD THE LAW.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT, UH, THE EXCUSES THAT INTERNAL AFFAIRS HAS MADE SO FAR HAVE BEEN UNACCEPTABLE.
UM, IN A MEMO IN JANUARY, EDDIE GARCIA SAID TO THE, UM, OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT ONE OF THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IS ON FMLA, WHICH IS HELD UP THE CASE.
THIS COULD MAYBE EXPLAIN A COUPLE MONTHS OF THE DELAY, BUT IT'S BEEN 10 MONTHS.
SO, UM, IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT DPD IS STALLING.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, SOMETHING LIKE HIT YOUR BUTTON TESTING.
UM, THIS IS THE EXACT TYPE OF THING THAT SOMETHING LIKE THE OVERSIGHT BOARD SHOULD BE ABLE TO INTERVENE ON.
UH, IT SHOULD BE CLEAR TO ANYBODY PAYING ATTENTION NOW.
AND I THINK THE MEMBERS OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD ARE ALSO RECOGNIZING THIS, THAT THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IS TOOTHLESS, AND IT HAS BEEN SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
UM, I THINK THE OVERSIGHT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THEMSELVES, UH, RECOGNIZED THAT THE ONLY POWER THEY HAVE IS TO SEND STRONGLY WORDED LETTERS TO THE CITY MANAGER, CITY COUNCIL, AND THE POLICE CHIEF.
AND, UM, THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE ANY POWER TO, UH, COMPEL, UH, THE POLICE FORCE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT, UH, THE CASES THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THEM.
UM, SO I WANTED TO SORT OF LAY THOSE FACTS OUT FOR, UM, YOU ALL AND FOR ANYBODY LISTENING, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY URGES CITY COUNCIL TO, UM, USE ITS POWER TO PUSH DPD INTERNAL AFFAIRS TO, UH, PROVIDE ANSWERS.
I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE SENATOR, FORMER SENATOR.
SENATOR K BATON HUDSON, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
[00:15:04]
GORDON FLOWERS IS NOT PRESENT.HELLO, MY NAME IS WILLIAM MARTIN.
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE THIS SET OF COUNSEL ABOUT CRIME, PROSTITUTION, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NORTHWEST DALLAS.
I AM BACK BECAUSE NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.
IT HAS CHANGED, IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE.
AND IF THIS PAST WEEKEND IS AN INDICATOR OF THIS SPRING AND SUMMER, WE WILL BE OVERRUN WITH CRIME ONCE AGAIN.
IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED THE REWRITTEN MANIFESTATION OF PROSTITUTION ORDINANCE, PROVIDING THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH A VALUABLE TOOL TO FIGHT CRIME AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN DALLAS.
THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS YET TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE SINCE IT WAS REWRITTEN AND PASSED NEARLY SIX MONTHS AGO.
OFFICERS ON THE STREET HAVE TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE.
THE STATE OF TEXAS PASSED PENAL CODE FOUR 3.021 FELONY SOLICITATION OF PROSTITUTION IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.
THIS LAW MAKES SOLICITING PROSTITUTION A FELONY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2022, THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ARRESTED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FOR SOLICITING PROSTITUTION IN DALLAS.
BUT THE DALLAS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS YET TO EVEN CHARGE ANYONE IN DALLAS COUNTY UNDER THE NEW FELONY LAW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNCIL IS NOT IN CHARGE OF THE DALLAS DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE MAYOR, EXCUSE ME.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR KNOW THAT THIS TOOL IS NOT BEING USED TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS OR THE WOMEN BEING HUMAN TRAFFICKED.
THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL AND THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS PROVIDED TWO VALUABLE TOOLS TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING ON THE STREETS OF DALLAS.
BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS IGNORED BOTH TOOLS AND NOT USED EITHER OF THEM TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF DALLAS OR THE WOMEN BEING TRAFFICKED ON THE STREETS.
I HAVE SEEN THE POLICE REPORTS ON THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS IN NORTHWEST DALLAS IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, BUT THIS HAS NOT MADE A DIFFERENCE.
AND THE PROBLEM IS GETTING BIGGER EVERY DAY.
THE BOAT IS SINKING, AND THEY ARE USING TEACUPS TO BAIL WATER WHEN WE NEED TWO DOZEN MEN WITH FIVE GALLON BUCKETS TO BAIL THE WATER BECAUSE WE ARE SINKING FAST.
I HAVE NOT DRIVEN DOWN SHADY TRAIL BETWEEN SOUTHWELL AND NORTHWEST HIGHWAY IN THE LAST 90 DAYS WITHOUT SEEING MULTIPLE WOMEN ON THE STREET.
ONE JANUARY MORNING AT 4:45 AM THERE WERE 18 WOMEN ON SHADY TRAILS SELLING SEX.
MOST WERE WEARING G-STRING AND LITTLE ELSE.
THE THERMOMETER IN MY TRUCK SAID IT WAS 18 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
IF ANYONE THINKS THESE WOMEN ARE OUTSELLING SEX BY CHOICE WITH NO CLOTHES ON AND 18 DEGREE WEATHER, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO HELP US.
MY NAME IS EDWARD GARDE AND I'M, UH, A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 14.
I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A DALLAS, UH, RESIDENCE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR FOR THE SEARCH FOR A NEW CITY MANAGER.
AS WE EMBARK ON THE SEARCH FOR A NEW CITY MANAGER.
OUR CITY STANDS AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE.
WE ARE AT THE OUTSET OF A PROCESS THAT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF DALLAS, AND IT'S ESSENTIAL TO ESTABLISH THAT CRITERIA FOR OUR NEXT LEADER.
THE QUALITIES THAT OUR MAYOR HAS PREVIOUSLY STATED ARE NOT MERE ATTRIBUTES.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE THE BEDROCK OF OUR CITY'S NEW, A CITY'S RENEWAL AND ADVANCEMENT.
THE CITY MANAGER MUST SEEK, WE MUST SEEK, MUST BE A PARAGON OF PUBLIC SAFETY, A GUARDIAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND A PROVIDER OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES, AND A MODEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND CLEAR COMMUNICATION.
WE ARE POISED FOR A TIME OF RENEWAL AND REGROWTH REQUIR, A CITY MANAGER WHO'S NOT ONLY SKILLED IN THESE AREAS, BUT ALSO BRINGS FRESH ENERGY AND INSIGHTS.
IT'S MORE THAN A CHANGE OF PERSONNEL.
IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL TRANSFORMATION OF OUR GOVERNANCE AND SIT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN OUR PURSUIT.
WE'LL MUST AIM FOR A LEADER WHO PER PERSONIFIES THESE IDEALS, ONE WHO WILL CONFRONT SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WHILE RAISING THE BAR FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DALLAS IS UNWAVERING TO TIRELESSLY IMPROVE OUR CITY.
LET'S EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY WITH DETERMINATION AND WELCOME A NEW ERA OF LEADERSHIP THAT MIRRORS THE VIBRANCY OF DALLAS.
IN CLOSING, THE FUTURE CITY MANAGER OF DALLAS MUST BE MORE THAN A CONTINUATION OF THE PAST THAT HAS PROVIDE A CATALYST FOR INNOVATION AND A HARRE PROSPERITY FOR THE FUTURE OF DALLAS.
[00:20:01]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR CITY, AND ITS PROMISING FUTURE.I'M TOLD MACKENZIE FRE IS NOT PRESENT.
RHONDA SIMMONS IS NOT PRESENT.
HELLO, CITY OF DALLAS COUNCIL, DALLAS CITY MANAGER, AND DALLAS MAYOR, ET CETERA.
I'M HERE TO REVEAL A VERY DEADLY AIR INTOXICATING PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS THAT IS INFLICTING DEADLY HUMAN SLAUGHTER ON ALL OF US CITIZENS OF DALLAS, TEXAS.
I AM MAKING A REQUEST FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THIS AIR INTOXICATING CRISIS AS MEANS TO START THE PROCESS FOR THE PERMANENT RESOLUTION OF IT.
I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VERY DEADLY AIR INTOXICATION CRISIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DALLAS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO THE ATTENTION OF DALLAS POLICE CHIEF AND TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE VIA EMAIL.
ON MANY OCCASIONS, I HAVE REVEALED THAT AIR INTOXICATION CRISIS WAS INFLICTING DEATH ON MORE OR LESS BLACK CITIZENS OF THE ENTIRE DALLAS-FORT WORTH AREA IN THE FORM OF STROKES, HEART ATTACKS, CANCER, DIABETES, INFECTIOUS DISEASE, AND HOMICIDAL SHOOTING VIOLENCE, ET CETERA.
THESE DEATHS SAFELY APPEAR FROM NATURAL CAUSES, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY DEATHS CAUSED BY THE AIR INTOXICATING CRIMES THAT IS TARGETING THE HEALTH DISORDERS AND THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE KNOWN TO BE MORE SO VICTIM OF.
I ALSO REVEALED THAT THIS VERY DAILY AIR INTOXICATING CRISIS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY VARIOUS UNMISTAKABLE, TORMENTING, SYMPTOMATIC SENSATIONS, SUCH AS EXCRUCIATING HEADACHE PAINS AND EXCRUCIATING TOOTHACHE PAIN, AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF FEELING SLEEPY AND FEELING DROWSY.
AN INCIDENT WITH CHRONIC URINATION AND BLOOD PRESSURE SO DANGEROUSLY HIGH THAT YOU CAN HEAR YOUR OWN HEART RATE SLAMMING IN YOUR OWN EARS FROM YOUR HEART LABORING, EXTRA HEART TO PUMP BLOOD.
HOWEVER, I GOT NO RESPONSE FROM ANY OF YOU COUNCIL PEOPLE, THE MAYOR OR THE POLICE CHIEF, AND FOR THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO JUSTICE COMING TO SERVE, TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC SAFETY FROM THIS TORMENTING AND DEADLY AIR INTOXICATING CRISIS.
THEREFORE, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPELLED TO RESORT TO VIOLENT VIGILANTE ACTIVISM.
THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS TERRORISM.
THIS IS THE ELEMENT THAT IS PRODUCING THE MASS SHOOTINGS.
IT'S PRODUCING THE URBAN RIOTS AND IT'S PRODUCING THE BOMBINGS AND IT'S PRODUCING THE ARSON AND PRODUCING THE CYBER ATTACKS.
IT ALSO PRODUCED THE NINE 11 ATTACKS.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS APPOINTED A CONGRESSIONAL HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE TO MAKE INQUIRIES INTO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TORMENT.
SYMPTOMATIC SENSATIONS SUCH AS THE HEADACHE PAIN.
IT IS BEING REFERRED TO AS THE HAVANA SYNDROME.
AND I WILL BE BACK AND I WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH THIS THANK YOU.
SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THANK YOU.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE FINAL SPEAKER ON YOUR SPEAKER'S LIST AT THIS TIME.
[00:25:01]
ROBERT DIXON.NOW I PROMISED MYSELF THAT I WOULD NOT GET TOO EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED WITH THIS TESTIMONY, BUT I WANNA REPORT TO YOU TODAY SOMETHING HORRIBLE THAT HAPPENED TO ME THIS WEEKEND.
IF IT HAPPENED TO ME, IT CAN HAPPEN TO EVERY ONE OF YOU.
MY PHONE WAS STOLEN, BUT IT WASN'T JUST THAT MY PHONE WAS STOLEN.
AND RIGHT AFTER IT WAS STOLEN, I'M GETTING TEXT MESSAGES TO MY OTHER PHONE ASKING FOR MONEY.
THEY WANT A RANSOM TO RETURN MY PHONE.
IT HAS ALL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION.
I MEAN, THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.
OKAY? SO I WENT TO THE POLICE.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT YOU DO, RIGHT? I WENT TO THE POLICE SUBSTATION THERE ON MCCALLUM OVER THE WEEKEND FOUR TIMES, AND I WAS TOLD CONSISTENTLY, WE ARE NOT PROPERLY STAFFED TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, IF YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS, UH, UH, LIKE A HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.
BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE IS PATROL OFFICERS HERE.
AND THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE MATTER.
I'M GETTING TEXTS BACK AND FORTH FROM THESE PEOPLE.
AND AT SOME POINT IN TIME, I'M EVEN CONSIDERING, I MEAN, MY, MY SONGS ARE ON THIS THING.
I WASN'T EVEN CONSIDERING, UH, DOING IT MYSELF.
SO I ACTUALLY CAME THIS CLOSE TO BE ABLE TO PAY A RANSOM TO THESE PEOPLE.
BUT AT THE VERY LAST SECOND, THEY WANTED MORE MONEY SO THAT, UM, THAT COMPLETELY NIX THE DEAL.
AND I JUST THINK, WHERE WAS THE POLICE? AND, YOU KNOW, THESE WERE MY SONGS.
I MEAN, LIKE, GIRL, YOU'RE SUCH A BAD THING STANDING THERE ALL DAY LONG LOOKING SO GOOD TO ME, BABY.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT, BUT IT'S OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION.
THIS IS A REAL LIFE SITUATION.
I FINALLY DID GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO A DETECTIVE YESTERDAY WHO IS WORKING ON THIS, BUT THIS COULD HAVE REALLY TURNED OUT BAD.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE SITUATION IF THEY BROUGHT A GUN, THEY BOUGHT A KNIFE OR SOME OTHER WHATEVER IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
BUT I WAS THIS CLOSE TO DEALING WITH IT, OR AT LEAST TRYING TO.
BUT WHEN THEY ASKED FOR THE EXTRA MONEY, THAT WAS THE END OF IT.
I KNEW THAT IT WAS OVER MY HEAD AND I COULDN'T DEAL WITH THIS.
BUT THE POLICE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
THIS CONCLUDES YOUR OPEN MICROPHONE SPEAKERS FOR THIS MEETING.
[1. 24-313 Approval of Minutes of the February 21, 2024 City Council Meeting]
ON OUR VOTE AGENDA MATTER.DO I HAVE A MOTION? LET ME, MR. MAYOR.
YOUR ITEM, YOUR FIRST ITEM IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
SO THE FEBRUARY 21ST, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
[2. 24-510 Consideration of appointments to boards and commissions and the evaluation and duties of board and commission members (List of nominees is available in the City Secretary's Office)]
AGENDA.ITEM TWO IS CONSIDERATION OF APPOINT MR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THIS MORNING, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE NOMINEE FOR INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENT.
YOUR NOMINEE TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD, CLARA BROWN, TRIMBLE IS BEING NOMINATED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STEWART, THIS IS YOUR ITEM.
MR. MAYOR, DO I HAVE A MOTION SET? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
MR. MAYOR, YOUR BRIEFINGS CONTINUE.
[C. 24-626 Vision Zero Update]
ITEM C, BATTLE SECRETARY CITY, MR. CITY MANAGER, ARE YOU READY? YES, SIR.THIS WILL BE A DISCUSSION ON THE DOWNTOWN TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES, UH, INCLUDING THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION, HIGH SPEED RAIL AND STREET CAR EXPANSION.
UH, THE PRESENTATION WILL BE MADE, UH, BY ANDY BYFORD, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF AMTRAK.
UH, MR. MICHAEL MORRIS, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
AND DR. ROBERT PEREZ, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
THEY'LL DISCUSS THE MAJOR DOWNTOWN TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES TO INCLUDE, AGAIN, THE POTENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OF THE EDDIE BERNICE
[00:30:01]
JOHNSON UNION STATION HIGH SPEED RAIL INITIATIVE AND STREETCAR EXPANSION.I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MR. BYFORD, MR. MORRIS AND ROBERT, UH, TO TAKE US THROUGH THIS BRIEFING.
UM, HONORABLE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, ROBERT, BE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
UM, AS MR. BROAD, UH, MENTIONED, WE HAVE, UH, MR. ANDY BYFORD, UH, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF AMTRAK.
UM, MR. MICHAEL MORRIS, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
UH, GUS AND CARLY, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, CITY OF DALLAS, AND ROSA FLEMING, UH, DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION CENTER.
SO, UM, THE PURPOSE OF OF THIS BRIEFING TODAY, UM, AGAIN FOLLOWING, UH, BRIEFINGS THAT WE HAVE SHARED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.
UH, WE WANNA SHARE WITH FULL COUNSEL, UH, AND PROVIDE UPDATES, UH, ON THE JOHNSON UNION STATION REDEVELOPMENT, STREETCAR EXPANSION, AND THEN OUR, UM, HIGH SPEED WELL INITIATIVES THAT, THAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH BOTH, UH, THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL, GOVERNMENTS AND AMTRAK.
SO CONSISTENT WITH THE KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON, UM, CONVENTION CENTER, UH, MASTER PLAN, UH, WE'VE, UH, BEEN LOOKING AT THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION AS IT PRESENTS A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO HAVE IT SERVE AS DALLAS'S DOWNTOWN MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION HUB, AS IT IS CURRENTLY SERVING AMTRAK DART LIGHT RAIL AND A DART BUS.
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT IT FOR POTENTIAL STREET CAR, UM, EXPANSION.
AND THEN ALSO IT PROVIDES US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REDEVELOPMENT AS A MIXED USE TRANSPORTATION HUB.
UH, YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE PICTURES THERE, UH, OF DENVER, VIRGINIA STATION THAT SHOWS BOTH THE OUTSIDE OF THE UNION STATION AS WELL AS THE INSIDE, UH, INSIDE DENVER UNION STATION.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, UH, IT'S ACTUALLY A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT THAT SERVES AS THE TRAIN STATION AS WELL AS A HOTEL.
IT HAS BARS, RETAIL, AND OTHER USES IN THERE.
AND SO, AGAIN, WE FEEL AS THOUGH, UH, WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT THAT THIS PROVIDES A, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REDEVELOP.
ALONG, UH, ALONG WITH THE EBJ, UH, US, EVALUATING THE EBJ UNION STATION, UH, AS, UH, I GUESS AS A TRANSPORTATION HUB, WE ARE LOOKING AT IT TO ALSO POTENTIALLY SERVE THE STREETCAR EXPANSION.
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN, UH, SPEAKING WITH A NUMBER OF YOU, UH, ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO EX EXPAND THE STREETCAR, UH, TO ACTUALLY CONNECT THE M LINE TROLLEY AND THE DALLAS STREET CAR.
UM, IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH A NUMBER OF YOU, YOU HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED A NUMBER OF, UH, POTENTIAL EXPANSIONS, INCLUDING FAIR PARK, UH, THE DALLAS ZOO, DEEP EL TRINITY GROVES IN LOWER GREENVILLE.
UH, WHILE WE ARE GOING TO BE EVALUATING THOSE POTENTIAL EXPANSIONS, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AS WE DEVELOP PROJECTS IN THOSE AREAS, UH, TO INCLUDE THE I 3 45, THE MLK PROJECT, UH, AND ROSS AVENUE AS WELL AS OTHERS, WE ARE, WE WILL DESIGN IT, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE STREETCAR EXPANSION.
SO WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE A PROPOSED ROUTE, OR, OR WHILE WE MAY NOT HAVE A FINAL ROUTE, UH, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE FUTURE PROOF OUR PROJECTS TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE STREET CAR EXPANSION.
AND THEN WORKING WITH, UH, GUS AND THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, WE ARE WORKING ON A FUNDING AND RFP STRATEGY, UH, FOR A STUDY THAT INCLUDES A COMBINATION OF COMPONENTS FOR A DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY, UH, WHICH IS CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH, UH, $750,000 OF DART EXCESS SALES TAX REVENUES, AND ALSO OUR RE-IMAGINING GRANT.
SO, UM, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE, THE FUNDING STRATEGY THAT WE PROPOSE TO COUNCIL, UH, FOR THIS STUDY.
SO, UM, FOR THE TWO HIGH-SPEED RAIL INITIATIVES, UM, THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS ON, TO INCLUDE THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON AND THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, UM, SEGMENTS, I JUST WANT TO BRING TO CITY COUNCIL'S ATTENTION THAT, UM, IN OUR PAST LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE SUPPORTED, OR THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED THE, UM, THE, THE HOUSTON TO THE NORTH TEXAS CENTRAL REGION LINE, AND THEN ALSO SPECIFICALLY IN THE 2015 PROGRAM, UH, THE PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY, UH, CALLED OUT, UH, SUPPORT OF A ONE SEAT RIDE BETWEEN FORT WORTH, ARLINGTON AND DALLAS, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE, UH, RAIL OR WITH THE LINE TO HOUSTON.
UM, YOU'LL ALSO HEAR A LITTLE BIT LATER, UM, ABOUT THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, UH, THAT, UH, HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THE, UH, SOUTH OF I 30 IN THE CEDARS.
AND THEN WE, WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH, UH, BOTH COMMITTEES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION, THE IDEA ON VISIONING, UH, AN ELEVATED WALKWAY, UH, WITH THE, THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS, UH, AND THE AREA STAKEHOLDERS.
AND THIS WALKWAY, UH, WOULD ACTUALLY CONNECT THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATIONS SOUTH OF 30 IN THE CEDARS
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TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, TO THE EBJ, AND THEN TO POTENTIALLY OTHER, UH, PROPERTIES AND DEVELOPMENT.WITH THAT, I, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. BYFORD TO TAKE US THROUGH THE HOUSTON TO DALLAS, UH, SEGMENT.
AS MY COLLEAGUE SAID, I'M ANDY BYFORD.
I'M THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AT AMTRAK, A ROLE THAT I'VE HELD SINCE APRIL OF LAST YEAR.
UM, SO, UM, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN THE CITY AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO TALK WITH YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TODAY ABOUT THE BENEFITS AS I SEE THEM, OF HIGH SPEED RAIL IN GENERAL.
UH, WHICH I WILL, UM, UH, COVER IN THE FIRST FEW SLIDES THAT I'VE GOT FOR YOU.
AND THEN I'LL GET SPECIFIC ABOUT THE DALLAS HOUSTON PROJECT, WHICH IS ONE OF MY KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING WORKED IN TRANSIT NOW AND TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY ON THREE CONTINENTS, UH, ACROSS THE WORLD, UM, IS THAT YOU GET TO SEE WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE.
AND CERTAINLY IT'S BEEN, I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK IN COUNTRIES WHERE HIGH SPEED RAIL IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION OFFER, UM, OVER THE RIGHT DISTANCE.
UH, AND WITH THE RIGHT, UM, CHARACTERISTICS IN TERMS OF, UH, POPULATION DRAW TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL RIDERSHIP, HIGH SPEED RAIL PROVIDES, UM, A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE, UH, CITIES AND REGIONS FORWARD.
AND AS THE SLIDE SAYS, TO PROVIDE OUTSIZED ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.
AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK AT, UH, THE INSTANCES WHERE HIGH SPEED RAIL HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED, UH, STARTING WITH JAPAN IN THE 1960S, THEN THROUGH EUROPE, IN FRANCE, IN GERMANY, AND ITALY AND SPAIN, UH, THE UK AND NOW PROGRESSIVELY THROUGH ASIA, UH, CHINA, UH, IN RUSSIA.
IN AFRICA, UH, HIGH SPEED RAIL IS VERY MUCH A PART OF THAT TRANSPORT OFFER.
UH, AND IT IS COMPLIMENTARY TO, UH, OTHER MODES, SUCH AS THE CAR AND AVIATION.
BUT, BUT THE KEY POINT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHOOSE, UH, ROUTES AND THAT YOU CHOOSE CITY PAIRINGS OF THE RIGHT CHARACTERISTICS, WHICH I'LL COME BACK TO LATER ON.
HIGH SPEED RAIL IS IN ITSELF, UM, I I IS A VERY, UH, UH, VALUABLE ADDITION TO THAT TRANSPORT OFFER, BUT IT CAN'T BE SEEN IN ISOLATION.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AMTRAK IS VERY CLEAR ON.
WE DON'T SEE A HIGH-SPEED RAIL AS A PANACEA FOR ALL ROUTES, RATHER, THAT IT FITS AS PART OF A TRANSPORTATION JIGSAW WITHOUT, WITH THE REST OF THE AMTRAK NETWORK.
AND THAT'S THE TRUE POWER OF, UM, BRINGING AMTRAK TO WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THE TEXAS CENTRAL PROGRAM, BECAUSE WHERE AMTRAK HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH, UH, TEXAS CENTRAL SINCE 2016, TO ENSURE THAT THE REV RESERVATIONS AND TICKETING WERE, UM, UH, COORDINATED WITH THE NATIONAL NETWORK.
WE SEE, UH, THE HIGH SPEED, UH, POTENTIAL TO ADD TO OUR CURRENT MIX OF, UH, THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR OF THE LONG DISTANCE SERVICES AND OF THE, UH, STATE SUPPORTED SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY OPERATE, UH, AND TRULY TO BE A BACKBONE OF OUR, OF THAT NETWORK, BUT ON AN INTEGRATED FASHION.
AND INTEGRATION INCLUDES INTEGRATION AT EITHER END WITH MASS TRANSPORTATION.
AGAIN, I'LL COMMENT UPON THAT LATER ON.
UM, AND WE SEE THAT NOW IS THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK IF, IF THE US, WHICH REALLY IS AN OUTLIER IN, IN, UH, COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD NOW, WHERE HIGH SPEED RAIL HASN'T REALLY BEEN EMBRACED TO DATE.
THERE'S, THERE'S ONCE, ONE EXAMPLE WITH THE ELA ON THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GRASP THAT NETTLE, UH, AND TEXAS CAN BE AT THE VERY FOREFRONT OF THAT RAIL REVOLUTION THAT AMTRAK IS LEADING AS WE LOOK TO DOUBLE OUR RIDERSHIP BY 2040.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY MUCH PART OF AMTRAK'S STRATEGY, UH, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WAS BROUGHT ON BOARD.
SO WHAT IS THE AMTRAK APPROACH? AS I SAID, THE OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED WITH MY APPOINTMENT IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR.
UH, OUR MANDATE IS AS THE BULLET POINTS, UH, UH, SHOW YOU THERE TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL ACROSS THE US.
WE ARE THE, WE ARE AMERICA'S RAILROAD, WE ARE THE NATIONAL PROVIDER.
SO WE FEEL IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT AMTRAK SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD ON DEVELOPING AND THEN DELIVERING THAT STRATEGY WITH OTHER PARTNERS.
A SLIDE ON THAT SHORTLY, UH, TO TRULY CREATE A NATIONAL NETWORK FOR THE US.
PART OF THAT ROLE THEN IS TO VERY MUCH PROMOTE THE CAUSE OF, UH, HIGH-SPEED RAIL TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE NEVER ACTUALLY RIDDEN ON A TRUE HIGH-SPEED NETWORK, YOU, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE BENEFIT THAT THAT CAN BRING, UH, AND THE CONVENIENCE THAT IT ENTAILS.
WE NEED TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE CORRIDORS.
AGAIN, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE CHARACTERISTICS IN A SECOND.
MANAGE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, OF WHICH DALLAS TO HOUSTON IS THE MAIN ONE THAT I'M WORKING ON WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
AND TO PROVIDE A CENTER OF EXPERTISE AT AMTRAK FOR ALL, UM, UH, AREAS RELATING TO HIGH SPEED, UH, WHERE WE ARE QUITE OFTEN, WE ARE PROACTIVELY ASKED BY, UH, CITIES.
COULD YOU HAVE A LOOK AT THIS CORRIDOR? SO, SO MY OFFICE IS A REPOSITORY FOR THOSE IDEAS IN THE US.
I SAID THAT THERE IS, THERE'S ONLY REALLY ONE TRUE HIGH SPEED, UH, OPERATION AT THE MOMENT, AND THAT IS OUR ACELA SERVICE, WHICH RUNS
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BETWEEN BOSTON AND DC.BUT, UH, HERE'S THE POINT THAT THE HIGH, THE, THE TRAIN ITSELF IS A HIGH SPEED TRAIN.
THAT'S ACTUALLY THE NEW TRAIN THAT WE'LL BE DEPLOYING LATER THIS YEAR.
BUT THE EXISTING ACELA TRAIN IS A HIGH SPEED TRAIN.
IT'S CAPABLE OF DOING 150 MILES PER HOUR, BUT THE ROUTE IS NOT A HIGH SPEED ROUTE.
THE AVERAGE SPEED ALONG THE, THE ACELA CORRIDOR IS ACTUALLY 70 MILES PER HOUR.
WHY? BECAUSE WHERE THERE ARE CORRIDORS WERE STRETCHES WHERE WE CAN GET UP TO THAT FULL ONE 50, UH, BECAUSE IT WASN'T BUILT AS A HIGH SPEED ROUTE, UH, THE TRAIN HAS TO, UH, NAVIGATE THROUGH, UH, QUITE A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE.
UM, AND WITH LESS THAN, UM, OPTIMAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S SAFE, UH, BUT THE OVERHEAD WIRES, THE TRACKS, AND VARIOUS OTHER ELEMENTS, UH, ARE NOT FIT FOR TRUE HIGH SPEED OPERATION, WHICH IS WHY THE TRAIN HAS TO KEEP SLOWING DOWN.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE COMPLETELY, UH, RENEWING THE HIGH, THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR, AND WE'RE BRINGING IN THESE BEAUTIFUL NEW VEIA, UH, TRAINS LATER THIS YEAR, WHICH WILL PROVIDE, UM, EXPANDED CAPACITY.
BUT WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS TO PROVIDE THE, THE FIRST TRUE HIGH-SPEED CORRIDOR.
AND WE WANT TO DO THAT HERE IN DALLAS, BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON.
WE'RE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THIS SPACE.
OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE WILL BE AWARE, YOU'LL BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA WITH THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL THERE BETWEEN LA AND SAN FRANCISCO.
BRIGHTLINE HAVE PROPOSED A HIGH SPEED SERVICE BETWEEN LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER EXAMPLES THERE, BUT THE US REMAINS AN OUTLIER.
SO LET'S TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT DALLAS TO HOUSTON, UH, WHICH IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WHY DO WE THINK DALLAS TO HOUSTON IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY? I TALKED ABOUT CHARACTERISTICS AND VARIABLES EARLIER.
UM, SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, UH, WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE TO OPERATE A TRULY VIABLE HIGH-SPEED ROUTE IS A NUMBER OF CHARACTERISTICS.
A NUMBER OF TICKS HAVE TO GO INTO THE BOX.
YOU NEED CITY PAIRINGS, UH, AT EITHER END WITH ENOUGH POPULATION TO PROVIDE VIABLE RIDERSHIP.
THE CITIES NEED TO BE ON AT THE SWEET SPOT BETWEEN 200 TO 600 MILES APART.
YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE REASONABLY STRAIGHTFORWARD TOPOGRAPHY.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO THROUGH MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, BUT STRAIGHTFORWARD TOPOGRAPHY IS A REAL BENEFIT.
IF THE ALTERNATIVES, THE MODAL ALTERNATIVES ARE SUBOPTIMAL, THAT WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MIGRATE TO THE NEW SYSTEM, UH, IF THAT SYSTEM EXISTS.
AND IF YOU WERE TO SAY TO ME ALL OF THOSE CHARACTERISTICS, AND SHOW ME A MAP OF THE US WITH THE VARIOUS CITY PAIRINGS, THE MOST COMPELLING CITY PAIRING WITHOUT QUESTION IS DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
WHY DO I SAY THAT? BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TWO CITIES THAT ARE 240 MILES APART.
YOU HAVE THE FOURTH AND FIFTH FASTEST GROWING METROPOLISES, ONE AT EITHER END WITH ONE INTERMEDIATE STOP.
YOU'VE GOT PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD TOPOGRAPHY.
YOU'VE GOT THE ALTERNATIVES OF FLYING BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON WITH ALL OF THE, UH, CHALLENGES THAT THAT PRESENTS VERY, UH, CONGESTED AIRSPACE, VERY CONGESTED AIRPORTS.
YOU GOT THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS THE I 45 A INTERSTATE WITH A, A, A VERY POOR SAFETY RECORD.
SO, FOR MYRIAD REASONS, THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST COMPELLING OF ALL THE VARIOUS, UM, CITY COMBINATIONS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.
WE THINK IT TICKS ALL THE BOXES.
AND FURTHERMORE, AT EITHER END OF THE ROUTE, YOU WOULD HAVE EXCELLENT CONNECTIONS TO, UH, DART TO AMTRAK, TO METRO RAIL.
'CAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET THOSE CONNECTIONS RIGHT AT EITHER END.
WE'VE GOT STRONG POLITICAL SUPPORT HERE.
AND IN HOUSTON, UH, WE HAVE STILL SOME THINGS TO DO, THOUGH THE THE ROUTE IS NOT YET FULLY SECURED, AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T YET HAVE THE FULL FUNDING PACKAGE.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE CHOSEN THE RIGHT ROUTE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE NEXT, UH, SLIDE PLEASE.
SOME KEY DECISIONS ARE ALREADY IN THE BAG.
KEY DECISIONS, SUCH AS WHAT'S CALLED THE RPA, THE RULE OF PARTICULAR APPLICABILITY, WHICH HAS DETERMINED THAT IF THIS ROUTE GOES FORWARD, IF THIS ROUTE, UH, IS, IS, UM, DEVELOPED, IT WILL DEPLOY THE LEGENDARY SHI CANEN N 700, UH, TRAIN TECHNOLOGY, THE JAPANESE BULLET TRAIN SUBJECT TO A BIO AMERICA WAIVER, WHICH WE BELIEVE WE CAN GET.
UH, IT WILL DEPLOY THAT TECHNOLOGY TO THE ROUTE THAT WILL BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THE CITIES OF DALLAS AND HOUSTON.
AND FOR, UH, THE, UH, AND FOR TEXAS, AND I WOULD SAY THE US ACTUALLY, THAT THAT TRAIN HAS A FLAWLESS, AND I CHOOSE THAT WORD, DELIBERATELY FLAWLESS SAFETY RECORD.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE SINGLE TRAIN CAUSED ACCIDENT SINCE IT.
THE, THE TRAIN, UH, WAS BROUGHT INTO SERVICE IN 1961, NOT ONE.
AND IT HAS A STELLAR RELIABILITY RECORD.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO RIDE ON THE HANSEN.
UH, JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
I WENT FROM TOKYO TO ATE, WHICH IS IN HAKA, THE NORTHERNMOST ISLAND.
THAT IS A ROUND TRIP OF OVER 800 MILES.
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THE CUMULATIVE DELAY, IN OTHER WORDS, GOING THERE AND BACK, THE CUMULATIVE DELAY WAS 20 SECONDS.WE WERE 20 SECONDS LATE GETTING BACK INTO TOKYO ON THE RETURN TRIP.
IT HAS A FLAWLESS SAFETY AND RELIABILITY RECORD.
A NUMBER OF OTHER, UM, MAJOR, UH, DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, PARTICULARLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, CLEARANCES HAVE BEEN OBTAINED.
THEY NEED TO BE REFRESHED, BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
SO, IN CONCLUSION, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ROUTE STILL LOOKS VIABLE.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS AMTRAK DID WHEN WE WERE ASKED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE WERE ASKED TO, TO RE-LOOK AT THE ROUTE, UM, FROM THE, THE WORK THAT TEXAS CENTRAL HAD DONE.
AND, AND THIS, UH, HAS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH MY TEAM, WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CASE, THE, THE RIDERSHIP AND THE PROJECTED REVENUES STILL STAND UP TO SCRUTINY POST COVID, BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED THAT POST COVID, THE RIDERSHIP, THE MODEL WOULD'VE, WOULD'VE DROPPED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME.
ON THE CONTRARY, USING THE SAME COMPANY WITH THE SAME METHODOLOGY AND THE SAME QUESTIONS TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY IN A, LIKE, FOR LIKE COMPARISON.
THE BUSINESS CASE IS ARGUABLY STRONGER.
THERE'S A FEW, UM, THERE'S A BIT, UH, OF, OF A CHANGE IN THE MIX.
FEWER, UH, BUSINESS RIDERS, BUT A LOT MORE LEISURE RIDERS.
AND THEY'RE ATTRACTED TO THE FACT THAT IF YOU RUN AT 205 MILES AN HOUR, UH, OVER 240 MILES WITH ONE INTERMEDIATE STOP AT COLLEGE, AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD RUN NONSTOP, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO, UH, HOUSTON TO GO AND SEE A GAME, TO HAVE DINNER AND COME BACK THE SAME DAY.
IN FACT, THAT TRAIN WOULD HAVE THE FASTEST AVERAGE SPEED IN THE WORLD.
NOT THE FAST, NOT THE HIGHEST TOP SPEED, BUT THE FASTEST AVERAGE SPEED IN THE WORLD, WHICH WOULD BE A BADGE OF HONOR FOR THIS CITY AND FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO OUR CONCLUSION FROM HAVING A LOOK AT THE, UM, MARKET ANALYSIS IS ACTUALLY COVID HAS NOT IMPACTED, ADVERSELY IMPACTED THAT, UH, PROJECTED RIDERSHIP AT ALL.
WE'VE BEEN VERY CAREFUL TO KEEP OUR JAPANESE PARTNERS ON SIDE.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S SOME FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THESE, THE, THE, THE PROJECT HAS, UH, BEEN ON HIATUS FOR A WHILE.
UH, BUT WE STILL HAVE THAT SUPPORT.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING INTO WHAT'S CALLED THE CORRIDOR ID PROGRAM, UH, FEDERAL, UH, PROGRAM, WHICH HAS ATTRACTED FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS.
AND WE WILL BE PUTTING IN FURTHER GRANT APPLICATIONS ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE CID PROCESS TO HOPEFULLY ACHIEVE FINANCIAL CLOSE BY THE END OF, UH, NEXT YEAR, AND THEN PUT A SPADE IN THE GROUND.
THERE'S STILL A LOT TO DO, BUT WE BELIEVE IN CONCLUSION, MR. MAYOR, THAT THIS REPRESENTS A, A COMPELLING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CITY.
UH, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT EXCITES ME ABOUT THIS ROLE AND SOMETHING WE WE'RE DETERMINED TO DELIVER FOR YOU, FOR THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS AND HOUSTON, AND ALSO THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS.
UM, I'LL ASK MICHAEL MORRIS TO TAKE US THROUGH THE NEXT SEGMENT OF THE FORT WORTH TO DALLAS DISCUSSION.
DR. PEREZ, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MICHAEL MORRIS, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AT THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
FOR THE RECORD, UH, MR. MAYOR COUNCIL, MR. CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE LAST, UH, SEVERAL YEARS.
I DID SEE SENATOR HUTCHINSON HERE TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, HER CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, SO I WANTED TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE.
SHE IS, UH, IN THE HOUSE, MR. BYFORD.
IT'S VERY NICE TO BE WITH YOU.
UH, DAN LAMERS AND BRENDA WHEELER FROM OUR STAFF ARE HERE, WHO, WHO DOES HIGH SPEED RAIL EVERY DAY.
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF HNTB PUTTING A LOT OF THESE DETAILS TOGETHER.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS SINCE 2020.
WE'VE LOOKED AT 50 OPTIONS IN THE TWO YEAR ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS THAT TOOK US INTO, UH, A REFINEMENT, UH, PHASE.
AS WE LOOKED AT OUR STATIONS, UH, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
UH, WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION ON MONDAY FROM THE FEDERAL TRANS ADMINISTRATION, UH, THAT WE ARE NOW IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, UH, WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION THAT PERMITS US, UH, ONCE CLEARED IN 12 MONTHS.
'CAUSE WE'RE NOW ON THE CLOCK, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE FUNDING WITH A PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDER AND OR AMTRAK OR, AND, UH, OR THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT, UH, TO EXTEND SERVICE SEAMLESSLY, UH, BETWEEN DALLAS, UH, ARLINGTON IF THEY PARTICIPATE IN A TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
UH, AND, UH, DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH, WE TOO HAVE ENTERED THE QUARTER ID PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY.
UH, WE THINK WE'LL FOLLOW THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON, UH, INVESTMENT BY THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION.
UH, WE WILL BE BUSY ON OUR FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ENVIRONMENTAL, BUT WE TOO ARE IN LINE TO GET FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, UH, THROUGH THE QUARTER ID PROGRAM.
SO THIS CHART SHOWS YOU TWO PATHS FORWARD, UH, TO GET FUNDING TO ADVANCE HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
NEXT SLIDE IS A REVIEW OF THE OPTIONS.
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UH, BY A FEW PEOPLE TO REVIEW THE OPTIONS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY REJECTED.UM, THOSE ARE LISTED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS PARTICULAR PAGE.
UM, TWO OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED, UH, STILL HAVE MERIT.
UH, WE CAN EXTEND FROM THE CURRENT DALLAS HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION WEST OF THE HYATT REGENCY, AS WELL AS EAST OF THE HYATT REGENCY.
SINCE THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS COME ON BOARD AND YOU, THIS COUNCIL SELECTED THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION AS THE HUB, WE PROPOSE TO EXTEND THE, UH, PEDESTRIAN LOBBY OF HIGH SPEED RAIL ALL THE WAY TO THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION, BOTH IN SIDEWALK AND POTENTIALLY WITH A PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM UNDERNEATH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL.
UH, AND THEN WHEN YOU SEE THE SAN FRANCISCO HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION, UH, WE INTRODUCED TODAY A POTENTIAL PEDESTRIAN CAP, UH, INTER INTERCONNECTING BETTER UNION STATION, UH, WITH, UH, THE HYATT REGENCY AS A POTENTIAL OPTION.
SO ALL PREVIOUSLY ALTERNATIVES WERE RE-REVIEWED AS REQUESTED.
UM, THE SAME CONCLUSION WAS REACHED AS WAS REACHED, UH, PREVIOUSLY.
SO IF YOU GO BACK TO OUR WORK IN THE FALL OF 2020, ON THE NEXT SLIDE, HERE'S THE 50 OR SO OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
UH, LOOKED AT, UH, HUNDREDS OF MEETINGS, UH, DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, UH, DURING THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS OVER TWO YEARS.
THAT TOOK US TO THE SUMMER OF 2021 ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, STAYING ON PUBLIC SECTOR RIGHT AWAY AS BEST WE CAN.
THIS IS THE INTERSTATE 30 QUARTER.
UH, WE DO HAVE, UM, SKIP STOP OPERATION AT, UH, ARLINGTON, UH, EITHER PERMANENTLY IF THEY DON'T PARTICIPATE IN A TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, OR THERE'S NO REASON WHY EVERY TRAIN DOES NOT HAVE TO STOP AT THE ARLINGTON STATION.
UH, BUT THIS TOOK US INTO THE DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE THREE, UH, LOCATIONS SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2021.
HERE ARE THOSE PARTICULAR OPTIONS.
WE SPENT TWO YEARS, I'M NOT SHOWING YOU ALL THE OPTIONS WE DID IN ARLINGTON AND ALL THE OPTIONS WE DID IN FORT WORTH, BUT HERE'S ALL THE OPTIONS.
WE STUDIED 27 PLUS OPTIONS IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
UM, MORE, MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS, MORE MEETINGS WITH REGARD TO HOW BEST TO GET TO THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION.
UM, HERE ARE THE OPTIONS THAT, UH, STILL, UH, ARE PROCEEDING IN THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ENVIRONMENTAL.
THERE'S NO FATAL FLAW IN EXTENDING WITHOUT CHANGE THE LOCATION OF THE DALLAS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION TO GO WEST OF THE HYATT REGENCY.
THERE'S NO REASON THE RAIL LINE HAS TO GO BETWEEN THE HYATT REGENCY AND UNION STATION.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE REASONS WHY YOU WISH TO, TO DO THAT, UH, RELATED TO BOTH YOUR UNION STATION HUB DECISION AND YOUR CONVENTION CENTER.
THE NEXT OPTION, UM, IS TWO A.
UM, THIS GOES EAST OF THE HYATT REGENCY.
YOU SEE, WE'RE AVOIDING THE LATEST LAYOUT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UH, NO CHANGE TO THE LOCATION OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
UH, YOU, YOU CAN SEE, UM, UH, A GRAPH OF THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION AS IT HUGS THE RAIL DISTRICT, UM, FACILITY THAT OBVIOUSLY ALREADY EXISTS AND HAS FOR DECADES.
UM, AND IT ALIGNS TO THE HOTEL STREET ADJACENT TO THIS PARTICULAR RAIL QUARTER SINCE YOUR DECISION TO ADVANCE THE HUB.
AND WE ARE TRAINED IN SYSTEMS, UH, AS PART OF OUR TRAINING, UH, YOU HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GETTING OFF AT THE DALLAS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, NOT ONLY TO BE ABLE TO GO TO ARLINGTON AND FORT WORTH, BUT TO CONVENIENTLY GO TO A WHOLE HOST OF BUILDINGS AND CONVENTION CENTER HOTELS AND UNION STATION.
SO, UM, THIS IS, UH, AGAIN, USING THE ALIGNMENT EAST OF THE HYATT REGENCY, BUT WE EXTEND THIS PEDESTRIAN LOBBY.
WE EXTEND THIS LINEAR SIDEWALK.
WE EXTEND POTENTIALLY A PEOPLE MOVER UNDERNEATH THE RAILROAD TRACK.
AND YOU CAN SEE, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU WISH TO HAVE DEVELOPMENTS, UH, HOW THOSE CAN BE EXTENDED FROM THIS HORIZONTAL, UM, UM, LOBBY.
AND WE SHOWED YOU AT YOUR LAST MEETING SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT IN, IN DUBAI.
HERE IS SOME OTHER EXAMPLES OF THIS.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN, UH, LOOKING AT HOW TO INTERFACE WITH THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION, A POTENTIAL ANNEX BUILDING, UH, BUILT NEXT TO THE LIGHT RAIL.
UH, A DIRECT CONNECTION FROM FROM THAT INTO, UH, THE HYATT REGENCY DIRECTLY INTO THIS HORIZONTAL, UH, LOBBY AS PART OF THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS.
AND DEPENDING ON WHAT DEVELOPMENTS CONVENTION CENTER PLANS FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER WHERE, WHERE THE CONVENTION CENTER HOTELS, OBVIOUSLY THIS GIVES YOU ACCESS TO ALL OF THOSE PARTICULAR LOCATIONS.
[00:55:01]
AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT PART OF THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, UH, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.UH, YOU CAN SEE THESE, UH, CONNECTIONS TO THE ANNEX AT UNION STATION DIRECT CONNECTIONS INTO THE HYATT REGENCY, CREATING BETTER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HYATT REGENCY AND UNION STATION.
YOU'RE IN THIS LOBBY AREA, SO YOU CAN GET THESE CONNECTIONS TO ALL THESE PARTICULAR, UH, DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND THEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE, YOU SEE THE, UM, CURRENT HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION AS DEFINED BY ANDY AND ALREADY ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARED AS PART OF THIS PROCESS.
SO IT'S A TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN CONNECTING YOUR DESIRES OF A CONVENTION CENTER AND YOUR DESIRES OF A UNION STATION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL, UH, FACILITY HERE IS ON THE NEXT SLIDE, IS A BLOWUP OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
UM, WE'RE EXPLORING BOTH PEDESTRIAN AS WELL AS SMALL PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM.
UH, THIS PARTICULAR NOTION GOES BETWEEN, UH, EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION AND THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION, A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, GIVING YOU WHATEVER ACCESS.
BUT AS YOU EXPLORE YOUR STREETCAR, WHICH IS PART OF THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM, AND AS YOU EXPLORE YOUR CONVENTION CENTER, THERE'S NOT NOTHING STOPPING YOU OF EXTENDING THIS ALL THE WAY OVER, UH, TO TRINITY GROVES AND ALL THE WAY TO THE SOUTH, AS YOU PREVIOUSLY CREATED A DESIRE TO CONNECT SOUTH DALLAS AND THE CEDARS INTO THE REACHES OF THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER, AND BY THE WAY, INTO THE REACHES OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL INVESTMENT.
SO YOU, YOU HAVE THIS HUGE FOCUS ON AMTRAK COMING INTO UNION STATION.
YOU HAVE THIS HUGE FOCUS NOW ON AMTRAK GOING INTO FORT WORTH VIA OKLAHOMA CITY AND KANSAS CITY, ALL BEING INTEGRATED INTO A, UH, TERRIFIC, UM, A VERY EXTENSIVE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, REGIONAL RAIL SYSTEM, AND POTENTIAL, UH, PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM.
ONE OPTION THAT CAME UP AFTER YOU SEE THE SAN FRANCISCO HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION IS THIS NOTION OF A PEDESTRIAN CAP.
SO LATE LAST WEEK, WE, WE TALKED WITH CITY STAFF ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR IDEA, UH, WHERE YOU COULD PUT A PEDESTRIAN CAP AS YOU LOOK IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND PHOTO.
UM, THE HYATT REGENCY CURRENTLY IS OVERLOOKING A, A RAIL DISTRICT AND HAS FOR FIVE DECADES.
UH, IF THERE'S INTEREST IN TRYING TO COVER UP THAT PARTICULAR VIEW, UH, OF THE RAIL DISTRICT, YOU COULD CREATE A DESTINATION OF A PEDESTRIAN CAP FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
YOU COULD HAVE THAT AS A DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE IN THE HUB.
YOU COULD HAVE THAT AS A, A DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE IN CONVENTION CENTER HOTELS AS PART OF THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS.
AND I'LL SHOW YOU THE SAN FRANCISCO STATION IN A MOMENT.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO QUOTE CREATE SYSTEM.
SO AS YOU PULL THE ONION SKIN BACK WITH REGARD TO HIGH SPEED RAIL, THEN YOU ADD IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, THEN YOU ADD IN THE HUB, THEN YOU ADD IN THE NEW AMTRAK SERVICE FROM DFW TO ATLANTA AT GRADE.
UH, YOU START TO SEE THE, UH, LAYERING OF THESE PARTICULAR SYSTEM, UH, CONNECTIONS.
UH, HERE IN THE NEXT SLIDE ARE THE FATAL FLAWS THAT WE HAD.
IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, ALTERNATIVE NUMBER THREE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I WON'T, UH, GO THROUGH THESE.
UH, YOU HAVE WHITE PAPERS THAT WE PROMISED YOU ON EACH OF THESE THAT HAVE BEEN DRAFTED BY THE, UH, CONSULTANTS THAT, UH, DID THE GEOMETRIC WORK.
UH, WE WERE ASKED AGAIN TO LOOK AT A POTENTIAL, UM, UH, MOVEMENT OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL OVER THE RAIL DISTRICT.
UH, SO ACTUALLY MOVE IT A FURTHER EAST.
SO HERE IS WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
UH, MASSIVE PERGOLA STRUCTURES HAS TO BE DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THAT PARTICULAR EXPANSION OVER THE RAIL DISTRICT.
LOOKS HERE, INDUSTRIAL, UH, CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.
THEORETICALLY, UH, WE HAVE NOT CHECKED WITH ALL THE RAIL DISTRICT PARTNERS.
THE RAILROADS MAY HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT, UH, COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS.
UH, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL GET LEGS OR NOT, BUT WE WERE ASKED.
AND, UH, HERE IS A, WHAT THE HNTB ENGINEERS HAVE, UH, DRAFTED UP THAT WE HAD LOOKED AT PREVIOUSLY WITH, UH, MORE DETAIL.
UM, THE OTHER OPTIONS, UM, I WON'T TAKE TIME.
IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, UM, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BUILD A SUBWAY? IT TAKES YOU 20 MINUTES TO UNLOAD A TRAIN AND MOVE 17 FLOORS TO GET TO A SUBWAY LOCATION.
UM, HUMAN BEINGS HAVE OUT OF VEHICLE TIME AT TWICE IN VEHICLE TIME.
SO INSTEAD OF A TRAIN COMING IN AND STOPPING FOR TWO MINUTES AND THEN GOING ON TO FORT WORTH, UH, YOU WOULD FEEL LIKE A 40 MINUTE DELAY TO GO 17 FLIGHTS TO GO TO A SUBWAY STATION.
[01:00:02]
UH, WE WERE ASKED TO ALSO LOOK AT A SUBWAY STATION THAT WASN'T CO LOCATED WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL.SO NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY ALMOST AN HOUR, UM, IN EQUIVALENT TRAVEL TIME TO GET FROM THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION TO SOME SUBWAY STATION.
NOT, UH, ALIGNED WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
TXDOT HAD PREVIOUSLY LOOKED AT SOME FATAL FLAWS, UH, ON THE TRE CORRIDOR, UH, WE EXAMINE THE TRE CORRIDOR AGAIN.
UH, THE TRE CORRIDOR HAS ITS OWN FATAL FLAWS, LARGELY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T, UH, MEET THE GREAT SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS OF HIGH SPEEDED RAIL.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE WERE ASKED SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
UH, DETAILED ENGINEERING, UM, PROFILES, BOTH GRADES AND TANGENTS WERE RUN.
UM, FORT WORTH TO DALLAS, UH, MAXIMUM SPEED IS 160 MILES AN HOUR.
IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 21 MINUTES FOR THAT PARTICULAR TRIP.
IF YOU STOP IN ARLINGTON, THE MAXIMUM SPEED IS ABOUT THE SAME, 160 MILES AN HOUR.
IT'S ABOUT FOUR MINUTES LONGER TO DECELERATE, TWO MINUTE DWELL AND RE RE-ACCELERATE.
SO IT'S 25 MINUTES WITH A STOP IN ARLINGTON, UH, DALLAS TO HOUSTON IS REPORTED MAXIMUM SPEED OF 200 MILES AN HOUR, PLUS IT'S ABOUT A 90 MINUTE TRAVEL TIME.
AND THEN THE REALLY COOL PART IS YOU CAN GO FROM FORT WORTH TO HOUSTON IN ABOUT TWO HOURS, UH, SEAMLESSLY, UH, THROUGH THE DALLAS STATION.
AT THE LAST MEETING, UH, WE WERE ASKED, UH, AND THIS IS REALLY GONNA BE A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR STAFF.
AS YOU LOOK AT THE LAND USE IMPLICATIONS, UH, WE WERE ASKED ABOUT WHAT MARKETS WILL BE SERVED, UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE, AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF DENSITY, UH, FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL STATIONS AND THE EFFECT OF LAND VALUES.
SO OUR STAFF PULLED ALL THE ARTICLES ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
MY SUGGESTION IS YOU GET THIS FROM YOUR OWN VERY GIFTED PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF.
UH, HERE IS A PICTURE ON, UH, OF THE SAN FRANCISCO HIGHSPEED RAIL STATION.
UH, PLEASE LOOK IN THE PICTURE OF THE DENSITY OF BUILDINGS NEXT TO A HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS, THIS IS NOT THE PICTURE THAT YOU, YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND CONTEMPLATING THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK AT AND CONTEMPLATE TO MAXIMIZE THE DENSITY AROUND HIGH SPEED RAIL STATIONS.
ONE TRIP YOU MAY WISH TO GO TO IS TO GO TO SAN FRANCISCO AND, UH, TALK TO THE DEVELOPERS AND, AND KICK THE TIRES ON THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
UH, BUT, UM, IT IS, UH, IT IS A DIFFERENT WORLD, UH, WHEN YOU START PUTTING LAND USE AROUND HUGE HIGH VALUE, UH, PROPERTIES LIKE HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATIONS.
UH, WE, WE DON'T, PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE IN OUR COUNTRY AS MR. BEFOR DESCRIBED, BUT IT'S EASY TO GO TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD AND SEE THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF HIGH SPEEDED RAIL STATIONS.
UH, PROPERTY VALUES ARE THE SAME, UM, 50 TO A HUNDRED PERCENT INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF PROPERTY NEAR A HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION.
UH, SOME CITIES ARE DECLARING SIX TO 14% INCREASES IN PROPERTY VALUES.
IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE THE WINNER OF A HIGH SPEED RAIL, UH, STATION IN YOUR PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.
THE LITERATURE'S TALKING ABOUT A 20 MINUTE WALKING DISTANCE.
PLUS, IF YOU HAVE REGIONAL RAIL THAT'S, THAT'S DIRECTLY CONNECTED, WHICH WE DO, PLUS IF YOU HAVE LIGHT RAIL, WHICH IS, WHICH IS CONNECTED, WHICH WE DO PLUS ANY BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS.
AND THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE SHOWING INCREASE IN LAND VALUES 18 MILES AWAY FROM THE HIGH SPEED RAIL, UH, INVESTMENT.
AND THEN WHEN YOU ADD THE HUB AND THE CONVENTION CENTER, IT JUST GETS EVEN BETTER.
HERE'S A SLIDE OF, UH, HIGH-SPEED RAIL, UH, IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
UH, MR. BYFORD DESCRIBED, UH, US A LITTLE LATE TO THE GAME HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
UH, AND THEN WITH REGARD TO THE DIFFERENT MARKET SEGMENTS, UH, MY FINAL SLIDE IS HIGHSPEED RAIL TO HOUSTON, AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO.
REMEMBER, OUR HOPE IS NOT ONLY DOES DALLAS TO HOUSTON, UH, BECOME, UH, BE IS IMPLEMENTED, THAT GIVES YOU YOUR SEAMLESS CONNECTION TO FORT WORTH.
BUT EVENTUALLY WE WOULD GET TO AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO MUCH, MUCH EASIER VIA THE DALLAS HOUSTON LINE, UH, THAN TO BUILD THE INVERTED U AND GO HIGH SPEED RAIL TO AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO OUT OF FORT WORTH.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S, REMEMBER, IF YOU FORCE A TRANSFER IN DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THE ARLINGTON STATION IS OUR ACCESS TO DFW AIRPORT, YOU'D BE FORCING A SECOND TRANSFER IN ARLINGTON.
YOU GET TO DFW AIRPORT, THE RULE OF THUMB IS TWO TRANSFERS AND YOU'RE DEAD.
UM, SO THAT IS A, UH, AN ITEM TO BE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO, UH, UNDER FEDERAL RULE.
I HAVE TO WALK AROUND THE REGION, UH, AS IF IT'S 20 45, 20 50.
[01:05:02]
'CAUSE I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.SO WE'RE CURRENTLY AT A 2 8, 8 0.2 MILLION.
I'M ACTING LIKE WE'RE AT 12.4.
AND I THINK, UH, NOT, NOT NECESSARILY THE MOST CONVENIENT PLACE FOR A LOCAL, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL, UH, BUT I HAVE TO WALK AROUND LIKE THE REGION IS 12.4 MILLION PEOPLE.
AND IN 2045, I WOULD HOPE SOMEONE BACK IN 2024 THOUGHT ABOUT CONNECTING DOWNTOWN DALLAS, HOUSTON, AUSTIN, AND SAN ANTONIO BY HIGH SPEED RAIL.
I DON'T THINK YOU'VE FULLY EXPLORED THE BETTER CONNECTION AT THE HUB, AT GRADE AMTRAK STREETCAR, LIGHT RAIL REGIONAL RAIL, I THINK YOU HAVE YET TO EXPLORE THE FULL CONNECTIONS OF YOUR NEW CONVENTION CENTER.
AND BY THE WAY, THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE HAVE TO STOP THE, UH, PEOPLE MOVER AT, UH, AT UNION STATION.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE COULDN'T EXTEND OVER TO TRINITY GROVES.
AND IF THERE'S A GOAL OF THIS COUNCIL TO CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM THE CONVENTIONEERS GOING TO TRINITY GROVES, YOU COULD CONNECT THAT WITH A PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM TO TRINITY GROVES.
OR IF YOU WISH TO, AS YOU HAVE SAID PREVIOUSLY, EXTEND CONVENTIONEERS TO GO TO INTEREST IN, UH, SOUTH DALLAS.
UH, YOU COULD EASILY DO IT BY EXTENDING THE PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM FURTHER TO THE SOUTH.
UM, WE WERE LUCKY TO GET OUR NINE EVENTS FOR THE FIFA WORLD CUP.
I WONDER WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF WE HAD A HIGH SPEED RAIL ALREADY IN OPERATION AND WHAT THAT COULD DO, UH, FOR FUTURE CONVENTIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.
UM, MR. MAYOR, I'LL STOP THERE AND BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY WE HAVE.
UM, AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS ON VISIONS FOR THESE ITEMS TO, UH, TO INCLUDE INCORPORATING, UH, FEEDBACK INTO ANY FUTURE, UH, SOLICITATIONS, UH, FOR RFPS.
UH, WE'LL CONTINUE RESEARCHING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS, UM, SURROUNDING HIGH SPEED RAIL.
UH, WE ALREADY HAVE WSP, UH, WORKING ON THAT, AND WE'LL INCORPORATE THAT FEEDBACK INTO FUTURE, UM, BRIEFINGS TO COUNCIL AND TO THE COMMITTEES.
UM, AND THEN ULTIMATELY WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IS WORK TOWARDS, UH, CITY COUNCIL CONSENSUS ON A PATH MOVING FORWARD.
WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PARIS.
WE'RE ON ITEM C FOR THE PUBLIC CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THE TOPIC OF HIGH SPEED RAIL IS ABSOLUTELY EXCITING.
UM, HOWEVER, I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES, INCLUDING OUR TRANSPORTATION, OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION TEAM HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AFTER ALL THIS BEING IN, IN DISTRICT TWO, AS THE, UH, STATION WOULD BE LOCATED, UH, IN THE DISTRICT, TODAY'S THE, THE MOST INFORMATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED THUS FAR.
WE RECEIVED THESE DOCUMENTS, UH, A DAY OR TWO AGO, AND SO I'M STILL REVIEWING AND TRYING TO SOAK IT ALL IN.
UM, AND WE SHOULD ALL WANNA BE GOOD PARTNERS HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WE WANNA BE PARTNERS TO OUR REGION, BUT AS DALLAS ELECTED LEADERS, WE MUST LOOK OUT FOR WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH-SPEED RAIL.
HAVE WE SELECTED WHICH FORM OF HIGH-SPEED TECHNOLOGY, UH, WE WOULD BE IMPLEMENTING? UM, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
UH, MR. MAYOR, THESE, THESE CHOSEN TECHNOLOGY WOULD BE, AS I MENTIONED IN MY PRESENTATION, THE HANSEN N 700, UH, BULLET TRAIN, FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD.
IT COMES AS PART OF A SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE OVERHEAD CATY AND THE OTHER SAFETY RELATED SYSTEMS WHERE THE, UH, THAT IS THE CHOSEN TECHNOLOGY WITH THE ONE CAVEAT THAT WE WOULD STILL NEED TO ACHIEVE A BY WAVER, A BY AMERICA, SORRY, WAIVER.
AND WE'RE TALKING TO FRA ABOUT THAT.
AND WHAT IS THE, THE MAX SPEED ON THIS TECHNOLOGY? UM, IT, IT'S ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN 205 MILES PER HOUR.
WE'VE MODEL, WE'VE MODELED 2 0 5, BUT THE, THE TRAIN ITSELF IS CAPABLE OF HIGHER SPEEDS THAN THAT IN THE MID TWENTIES.
AND WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE HIGH SPEED, UM, USED BETWEEN DALLAS AND, AND, UH, FORT WORTH? YEAH, IT WAS IN MY PRESENTATION, I THINK IT WAS 160 MILES AN HOUR, UM, GIVEN THE, UH, DISTANCE, THE SHORTER DISTANCE BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, AND ITS, AND ITS GEOMETRIC PROFILE, UH, ON THE, UH, ROUTE THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED.
WHAT IS THE TRAVEL TIME BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH? PUT MY SLIDE BACK UP.
UM, YOU'LL SEE THAT ON SLIDE 17, 21 MINUTES, UM, BETWEEN FORT WORTH AND DALLAS.
UM, BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING A SKIP STOP IN ARLINGTON NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT ARLINGTON'S GOING TO DO.
AND NOT EVERY TRAIN HAS TO STOP, EVEN IF ARLINGTON DOES.
AND IT'S 25 MINUTES IF YOU HAVE THREE STOPS.
[01:10:01]
UH, THIS HIGH SPEED RAIL.UM, SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF, UH, TODAY, THAT'S YET TO BE DETERMINED.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, WE ARE APPROACHING THIS AS AMTRAK AS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS WOULD BE AN AMTRAK OPERATED SERVICE.
THAT DECISION HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN.
UH, BUT THAT'S THE CURRENT ASSUMPTION.
IF ARLINGTON WERE TO BE, UH, IN THE MIX, WOULD THEY THEN, UH, BE PART OF THE, IF DART WERE TO HAVE A ROLE IN THIS, WOULD, WOULD THEY BE JOINING THE REGIONAL SYSTEM AS WELL? FOR ARLINGTON TO GET A STATION, THEY HAVE TO EITHER JOIN A TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY OR JOIN A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION OF A TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
SO THERE ARE THREE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES IN THE REGION.
NOW THAT WE GOT OUR LETTER ON MONDAY, ARLINGTON IS NOW ON THE CLOCK.
THEY HAVE 365 DAYS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO, UNDER FEDERAL RULE, COMPLETE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, ASSESSMENT OF HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
DO WE HAVE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ON, UH, OP UH, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF, UH, THE HIGH SPEED RAIL DURING THE ENVIRONMENTAL? WELL, SORRY, AS, UH, YES, WE DO.
UH, WE, AS PART OF THE BUSINESS CASE, MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE TO DO AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE COSTS WOULD LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GERMANE TO THE, UH, TO THE BUSINESS CASE.
WHEN YOU'RE OFFSETTING PREDICTED RIDERSHIP REVENUES AND THE ON COST OF OPERATIONS, WHAT, WHAT IS THAT ANALYSIS? WHAT WHAT'S THE FIGURE? UH, I DON'T HAVE THE FIGURE RIGHT BEFORE ME, BUT THE, UH, THE BUSINESS CASE IS EXTREMELY STRONG WHEN YOU NET OUT THE COST OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, UH, THE PROJECTED RIDERSHIP, AND THEREBY THE REVENUES EASILY OUTSTRIP THAT EVEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED TO SET ASIDE SOME OF THAT REVENUE FOR RENEWALS, UH, GOING FORWARD.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, UH, WHAT RIDERSHIP'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
I KNOW IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT TO PREDICT, UH, BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO IS THAT OPERATION COST IN THE MAINTENANCE, YOU KNOW, WEIGHING THE, THE COST OF, OF THE FARE BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? IS THE MAINTENANCE, IS THE MAINTENANCE AT ALL GONNA BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DALLAS, UH, RESIDENTS, IF THEY'RE SHORTFALLS, WANTING TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MAINTENANCE IMPLEMENTATIONS, UH, WOULD BE ON THE RESIDENT OF DALLAS? UNDERSTOOD.
UM, COUNCILMAN, THERE IS NO, NOTHING IN OUR PARTICULAR PLAN HAS EITHER CAPITAL COST COMPETING WITH ANY OTHER TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT, NOR IS THERE ANY PLAN THAT RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF, UH, OF ANY OF OUR CITIES WOULD BE PAYING THE OPERATION OR MAINTENANCE COST OF, OF HIGH SPEED RAIL.
UM, WE'VE DONE AN INDUSTRY FORUM.
WE HAVE, UH, COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD, UH, THAT BELIEVE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH IS A, IS A UNBELIEVABLY, UH, TERRIFIC, UH, INVESTMENT TO THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON HIGH-SPEED RAIL.
AND IT WOULD BE MY HOPE, UH, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANY CROSS, UH, PLATFORM TRANSFERS.
WE WANT IT AS SEAMLESS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE TECHNOLOGY USED BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON WOULD BE THE IDENTICAL TECHNOLOGY THAT WOULD EXTEND TO FORT WORTH AND BEYOND, UH, AS YOU BUILD A NATIONAL NETWORK.
WITH THAT, UM, HOW CONFIDENT ARE, ARE WE WITH THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN DALLAS TO HOUSTON, WHICH I, I AM EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF, AND, UM, GLAD OF THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE THERE.
UH, IF THAT DOESN'T, UH, BECOME A REALITY, UH, DOES DALLAS TO FORT WORTH STILL MOVE FORWARD? IS THAT STILL NEEDED? IS, IS THIS, UH, WOULD WE STILL MOVE FORWARD IF DALLAS TO HOUSTON DOESN'T GET, UM, DESIGNED AND BUILT, UH, UNDER OUR ENVIRONMENTAL, WE HAVE IN INDEPENDENT UTILITY? SO IN THEORY, AND I SAY THEORY, DALLAS TO FORT WORTH COULD EXIST ON ITS OWN, UH, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH IS, UM, AS REALISTIC AS BEING A PARTNER TO THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON INVESTMENT.
IF I MIGHT JUST ADD TO THAT, I'D, I'D ENTIRELY ECHO WHAT, UH, MR. MORRIS HAS JUST SAID.
UH, YOU COULD DO IT STANDALONE, BUT IT WOULD NOT FIT THE TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A HIGH SPEED ROUTE.
ON THE CONTRARY, CONVERSELY, WERE YOU TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED TO GO FROM FORT WORTH ALL THE WAY TO HOUSTON, THAT THAT ACTUALLY MAKES THE BUSINESS CASE EVEN BETTER FOR THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON SECTION, BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE THE, THOSE, UH, COUPLE OF EXTRA STOCKS.
YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE THE CONNECTION TO DALLAS FORT WORTH AIRPORT.
SO, UM, I THINK THE, UH, THE CHALLENGE FOR US IS TO MAKE THE WHOLE ROUTE WORK, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS AND WE ARE CAREFUL TO KEEP THEM THAT WAY FOR NOW.
AND COUNCILMAN, I WOULD ALSO THINK OVER TIME, AS YOU APPROACH 12, 12 MILLION PE PEOPLE, IF YOUR END STATION IS IN DALLAS,
[01:15:02]
THE PRESSURE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ON PARKING AS INEFFICIENT LAND USE IS GONNA BE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.UH, ONE OF THE ITEMS I WOULD ASK YOUR STAFF TO LOOK AT IS TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON PARKING AT AN END STATION WHEN A REGION BECOMES 12 MILLION.
SO YOU CAN HAVE MUCH HIGHER LAND USE EFFECTIVENESS IN OFFICE RESIDENTIAL AND RETAIL THAN BUILDING HUGE PARKING GARAGES TO SUPPORT THE END STATION OF A HIGH-SPEED RAIL INVESTMENT.
UM, YOU GUYS MENTIONED, UM, LOOKING AT, UH, THE ROUTES AND WHETHER, UH, ARLINGTON'S IN THERE OR NOT.
UM, AND DURING YOUR STUDIES, WHAT DID WE LOOK AT WHEN WE LOOKED AT, AT THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPROVING THE, THE TRE FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, WHETHER NEW MODERN TECHNOLOGY OR, OR CUTTING TIME GOING A DIRECT ROUTE FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH? UM, DID WE STUDY WHAT THE TIME, DISTANCE, IF WE HAD DIRECT, UH, ROUTES BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH ON THE TRE? YES, SIR.
AND YOU HAVE A WHITE PAPER AND YOU JUST RECEIVED IT, SO I DON'T, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANTICIPATED YOU WOULD'VE TIME TO READ IT, BUT DR. PEREZ HAS SENT YOU THE WHITE PAPERS ON EITHER AN AT GRADE IMPROVEMENT ON THE TRE QUARTER OR A GRADE SEPARATION OVER THE TRE QUARTER.
WE ELIMINATED THAT IN 2 20 20.
WE RE-LOOKED AT IT, REDRAFTED A WHITE PAPER, MORE THAN HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU ON THE DETAILS OF THAT PARTICULAR REASONS WHY, UH, THAT PARTICULAR INVESTMENT WOULDN'T BE, WOULD NOT MEET THE, UH, PURPOSE.
UM, WITH THE PROPOSED ROUTE, HOW MANY HOMES, BUSINESSES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO IMMINENT DOMAIN? WELL, WE'RE NOW, UH, THIR IN OUR THIRD DAY OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, SO WE WILL WORK WITH YOU.
WE'VE BEEN HEARING PEOPLE SAY 300.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS COMING FROM.
UM, OTHER THAN THEY, THEY WISH NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROCESS.
UH, PRELIMINARY ALIGNMENT AT TWO OR 3% DESIGN, UH, IS VERY, VERY MINIMAL.
AND WE'RE WORKING ON SOME LAND SWAPS AND OTHER INITIATIVES IN THAT PART OF THE CITY TO CREATE EVEN BETTER, UH, OPPORTUNITIES.
SO, UH, WE WILL KNOW, WE WILL KNOW AND KEEP THE COMMUNITY UP TO DATE AS WE ADVANCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL, WHICH IS NOW THREE DAYS OLD.
UH, BUT WE THINK IT'S VERY MINIMAL.
90 SOME ODD PERCENT OF THE RIGHT OF WAY IS ON PUBLIC SECTOR RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, VERY LITTLE OF IT IS ON PRIVATE SECTOR RIGHT OF WAY.
IN, IN A FEW WEEKS, UH, THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL WILL BE INVITED OUT TO MARTYRS PARK, UH, A SITE OF, UH, AFRICAN AMERICAN LYNCHINGS THAT HAPPENED, UH, HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, THE PROPOSAL CA UM, CALLED FOR THIS, UH, HIGH-SPEED RAIL TO BE ON, ON THE BACKGROUND OF, OF THAT PARK.
UM, CAN YOU SPEAK TO, UH, HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT THAT PARTICULAR, UH, THAT PARK THERE UNDER FEDERAL LAW? UH, UNDER FOUR F PROVISIONS, THERE'S GREAT SENSITIVITY TO PARKS, ALL PARKS, ESPECIALLY THOSE SENSITIVE, UH, HISTORICALLY, UM, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE'RE NOT TOUCHING ANY PARKS.
UM, PART OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IS TO DOCUMENT ANY IMPACT TO SENSITIVE AREAS, INCLUDING THAT ONE.
UM, WE ARE GOING OVER THE SIMMONS PARK, UH, ALL OF THAT UNDER FEDERAL RULE, WE'LL GET GREAT, UH, SCRUTINY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE GEOMETRIC DESIGN IS AT 2%.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO 30, UH, MOVING FURTHER AWAY FROM THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT ANY ANYWHERE CLOSE TO TOUCHING IT.
UH, WHICH WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE, UH, IN OUR BEST INTEREST.
NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR EXPLORING OF, UH, INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO, TO HELP CONNECT, UH, THE CONVENTION CENTER, HIGH SPEED RAIL TO YOUR NEW HUB STATION.
THOSE ARE THE ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, WHICH WOULD BEGIN, UH, THIS WEEK.
UM, YOU, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE, THE HUB, UH, EXTENDING THAT HUB NETWORK AND THAT, UH, I BELIEVE THE CITY WAS, UH, HAD A, UM, A RELATIONSHIP WHERE TIED WITH THAT, UM, CAN YOU GIMME A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND? WE WERE INVITED TO A MEETING IN MY MEMORY IS NOVEMBER.
UH, THE CITY OF DALLAS WENT THROUGH A PROCESS TO DEFINE ITS INTERMODAL HUB, EITHER AT THE DALLAS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, OR THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION.
UM, ROSA LED THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS, UH, THAT PROCESS IDENTIFIED THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, UM, HUB TO BE AT YOUR HISTORIC UNION STATION, WHICH I THINK IS A BRILLIANT MOVE BECAUSE OF ALL THE MODES THAT ARE THERE.
UH, AND THEN WE'RE PROPOSING A REALLY, WE THINK, UH, UM, CLEVER WAY TO CONNECT
[01:20:01]
THE HUB, UH, TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION AND TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND POTENTIALLY TO, UM, THE WEST, WEST DALLAS AND SOUTH DALLAS AS WELL.BUT WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THAT DECISION.
THAT DECISION WAS INITIATED BY ROSA, WHO'S MORE THAN ABLE TO SPEAK TO IT.
ROSA FLEMING, DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION AND EVENT SERVICES.
SO AS WE WALKED THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN AND PRESENTED IT TO COUNCIL, WE SEPARATED IT INTO CONVENTION CENTER.
AND THEN THE OTHER COMPONENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE PLAN, ONE OF THOSE INCLUDED UNION STATION.
AND SO AS WE WALKED THROUGH THE, THE PLANNING OF THE DISTRICT, UH, THERE WAS THE QUESTION OF WHERE THE BEST MULTIMODAL HUB WOULD BE.
UM, AS IT STANDS, UNION STATION IS ALREADY A MULTIMODAL HUB, UM, JUST THERE'S NOT A HIGH SPEED RAIL CONNECTED TO IT, BUT THERE ARE BUSES, THERE ARE TRAINS, TRE, ET CETERA.
AND SO IT WAS ALREADY BY NATURE A HUB AND IT MADE MOST SENSE.
AND SO AS WE BROUGHT OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL, UM, THAT IS WHERE WE SETTLED RATHER THAN USING THE PLATFORM OR THE STATION WHERE THE HIGH SPEED RAIL WOULD, UH, EMANATE FROM IN THE CEDARS UNION STATION MADE THE MOST SENSE.
AND SO AS YOU WALK THROUGH THE EXISTING, UH, PLAN THAT IS ON THE DALLAS CC MASTER PLAN.COM SITE AS AN ARCHIVE, IT SHOWS THE EMANATION AND THE MEETINGS THAT WE WENT THROUGH TO ACTUALLY SELECT UNION STATION AS THE, AS THE HUB.
AND IN THAT WE WORKED WITH DART, WE WORKED WITH COG, WE WORKED WITH AMTRAK AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ALONG WITH CITY COUNCIL AND OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS FOR THAT, WILL THERE BE A REQUIREMENT, UH, FROM LA LANDMARK, UM, FOR THE, UH, ELEVATED, UH, PROPOSAL TO, TO GO OVER BEHIND, UH, UNION STATION? SO WE WOULD WORK WITH, UM, THE LANDMARK COMMISSION AND WITH OUR PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN DEPARTMENT, WHO HAVE BEEN INTEGRALLY INVOLVED THE ENTIRE TIME AS WE'VE WALKED THROUGH THE, THE MASTER PLANNING.
AT ANY TIME WE'RE GOING TO TOUCH THAT BUILDING OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S OF HISTORIC NATURE.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROPOSAL, AGAIN, THE ELEVATED ROUTE, UH, ROUTE, UM, WE, WE SAW SOME GREAT IMAGES ON WHAT A PEDESTRIAN DECK COULD LOOK LIKE.
WHO WOULD BEAR THE COST OF THAT? WOULD THAT BE, UH, AMTRAK OR WOULD THAT BE THE CITY OR THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER? WHO, WHO WOULD WELL, IT CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BE AMTRAK.
'CAUSE AMTRAK RIGHT NOW IS FOCUSED ON THE DALLAS HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION TO THE SOUTH TO HOUSTON.
UM, WE ARE CONSIDERING ABSORBING THE COST OF THE PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM, SIDEWALK SYSTEM BETWEEN HIGH SPEED RAIL AND THE HUB.
SINCE WE ARE THE, UH, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR DALLAS FORT WORTH, THAT TRANSPORTATION, THAT SEAMLESS TRANSPORTATION CONNECTION, WE THINK IT WOULD BE CRITICAL.
UM, THE NOTION OF A PEDESTRIAN CAP ON TOP IS ABOUT FIVE DAYS OLD.
IT CAME LATE LAST WEEK AFTER SEEING THE SAN FRANCISCO HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION.
SO THAT'S AN OPEN, OPEN QUESTION.
UM, I DON'T WANNA NEGOTIATE AGAINST MYSELF.
UH, AND WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IF, IF THE CITY WOULD, WOULD WANT TO EXPLORE AS A, AS THEY LAY OUT A STREETCAR SYSTEM, DO YOU WANT TO EXPLORE THE PEOPLE MOVER SYSTEM EXTENDING OVER TO TRINITY GROVES AND TO SOUTH DALLAS? WE WOULD WAIT DIRECTION FROM THIS COUNCIL, IF THAT'S OF INTEREST.
THAT RENDERING FROM SAN FRANCISCO, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS A BUILT OUT OR IS THAT A PROPOSAL? I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A RENDERING THAT'S A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION THAT EXISTS ON THE PLANET EARTH.
UM, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE, THE LANDSCAPE AND HOW IT COULD, UM, HAVE AN IMPACT.
UM, WHAT WE HAVEN'T, WHAT I HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT YET IS HAROLD, UH, HAROLD SIMMONS PARK AND HOW THAT WOULD BE, UM, GOING OVER THE PARK.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH, UH, THAT, UH, ORGANIZATION? YEAH, OUR STAFF HAS MET WITH THEM.
THEY SEEM VERY INTERESTED IN IT.
WE HAVE THIS IDEA POTENTIALLY CONNECTING TO THE OUTLOOKS, UH, INDEPENDENT OF HIGH SPEED RAIL.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PARK TO HELP FUND OTHER INNOVATIVE THINGS THEY'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO.
SO WE'RE FOUR YEARS PROBABLY IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
AND ALL OF OUR ALIGNMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN, WE WORK WORKING WITH OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED WITH THEM AS PART OF THAT PROCESS.
SO, UM, I THINK THEY'RE VERY, UH, THEY, THEY HAVEN'T INDICATED ANY CRITICISM OF IT TO US.
UH, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPLORE, UH, HOW TO BETTER CONNECT TO THEIR OUTLOOKS AND THIS POTENTIAL, UH, PEOPLE MOVER CONNECTION OVER TO THE WESTERN SIDE WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING A LOT OF THEIR ENERGY IS ON THE, ON THE WEST
[01:25:01]
DALLAS SIDE OF THE PARK.THE, THE IDEA OF OF STREET EXPANSION, OF THE STREETCAR AND PEOPLE MOVER IS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE, UH, UH, THINGS WE SHOULD CONTINUE EXPLORING REGARDLESS IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A, A RECOMMENDATION ON THE, UH, CURRENT PROPOSED ROUTE.
GERALD SCHULTZ, YOU RECKON FOR FIVE MINUTES? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
UM, I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS ABOUT THE DALLAS HOUSTON ROUTE.
THAT FORT WORTH ROUTE IS NEWER TO ME, SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.
CAN YOU TELL ME AGAIN, TELL ME IN A WAY THAT I CAN EXPLAIN TO OTHER PEOPLE WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO DALLAS OF THE FORT WORTH ROUTE? UM, I, I THINK FORCING 12 MILLION PEOPLE, IF THAT'S THE POPULATION IN 2045 OR 8 MILLION PEOPLE TODAY, IF YOU HAD IT, THEY WOULD ALL BE FORCED TO GET TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET A TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS, UH, TO HELP YOU TO SOME EXTENT.
IF YOU'RE IN THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE REGION, YOU HAVE THE BENEFIT OF OBVIOUSLY LIGHT RAIL.
UM, BUT YOU'RE PROBABLY DEPENDENT ON THE AUTOMOBILE TO MAKE THAT PARTICULAR CONNECTION.
UM, AND IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AIRLINES, IF YOU GO BACK TO WHY HIGH SPEED RAIL GOT DERAILED, SORRY TO SAY DERAILED 15 YEARS AGO, IS THE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND AMERICAN AIRLINES DIDN'T THINK WE WERE PLAYING HIGH-SPEED RAIL FAIRLY BETWEEN THE TWO AIRLINES.
SO THEY EACH HAVE ACCESS IN A SIMILAR FASHION BY BUILDING HIGH-SPEED RAIL TO ARLINGTON, YOU HAVE A RELATIVELY SHORT CONNECTION TO DFW AIRPORT AND THE HIGH SPEED RAIL CONNECTION TO DALLAS HAS A RELATIVELY SHORT CONNECTION ON LIGHT RAIL TO LOVE FIELD.
SO, UH, THAT IS THE EARLY WORKINGS OF, OF THE DESIRE TO HAVE AN ARLINGTON STATION WAS LARGELY TO PLAY FAIR BETWEEN THE AIRLINES.
SO WE DIDN'T GET DERAILED AGAIN ON EQUAL ACCESS.
BUT IF YOU MOVE AHEAD TO 12 MILLION PEOPLE, THE MORE SEAMLESS YOU CAN MAKE THESE CONNECTIONS AND DON'T OVERBUILD YOUR PARKING IN DOWNTOWN, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL YOU'RE GONNA HAVE HIGH SPEED RAIL.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE TO DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN TAKE A TRANSIT TRIP TO YOUR ARLINGTON STATION, OR YOU CAN TAKE A-A-A-A-A-A-T-R-E STATION OR A TEXT RAIL LINE MOVEMENT TO YOUR HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION IN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH, AND THEN YOU ARE SEAMLESSLY IN HOUSTON IN, IN TWO HOURS VERSUS SPENDING 40 MINUTES OR WHATEVER IT WOULD TAKE TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE REGION TO GET TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, FIND A PARKING SPACE, PAY FOR THAT PARTICULAR PARKING.
IT IS JUST A VERY AWKWARD, UH, CONNECTION.
UM, AND SO MUCH MORE SEAMLESS, UH, IN INCLUDING A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE THAT JUST WANT TO GO FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH.
DON'T DON'T THINK EVERYONE IS, IS GOING TO HOUSTON WHEN YOU HAVE A REGION OF 12 MILLION PEOPLE.
UH, PART OF THE LAYERING OF THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM IS THE RIDERSHIP BENEFIT YOU WOULD GET IN 20 MINUTES BETWEEN DALLAS, DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
SO IT'S A REGIONAL ANSWER, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? IT'S BOTH REGIONALLY AND IT'S, UH, STATEWIDE.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, PART OF A NATIONAL, NO, I'M JUST SAYING IN TERMS OF THE BENEFIT OF DALLAS REGION, AND THEN EVENTUALLY WE WILL HEAD WEST OF FORT WORTH IF THIS IS A NATIONAL MM-HMM.
IS FORT WORTH THEN GO TO DENVER? DOES IT GO TO OKLAHOMA CITY? WHERE DO WE GO WEST OF, OF DALLAS AS PART OF A NATIONAL NETWORK? SO THAT LEADS TO MY NA I'M SORRY.
I WAS GONNA SAY, AND CHAIR, UH, ASIDE FROM THE, UM, ASIDE FROM THE TRANSPORTATION, UM, BENEFITS, UH, WHILE I DID MENTION THAT WE ARE STILL GONNA BE WORKING ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT, UH, HAVING HIGH SPEED RAIL, UM, AT LEAST IN THE RESEARCH THAT'S PRELIMINARILY BEEN DONE, UH, LEADS TO GREATER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS AS WELL AROUND THE STATION.
I THINK MR. BYFORD MENTIONED THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS COULD BE AS FAR AS 18 MILES AWAY FROM THE STATION ITSELF.
I'M GONNA ASK FOR THOSE REPORTS YES.
COMING UP, BUT NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.
MAY I JUST MAKE ONE REALLY QUICK COMMENT, SORRY TO CUT ACROSS YOU.
I MEAN, MY STRONG RECOMMENDATION AS, AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN IN THIS GAME FOR A LITTLE WHILE IS, UM, IF YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN CONNECT YOUR PRIMARY AIRPORT, DALLAS FORT WORTH TO A HIGH SPEED NETWORK, YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.
ALL THE EVIDENCE ACROSS THE WORLD.
SO IT SHOWS WHAT THE, UH, POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS.
I MEAN, MY COLLEAGUE SHOWED YOU THOSE, UH, UH, THOSE GRAPHICS AND REALITIES OF WHAT HAPPENS AROUND STATIONS IF YOU EVER GET TO GO TO TOKYO OR TO NAGOYA STATIONS, UH, IN JAPAN.
THE, THE, THE LINE SIDE DEVELOPMENT IS REMARKABLE AROUND THE, THE, THOSE STATIONS.
AND JUST ONE FINAL EXAMPLE, ALBEIT NOT TRUE HIGH SPEED RAIN RAIL, IT'S MORE OF A,
[01:30:01]
A, A HIGH, HIGH TRANSIT SPEED LINE ACROSS LONDON.I WAS, UM, PREVIOUSLY COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT FOR LONDON, AND WE CONNECTED UP HEATHROW AIRPORT WITH THE CITY OF LONDON AND WITH CANARY WHARF SO THAT YOU CAN NOW GO THERE IN 40 MINUTES.
THAT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR LONDON TO THE DETRIMENT OF ITS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS, NAMELY PLACES LIKE FRANKFURT, LONDON, HEATHROW WILL MASSIVELY BENEFIT FROM THAT.
SO, UH, MY ADVICE IS GRASP THAT.
AND IN FACT, UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I COULD NOT FIND WHICH SLIDE SHOWS THE FULL ALIGNMENT FOR DFW, I COULDN'T FIND IT IN THIS PRESENTATION OR IN THE WHITE PAPER.
IF YOU TURN TO PAGE, UH, FIVE, THAT IS THE, UH, ALIGNMENT, UH, COMING OUT OF 2021, AND IT'S MY, MY SLIDE FIVE IS THIS, UH, CAN YOU, CAN YOU PULL UP THE SLIDES? UH, MICHAEL MORRIS'S SLIDES.
PAGE FIVE, THE BLUE LINE ON I 30, SLIDE FOUR.
I DON'T SEE THE AIRPORT THAT, THAT'S THE TEXT.
UH, CAN WE PULL, I SEE THIS, CAN WE PULL UP THAT SLIDE SO PEOPLE AREN'T CONFUSED WHERE THE ALIGNMENT IS? YEAH.
90 SOME ODD PERCENT ON INTERSTATE 30.
I KNOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO.
THE ONLY TIME I MET WITH, UH, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, UH, WAS ON HIGH SPEED RAIL FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROCESS.
AND ALL HE ASKED IS STAY ON PUBLIC SECTOR RIGHT AWAY AS BEST YOU CAN.
THAT WASN'T THE DRIVING FORCE, BUT THAT ENDED UP BEING THE BEST OPTION.
I DON'T HAVE THE FRONT PART OF THE, WE NEED TO MOVE TO THE, UH, THE CORRECT PRESENTATION.
NO, NOT, WHILE WE'RE WAITING, CAN I ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE AMTRAK RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FORT WORTH ROUTE, BOTH FROM, UH, IN GENERAL, BUT ALSO YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S THE INTEGRATION CONCEPT.
COULD YOU SHARE THAT PLEASE? CERTAINLY.
UM, THE, THE AMTRAK RELATIONSHIPS, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE THE, THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS, BOTH, AND THEY ARE BOTH RECIPIENTS OF, UH, CORRIDOR ID, WHICH IS A-A-F-R-A PROGRAM, AS YOU KNOW, CORRIDOR ID, UM, APPLICATIONS, WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER PRECISELY BECAUSE AS MR. MORRIS SAID, UH, IT WOULD JUST BE FOOLISH NOT TO ACHIEVE A REALLY SEAMLESS ONE SEAT RIDE, INTER INTERCHANGE AT DALLAS.
THAT'S GOT TO BE THE OBJECTIVE.
SO, UM, WE ARE LIAISING VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER.
UH, IDEALLY YOU'D HAVE THE SAME TECHNOLOGY.
YOU'D HAVE THE, YOU'D HAVE A, A SEAMLESS ONE SEAT RIDE THROUGH, UM, THROUGH SERVICE BETWEEN FORT WORTH, DALLAS AND THEN ONTO HOUSTON.
BUT AMTRAK, WILL AMTRAK BE MANAGING IT THE WAY THEY WILL BE THE DALLAS HOUSTON? UH, NOT AT THE MOMENT, NO.
THEY ARE TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS.
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED BY THE FRA IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH BOTH TDOT ON THEIR CID APPLICATION, WHICH RELATES TO, UM, UPGRADING THE, THE EXISTING FREIGHT ROUTE AND THIS, UH, PROJECT ALISTAIR FORT WORTH.
UM, WE, WE ARE NOT MERGING THE PROJECTS BECAUSE DALLAS TO HOUSTON IS SO MUCH FURTHER ADVANCED IN TERMS OF DESIGN.
SO WE CAN PROCEED WITH THAT, BUT WE WILL DO SO IN A WAY THAT IF WE DO START CONSTRUCTION, THEN DALLAS TO FORT WORTH CAN FOLLOW AS A COMPLIMENTARY, UH, PROJECT.
DALLAS TO HOUSTON IS ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARED.
DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, I'M THRILLED ABOUT THE HOUSTON DALLAS TO FORT WORTH IS NOW THREE DAYS INTO AN ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE.
THERE'S YOUR SLIDE WHERE, OKAY, I'M SORRY.
THE BLUE LINE IS THE HIGH SPEED RAIL PORT, UH, WITH A STATION IN DALLAS.
THAT'S THE AIRPORT WHERE THE STAR IS THE STATION.
I KNOW, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE AIRPORT IS ON THIS PICTURE.
THE AIRPORT IS A TRANSFER FROM THE ARLINGTON STATION, THE MIDDLE STAR NORTH TO THE FOURTH RAIL LINE THAT ENTERS DFW AIRPORT.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE THE RAIL LINE FROM PLANO, THE RAIL LINE FROM FORT WORTH.
UH, YOU HAVE THE LIGHT RAIL LINE FROM IRVING.
AND THE FOURTH RAIL LINE IN THE MOBILITY PLAN IS A RAIL IS A SO AUTONOMOUS TRANSIT VEHICLE FROM
[01:35:01]
THAT, UH, YELLOW STATION INTO DFW AIRPORT.SO I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES WILL PIGGYBACK ON THAT.
I'M GONNA MOVE ON FROM WITH MY OTHER QUESTIONS AND LET MY COLLEAGUES DIG INTO THE AIRPORT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UM, COULD YOU, UM, LET'S SEE, FOUR, FIVE.
UM, IF WE SUPPORT THE DALLAS HOUSTON ROUTE AND DECIDE THAT THE ONE TICKET IS NOT THE WAY WE ARE READY TO GO YET, UM, COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT WOULD BE THE FALLOUT AND THE COST FROM THAT AT THIS POINT IN HISTORY, UM, THE BUSINESS CASE FOR DALLAS TO HOUSTON, UH, IS INDEPENDENT OF ANY SUB, UH, EXTENSION THAT MIGHT, MAY OR MAY NOT TAKE PLACE FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH.
SO, UH, BUT, BUT BECAUSE PRECISELY BECAUSE AMTRAK IS INVOLVED AT THE MOMENT IN THE DUE DILIGENCE BASIS, REVIEWING THE VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT.
BUT IF IT WERE TO GO FORWARD, ONE OF THE BIG ADVANTAGES OF AMTRAK BEING INVOLVED IS IT WOULD BE THEN, UM, PART OF THE NATIONAL NETWORK AND THEREFORE PART OF THE NATIONAL RESERVATION AND TICKETING SYSTEM.
AND SO IF THE FORT WORTH EXTENSION BECAME A REALITY, YOU COULD EASILY EXTEND WITHIN THAT SAME NATIONAL, UH, ENVELOPE IS EASILY DONE.
UM, AND COULD YOU, NOW I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE, UH, BACK TO THE FORT WORTH ONE FOR A SECOND.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT, WE'VE HEARD DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ABOUT THE IMPACT ON REUNION FOR ME, THERE'S SOME GIVENS ON REUNION I FIND LIKE, UH, LIKE I DO ABOUT THIS BUILDING, THAT IT'S AN ICONIC DALLAS BUILDING.
WE'VE HEARD THAT IT COULD BE THREATENED WITH THIS ALIGNMENT.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT, MR. MORRIS? WELL, WE'VE BEEN AT IT FIVE YEARS AND ONLY SINCE PROBABLY THE SUMMER HAVE WE HEARD ANYONE'S CONCERN ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
SINCE WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR FOUR YEARS AND WE'VE LOOKED AT 50 OPTIONS.
IF THERE IS SOME ISSUE BETWEEN THE EAST SIDE OF THE HYATT REGENCY LOOKING DOWNTOWN, I'D HAVE TO ASK HARD QUESTIONS.
YOU'RE STARING AT A RAIL DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, PROBABLY.
UM, WE HAVE AN OPTION ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE HYATT REGENCY.
UM, I WOULDN'T BOTHER TO BRING THE PEOPLE MOVER AND ALL THAT ALONG THE WEST SIDE 'CAUSE IT'S SO FAR AWAY FROM UNION STATION.
BUT WE, WE'VE HAD THREE YEARS AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO, AND TODAY, IF THERE'S SOME ISSUE BETWEEN THE HYATT REGENCY AND LOOKING EAST OF DOWNTOWN, WE SIMPLY GO ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE HYATT REGENCY.
BUT YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE MAKING ALL THOSE INTERMODAL CONNECTIONS 'CAUSE THE ROUTE IS NOWHERE CLOSE TO, UH, UNION STATION.
IF IN FACT, YOU'VE MADE A DECISION TO GO TO UNION STATION AND TO BUILD A CONVENTION CENTER, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY OF ECONOMIES, OF SCALE, OF CREATING THESE SEAMLESS CONNECTIONS ON THE EAST SIDE.
BUT, UM, IT'S UP TO YOU IF WE GO EAST OF THE HYATT REGENCY OR WEST, WE HAVE THREE OPTIONS NOW EAST OF THE HYATT REGENCY THAT MAY HAVE SOME BENEFIT TO THIS COUNCIL.
AND WE HAVE A ROUTE WEST OF THE HYATT REGENCY THAT MAKE I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
AND REMEMBER, YOU'VE APPROVED A ONE SEAT RIDE AND YOU'VE APPROVED THE DALLAS STATION.
SO WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THIS PARTICULAR COUNCIL HISTORICALLY, IS TO GET TO THE DALLAS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.
SO, SO, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S THAT RESOLUTION DONE IN 2015 AS PART OF A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT WAS THE, THAT AND, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL VOTES AT THE RTC AND SEVERAL, PROBABLY OTHER VOTES HERE, UHHUH
AND YOUR STAFF AND OUR STAFF DID THAT RELIGIOUSLY HAVE IT BE FOR THE SAFETY PROTOCOL OR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT? WE WOULD OF OFTEN HAVE MULTIPLE PRESENTERS AT THOSE HEARINGS, UH, ARGUING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DALLAS TO, TO HOUSTON CONNECTION.
UM, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TIME I COULDN'T FIND IN THE WHITE PAPER.
SO DR. PEREZ, WHERE ARE THE TIME DIFFERENCES THAT MR. MORRIS REP REFERENCED IN TERMS OF THE, THE SELECTION? I DIDN'T SEE TIME DIFFERENCES THERE.
I SAW LOTS OF OTHER DATA POINTS ABOUT WHY CERTAIN ALIGNMENTS WERE SELECTED.
UH, I'M SORRY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND TIME DIFFERENCE.
IT'S BASED ON, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIR MORENO'S QUESTION ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN TIME BETWEEN THE CURRENT TRE AND THIS AND RIGHT.
IF YOU GO TO THE SLIDE WHERE I PRESENTED THE TRAVEL TIMES, THESE ARE FROM THE LATEST, UH, GEOMETRIC PROFILES OF THE ACCELERATION RATE OF THE, UH, JAPANESE TRAIN.
[01:40:01]
YEAH.OH, YOU MEAN PLANNING TIME OR SPEED OF THE TRAIN? NO, THE SPEED OF THE WELL, YOU TALKED TO, AND YOU REFERENCED THIS REPORT WHEN HE ASKED ABOUT, UH, THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SPEED.
UH, DR. PEREZ, YOU 30, THERE'S 31.
IT, IT'S MY SLIDE 17, IT'S 31, BUT IT DOESN'T COMPARE, UH, IT DOESN'T COMPARE THEM.
THE TRE VERSUS THE HIGH SPEED RAIL.
VERSUS THE OH OH TRE IS 65 MINUTES, UH, WITH SIMULATED HIGH SPEED RAIL WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE TRE RIDERSHIP.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME? OH, YOU'RE ASKING ME WHAT IS THE TRAVEL TIME OF, OF, OF TRYING TO PUT AT GRADE RAIL SERVICE ON THE TRE QUARTER? UH, I'LL, I'LL LET MR. MORENO ASK IT AGAIN.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND THE SOURCE FOR, THERE ARE FATAL FLAW, THERE ARE FATAL FLAWS OF PUTTING A HIGH SPEED TRAIN ON AN AT GRADE CORRIDOR.
HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU ON WHY YOU DON'T HAVE A HIGH SPEED TRAIN, GO ALL THE WAY TO HOUSTON AND THEN DRAG YOURSELF ACROSS AN AT GRADE CORRIDOR, UH, BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, IF THAT'S THE QUESTION.
UM, CAN THE STREET CAR THAT YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION, IS THAT POSSIBLE TO BUILD THAT INTO THE FUNDING FOR ANY OF THIS? OR IS IT AN ENTIRELY NEW AND THIRD INITIATIVE NOW? SO WE'VE GOT DALLAS, HOUSTON, DALLAS, FORT WORTH, AND THEN NOW WOULD THIS BE THE THIRD INITIATIVE OR COULD WE BUILD IT INTO THE PACKAGE? SO, UH, THE STREETCAR WOULD BE A SEPARATE INITIATIVE, MA'AM.
UM, CAN WE POSSIBLY GET THE, UH, BUSINESS CASE FOR EACH OF THOSE ALIGNMENTS THAT YOU REFERENCED, THE BUSINESS CASE FOR HAVING THEM, THE ECONOMIC CASE? I HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE PAPERS THAT SHOW THEM.
OH, WE HAVE ALL THE, UH, I REALLY THINK YOU NEED TO GET IT FROM YOUR STAFF, BUT WE WILL GIVE A HEADSTART TO YOUR STAFF OF ALL THE, UH, REPORTS WE HAVE READ THAT CITED THESE PARTICULAR ELEMENTS.
WE HAVE ALL THOSE SITES AND REPORTS.
WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE 'EM YOU, YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
UM, AND THEN, UM, IS, UM, THE RE IS ALSO, IS IT A SEPARATE PROJECT FOR THE REMODELING OF THE, UH, UNION STATION, THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON? YES, IT ROSA FLEMING.
AGAIN, THIS IS, UH, A SEPARATE PROJECT.
IT'S PART OF THE COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE MASTER PLAN.
UM, IT WOULD BE, WE MODELED THOUGH IN COLLABORATION WITH, UH, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE, OF THE BUILDING ALONG WITH CITY OF DALLAS, UM, COG AND, AND AMTRAK.
SO THERE WOULD BE A COMBINATION OF FUNDING FROM ALL OF THOSE TWO.
RENOVATE IT, IS THAT NEW MONEY OR IS IT PART OF THE CONVENTION CENTER MONEY, OR ARE WE GONNA HAVE, WHAT'S THE BURDEN ON THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR THAT? SO IT'S NEW MONEY.
I THINK WHEN I PRESENTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2023, UM, WE PROVIDED, UM, A CHART THAT SHOWED WHERE MONEY WAS COMING FROM.
AND AT THE TIME WE WERE LOOKING AT KIND OF A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
SO SOME CITY MONEY THAT WOULD COME FROM CONVENTION AND EVENT SERVICES, UM, SOME MONEY FROM FROM COG THAT'S YET TO BE, WE'LL HAVE TO DO AN ANALYSIS.
WE'LL HAVE TO DO THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN AND GET A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FOR WHAT'S THAT'S GONNA BE.
WE'LL WORK WITH THEM, WE'LL WORK WITH AMTRAK AND WE'LL WORK WITH THE MANAGEMENT, UM, COMPANY OF THE, OF THE BUILDING, BECAUSE I WOULD THINK THAT THE STATION WOULD BE BUILT INTO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAIL AND WE COULD WORK THROUGH THAT AS WE, WE CAN'T HAVE RAIL WITH ION.
SO AS THE TIMING, WE'LL HAVE TO WORK THE TIMING OUT AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME DECISIONS, WHICH IS WHY WE'VE KIND OF TABLED IT, CONCENTRATING ON THE CONVENTION CENTER AND SOME OF THE OTHER COMPONENTS RIGHT NOW AS WE WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS SAID COUNCIL HAS ABOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL.
BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'LL CONTINUE MEETING AS A GROUP WITH ALL OF OUR EXTERNAL INTERNAL STAKEHOLDER, GENERAL PARTNERS, AND THEN COME BACK WITH A PLAN THAT SHOWS HOW THAT TIMELINE WOULD, WOULD WORK TOGETHER.
AND IS, AND SORRY FOR THIS QUESTION, BUT IS THE, UH, THE PLAN FOR THE STATION AND THE ALIGNMENT IS THAT IT'LL GO OUT OF THE STATION ON THE, ON THE EAST SIDE OF REUNION AND THEN HEAD TO HOUSTON REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO WITH FORT WORTH? IS THAT CORRECT? SO THAT ALIGNMENT, THE IMPACT ON REUNION IS THE SAME? NO.
WHETHER WE DO DALLAS AND HOUSTON ONLY AT THIS POINT, OR WE DO THE WHOLE SYSTEM, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, WE WOULD, WE ARE PROCEEDING ON THE BASIS OF, BECAUSE WE ARE SO MUCH FURTHER ADVANCED, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS ALREADY HAVING BEEN CLEARED, THE ROUTE THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY, UH, SAID THAT THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON SECTION WOULD FOLLOW INCLUDING TERMIN, UH, CURRENTLY TERMINUS IN DALLAS.
THAT REMAINS THE SAME AS PREVIOUSLY BRIEFED TO YOU.
SO REMIND ME WHERE THE END WOULD BE IF WE DON'T DO THE FORT WORTH AT THIS POINT.
THE STATION IS, I MAKE SURE I GET MY GEOGRAPH IN THE CEDARS.
IS THAT THE CEDAR STATION EAST STATION? YEAH.
OH WAIT, SORRY, ONE LAST QUESTION.
[01:45:01]
30.AND DOES THAT INCLUDE THE CONVENTION CENTER AT ALL? NO, THE DALLAS HOUSTON ALIGNMENT.
DR. PEREZ, YOU NEED TO TELL THEM WHERE THE HIGHS, THE DALLAS HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION IS IN RELATION TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FREEWAY.
SO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION THAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO IS IN, IN THE CEDARS, UM, DISTANCE WISE IT'S MAYBE, UH, IT'S IN THE SAME LOCATION A MILE ISH FROM THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER.
AND SO IF YOU KNOW WHEN COMING TO FRUITION, WOULD IT BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE THERE TO BE A A THERE PEOPLE MOVER THAT TAKES PEOPLE FROM THAT STATION TWO, THE CONVENTION CENTER? YES.
CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES WE'RE ON ITEM C FOR THE PUBLIC.
MR. BYFORD, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND MAKING THIS PRESENTATION, WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM AMTRAK ABOUT THEIR INTEREST IN THE DALLAS HOUSTON CONNECTION.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO APPLAUD THE ADMINISTRATION FOR MAKING HIGH SPEED RAIL, RAIL TRAVEL PASSENGER TRAVEL IN GENERAL, SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO COMPLIMENT AMTRAK ON ITS VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN IDENTIFYING THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON CORRIDOR AS ITS TOP PRIORITY FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.
AND WE WOULD CERTAINLY ECHO THE FACT THAT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE, UM, THE DIRECTION AND THE LEADERSHIP SHOWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION IN A VERY OVERT SUPPORT OF RAIL IN GENERAL AND ALSO IN HIGH SPEED.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET WITH THE SECRETARY, SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG JUST THREE WEEKS AGO MAYBE, AND HE WAS VERY, VERY POSITIVE ABOUT THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON PROJECT.
AND SO THAT, THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING.
UH, MR. MORRIS, A PRACTICAL QUESTION.
UH, WHAT ELEVATION ABOVE GRADE WOULD THE TRACKS BE FOR THE PROPOSED HIGH SPEED RAIL ADJACENT TO THE, UM, UH, UNION STATION? SO THE DALLAS STATION IS APPROXIMATELY 70 FEET ABOVE GROUND.
THAT'S THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, RIGHT? I'M TALKING ABOUT AT UNION STATION.
WELL, WE WOULD BE, I I I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
UH, WE'RE EXTENDING BASICALLY PARALLEL TO THAT, UH, ELEVATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ELEVATION OF THE GROUND DOES AS IT HEADS, UH, FURTHER WEST.
I CAN GET YOU THAT PARTICULAR DISTANCE.
WELL, I'M INTERESTED IN THAT BECAUSE THE ELEVATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH, UM, SHOW WHAT I WOULD ESTIMATE AT PERHAPS 40 FEET ABOVE GRADE.
AND YET THE HIGH SPEED LINE COMING IN FROM HOUSTON AT THE HIGH SPEED STATION HAS TO BE AT 70 FEET.
UM, FOR REASONS THAT HAVEN'T YET BEEN DISCUSSED HERE, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT'S BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, HOW WILL YOU TRAVERSE LESS THAN A MILE DISTANCE FROM UNION STATION WITH A GRADIENT OF AT LEAST 30 FEET? I WOULD ESTIMATE, UM, IN THAT SHORT SPAN OF TIME TO ALLOW FOR THE ONE SEAT RIDE AT THE STATION, I WOULD BE, I, I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WHEN WE EITHER NEED TO USE, PROBABLY USE THE ELEVATION ABOVE SEA LEVEL BECAUSE THE ELEVATION ABOUT ABOVE SEA LEVEL WILL BE APPROXIMATELY THE SAME.
ITS DISTANCE ABOVE THE GROUND MAY BE A FUNCTION OF HOW THE DISTANCE ABOVE THE GROUND CHANGES.
SO OUR ELEVATION IS ROUGHLY THE SAME ELEVATION AS THE, AS THE DALLAS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION AS IT EXTENDS WEST.
HAVE YOU DONE ANY STUDIES OF THAT? YOU LOOK, YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE LAND TO KNOW, OF COURSE.
HAVE YOU DONE ANY STUDIES OF THAT? YES, THE ENGINEERS HAVE ENGINEERED IT AT 3%.
AND I CAN GET YOU ALL THOSE DETAILS.
SO THERE ARE TWO MAIN ISSUES THAT I SEE, UH, WITH REGARD TO THIS, UM, CONNECTION BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
IT MAKE ME HIGHLY SKEPTICAL OF ITS PRACTICALITY AND INDEED BASIC NEED FOR IT.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION'S 2017 STUDY IN WHICH THEY LOOKED AT A HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR ALONG THE I 30 ALIGNMENT BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
AND CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD COST $12 BILLION AND IT WOULD SAVE ONLY 30 SECONDS AS COMPARED TO THE TRINITY RAILROAD EXPRESS.
IF THE RAILROAD EXPRESS, UH, HARDWARE WAS, UM, ENHANCED TO 125 MILE AN HOUR, UH, SPEED, THAT TO ME DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE I 30 CORRIDOR.
IT DOES NOT JUSTIFY, IN FACT, IT ARGUES AGAINST ANY HIGH SPEED RAIL AS BEING BASICALLY A PUBLIC WORKS BOONDOGGLE.
TODAY, THAT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKE $20 BILLION TO
[01:50:01]
BUILD SOMETHING THAT SAVES PEOPLE 30 SECONDS.IS THAT REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO HERE? BUT THE SECOND ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS WHAT I CALL CS COMMON SENSE.
DOES THIS MAKE SENSE TO ANYBODY THAT WE WOULD SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY TO ACHIEVE SO LITTLE GAIN JUST BECAUSE IN 2015 THIS BODY PASSED A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT CALLED FOR A ONE SEED RYE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN? A LOT.
BUT PRINCIPALLY THE RA'S STUDY TWO YEARS LATER IN 2017 THAT SAID, THIS IS NOT A PREFERRED ROUTE.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY NINE YEARS AFTER THAT LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WAS PASSED TO LOOK AT WHETHER IT STILL MAKES SENSE TODAY.
I DOUBT VERY MUCH THAT EVEN THE 2015 COUNCIL WOULD'VE WRITTEN A BLANK CHECK IN SUPPORT OF THE ONE SEAT RIDE AT THAT TIME, AND INDEED WOULD HAVE PUT CONDITIONS ON IT THAT MADE SENSE TO ACHIEVE THAT IN TERMS OF COST PRACTICALITY AND ACTUAL IMPROVEMENT IN TRAVEL TIMES.
BUT IN ADDITION, WE HAVE HEARD NO BUSINESS CASE BEING MADE FOR THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH ROUTE.
MR. BYFORD HAS SAID HE HAS DONE THAT FOR THE HOUSTON TO DALLAS CONNECTION.
AND I THINK IT MAKES A WELL OF A LOT OF SENSE, AND I SUPPORT THAT CONNECTION VERY STEADFASTLY BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ORIGIN AND DESTINATION.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT WITH FORT WORTH.
WE'VE GOT A 30 MILE DISTANCE THAT PEOPLE CAN TRAVERSE IN 40 MINUTES BY CAR OR USE THE CURRENT TRINITY RAILROAD EXPRESS TO ACHIEVE THEIR TRAVEL DESTINATION.
AND SO COMMON SENSE TO ME DICTATES THAT WE REVISIT WHATEVER IS BINDING FROM 2015 AND LOOK AT IT WITH THE COMMON SENSE OF THE FFRA STUDY AND THE CURRENT PRACTICALITIES THAT INCLUDE DAMAGING OR DESTROYING THE BUSINESS OF THE HYATT REGENCY BY ITS PROXIMITY EITHER ON THE WEST OR THE EAST SIDE.
OF COURSE, CHAIRMAN WEST DRAGONS FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL BEING HERE TODAY AND, AND FOR THIS GREAT PRESENTATION.
I'M GONNA START, UH, WITH MY QUESTIONS WITH, UH, DIRECTOR FLEMING, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST GIVE GUS A HEADS UP, UM, THAT I'M GONNA ASK FOR YOU TO REFERENCE THE DOCUMENT THAT MR. RIDLEY WAS JUST REFERRING TO THE 2015, UM, DOCUMENT THAT WE SUPPOSEDLY AGREED TO ON THE ONE SEAT RIDE.
I HAVE WHAT I THINK IS A COPY OF IT, AND I I HAVE NOT SEEN IT UNTIL TODAY.
SO I WILL BE COMING BACK TO MY SECOND PART OF MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU ON THAT.
SO, DIRECTOR FLEMING, UM, FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER LAND AROUND THE ACTUAL BUILDING, UM, WHO'S WORKING ON THAT? WHO'S, WHO'S PUTTING THERE IS A BIG PICTURE, I HOPE, AND WHO'S WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF THAT LAND AROUND THERE.
SO AS PART OF THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS OVER THE LAST, UM, TWO, TWO AND A HALF YEARS, UH, WE ACTUALLY DID A STUDY.
WE USED, UM, WSP SUBS, HUNT PARTNERS IN HRNA.
THEY DID, UH, KIND OF A CONCEPTUAL LOOK AT WHAT WOULD WORK BEST AROUND IT.
OBVIOUSLY FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THERE WAS THE 4,500 HOTEL ROOMS THAT NEEDED TO BE BE ADDED.
SO THE CONCEPT OF ADDING ENOUGH HOTEL CONCEPTS THAT FED INTO THAT, UM, AS WELL AS REQUISITE RESTAURANT RETAIL, A MIX OF HOUSING, AND THEN A, A POOL AWAY FROM OFFICE SPACE AS WE SAW THE, THE CONCERN OF PEOPLE WORKING AT HOME RATHER THAN WORKING IN OFFICES.
SO WE HAVE A CONCEPT RELATED TO THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND CLEAR THE ACREAGE THAT'LL BE AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
WE WILL BE WORKING ON AN RFQ THAT'LL LOOK AT A P THREE RELATIONSHIP WITH A DEVELOPER TO HELP US DEVELOP IT.
BUT TAKING THOSE ALONG THE WAY, NOW WE HAVE, UH, RETAINED HUNT PARTNERS TO HELP US REFRESH THE STUDY AS WE GO ALONG SO THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT DEVELOPMENT, UM, OPPORTUNITY, IT'S NOT HAVING TO GO BACK SEVERAL YEARS.
IT'LL BE GOING BACK JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM THAT'S ONGOING.
WE TALK ABOUT A LOT AT THE CITY PLACEMAKING AND, UM, HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR, SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES IN OUR DISTRICTS, IT'S ALWAYS THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET AROUND EASILY.
AND, UM, WHAT IS IT ABOUT PLACEMAKING AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU
[01:55:01]
AND THE CONSULTANTS? SURE.SO AS WE LOOKED AT THE PLAN, NOT JUST OURSELVES, BUT AS WE CAME TO COUNCIL, AS WE TALKED TO EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PUBLIC DURING OUR ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES, A LOT OF IT WAS THE PERCEPTION OF A LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY OR SAFENESS AROUND THE COM BECAUSE OF THE DARK SPACES AND BECAUSE OF THE VACANT LOTS AND SOME UNUSED OPEN SPACES.
AND SO PART OF THE PLAN IS TO REALLY FILL THOSE IN.
AND THAT COULD BE AS THE STUDY, UH, SHOWS A A MIX OF HOUSING, A MIX OF PARK SPACE, OPEN SPACE, GREEN SPACE THAT COULD BE USED, AND, AND FIXING THE WALKABILITY ISSUES THAT SEEMED TO BE A CONCERN, NOT JUST FOR OUR VISITORS, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY, UM, IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
SO THAT'S PARAMOUNT IN THE, IN THE EXECUTION OF THE PLAN.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU THAT ANSWER.
AND, UM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DARK SPACES, WALKABILITY, STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM WANTING TO BE IN AN AREA, UM, WOULD A, WOULD AN ELEVATED HIGHWAY, UM, CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR YOU? I, AND SO IN CONJECTURE AND ANSWERING THAT QUESTION, IF PLANNED CORRECTLY, AND IF PLANNED IN THE WAY WE SEE IT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST IN IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT ACROSS THE WORLD REALLY AND DEVELOPED CORRECTLY, I THINK IT COULD BE, UH, A BENEFIT.
I THINK IT'S JUST PLANNING IT IN A WAY THAT, UM, PEOPLE COME DOWN FROM AN ELEVATED PLATFORM ON A, ON AN ELEVATOR OF SORTS AND ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THE RETAIL SPACE, ET CETERA.
THAT IS, THAT IS DOWNTOWN IN THE WALKABLE, WALKABLE SPACES.
WELL, I THINK ONE OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT, I, I'M JUST GETTING THIS, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, AS MR. MORENO MENTIONED, THIS LARGE PACKET FOR THE HIGH SPEED RAIL CAME IN YESTERDAY LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO.
AND IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY DETAILED.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR ELEVATIONS SINCE OUR LA BEFORE OUR LAST BRIEFING ON WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, HOW IT WOULD IMPACT THE AREA AROUND THE HYATT REGENCY.
SO WE'RE JUST STARTING TO SEE THAT NOW.
UM, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE, LIKE THE FACT THAT IT, I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IN, IN MY MIND, THE WAY IT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME, CUT OFF A LITTLE PART OF THE, THE SORT OF GRASSY AREA, UM, CLOSE TO THE TRINITY AND NOT ACTUALLY GO RIGHT THROUGH THE HO LIKE IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL.
SO THAT BRINGS ME SOME CONCERNS ON THE CURRENT DESIGN, WHICH I'M GONNA, IT'S NOT YOUR PURVIEW NECESSARILY, BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
WILL THE CITY'S DECISION ON HIGH SPEED RAIL AND WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IF IT'S DALLAS TO HOUSTON OR, OR IF IT'S FORT WORTH TO HOUSTON, IS THAT GONNA IMPACT YOUR DESIGN? SO PART OF THE BRIEFING THAT WE GAVE TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, UM, IN FEBRUARY AND WHAT WE'LL GO OVER AGAIN TODAY SHOWS A REORIENTATION, NOT A CHANGE IN THE PROGRAMMABLE SPACE OR WHAT WE TALK TO THE VOTERS OR OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT AS WE PROGRAM THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT MOVING IT BACK, BUT NOT JUST BECAUSE OF HIGH SPEED RAIL NECESSARILY.
I THINK THAT THAT'S JUST A, SOMETHING THAT MOVES IT OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ALIGNMENT.
BUT PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE SHARING SPACE WITH TEXDOT AND UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AS WE DO CONSTRUCTION.
SO AS THEY'RE DOING, I 30 TDOT HAS ASKED US AND WE'VE AGREED TO BE GOOD PARTNERS AND SHARE SOME SPACE WHERE THEY NEED TO DO A SHOE FLY FOR UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AND WHERE THEY NEED TO STAGE SOME EQUIPMENT.
SO THAT'S MORE THE IMPETUS OF THE MOVE.
BUT WHEN YOU SEE THE REORIENTATION, YOU KNOW, ON A, ON AN ILLUSTRATION, IT DOES SHOW THAT WE'VE MOVED OUT OF THE WAY OF, OF A HIGH SPEED RAIL GOING THROUGH THE BUILDING NECESSARILY.
I'LL MOVE ON TO A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STREETCAR.
EITHER, UM, DIRECTOR LY OR DR. PEREZ.
UM, NOTHING THAT YOU GUYS BRIEFED TODAY WAS, WAS COMPLETELY NEW EXCEPT ONE THING, AND I WAS VERY GLAD TO HEAR IT, WHICH IS THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING, UM, THE PLACEMAKING, HOW THE STREETCAR MAY COME INTO THESE DIFFERENT AREAS IN TOWN.
AND YOU'RE CONSIDERING THAT AND WE'RE PLANNING AHEAD IN THE DESIGN.
UM, AND YOU MENTIONED THE ZOO, DEEP EL FAIR PARK, UH, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHERS.
UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, LIKE LET'S USE THE ZOO FOR AN EXAMPLE 'CAUSE THAT IMPACTS MY DISTRICT AND MY COLLEAGUE OVER THERE.
UM, HOW, HOW ARE WE CONSIDERING THAT IN THE DESIGN WORK, HOW THE STREETCAR MIGHT COME IN THERE? I PROBABLY RELY UPON GUS TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, BUT ESSENTIALLY, UM, AS WE ARE, UM, AS, AS WE'VE HEARD, UH, I GUESS THE DESTINATIONS OF INTEREST FROM SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE KNOW THAT AS WE HAVE PROJECTS IN THOSE PARTICULAR AREAS, WE WANT TO DESIGN, UH, THOSE PROJECTS, UH, SUCH AS MLK.
UM, WE, WE RECEIVED THAT FEDERAL GRANT EARLIER THIS YEAR, UM, TO, UH, I GUESS REIMAGINE MLK FROM 45 TO FAIR PARK.
AND SO AS WE HAVE THOSE PROJECTS AT HAND,
[02:00:01]
UH, WE WILL DESIGN, UH, THE STREETS TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE STREETCAR EXPANSION.AND THEN WE ARE DOING THAT WITH, UH, A NUMBER OF THE STREETS IN THE AREAS OF INTEREST THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED TO US BY COUNCIL.
ALRIGHT, I'LL MOVE ON TO MY QUESTIONS ON THE HIGH SPEED RAIL.
UM, SO THIS PACKET THAT WE, WE RECEIVED, THERE'S NO INDICATION OF WHO WROTE IT, WHO WAS INVOLVED IN, IN DESIGNING THIS PACKET.
I DON'T SEE ANY NAMES IN HERE EXCEPT IT'S THE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS CONNECTION STUDY.
CAN YOU GIMME AN INDICATION OF WHO'S, WHO'S INVOLVED IN WRITING THIS? I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT OUR WHITE PAPERS THAT WERE WRITTEN, UH, WE ARE, WE ARE THE AUTHORS OF THAT, THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
UM, A LOT OF HELP FROM OUR HNTB UH, CONSULTANTS, UH, DOING THE GEOMETRIC DESIGN QUESTIONS.
AND, UH, OUR PARTICULAR STAFF THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, SO OUR OUR COUNCIL GOVERNMENT STAFF AND OUR HNTB CONSULTANTS.
WAS IF, IF THAT'S THE WHITE PAPERS.
IT'S, I BELIEVE SO IT'S THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS EMAILED YESTERDAY TO COUNCIL.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS AT THE DIRECTION OF, UH, A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE RTC.
WE, WE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON, HEY, WOULD YOU RELOOK AT THIS? WOULD WE LOOK AT THAT? YES, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO QUESTIONS.
SO WE PUT MORE DETAIL INTO THE REASONS WHY EITHER FOUR YEARS AGO OR TWO YEARS AGO, A CERTAIN DECISION WAS MADE.
WE LOOKED AT IT A NEW RIGHT, UH, LOOKED AT IT AGAIN, CALCULATED THE CAPACITY OF ELEVATORS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH WITH MORE DETAIL.
'CAUSE WE HAVE HNDB CONSULTANTS ON BOARD AND WE UPDATED THOSE PARTICULAR REPORTS.
UM, AND LET'S GO, LET'S TURN NEXT TO THE DOCUMENT THAT, UM, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THAT WHERE COUNSEL APPROVED THIS, UM, ONE SEAT RIDE, WHICH IN CONCEPT I COMPLETELY SUPPORT.
I JUST HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR WHERE LEGALLY DID WE ACTUALLY, I CAN'T, PEOPLE KEEP TELLING ME THIS EXISTS AND I I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A COPY TILL TODAY.
UM, WHAT I HAVE, THE ONLY THING I'VE SEEN IS A, UM, A LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM DOCUMENT THAT WAS VOTED ON IN FEBRUARY, 2015, UM, WHICH DOES NOT REALLY EVEN DISCUSS A ONE SEAT RIDE.
SO WAS THERE SOMETHING MORE FORMALIZED, LIKE A RESOLUTION THAT I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE? UM, THIS IS GUIN CARLEY, DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS IS WHAT I AM, UM, AWARE OF THAT EXISTS.
HOWEVER, DIRECTOR ROGERS, UM, MAY ADD SOME INFORMATION TO IT.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, WE'RE BEING TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WE'VE, AS A FORMER COUNCIL, NO ONE WAS HERE EXCEPT MAYBE ONE OF US, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SIGNED OFF ON THIS.
AND IF IT'S JUST A DISCUSSION THAT WAS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, THAT'S NOT AN OFFICIAL APPROVAL.
UH, AND, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, UH, THIS EVEN PREDATED MY TIME HERE WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS.
SO, UH, THAT IS WHAT I'M AWARE OF THAT EXISTS, UH, OUT THERE.
UNLESS, UH, UM, I'D LIKE SOMEONE TO SAY THAT.
MS. ROGERS, EXPLAIN ON THE RECORD, PLEASE.
CARRIE ROGERS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, UM, LIKE DR.
UM, BUT WE DID PULL UP THE 2015 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM UNDER THE SECTION ECONOMIC VIBRANCY AND THE LANGUAGE WRITTEN THERE SAYS, SUPPORT MULTIMODAL CHOICES AND FUNDING OPTIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING HIGH SPEED RAIL, LIGHT RAIL, STREET CARS, SURFACE ROADS, PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE TRAILS.
UM, DIRECTOR ROGERS, IS THERE ANYTHING BEYOND THAT THAT YOU'VE LOCATED OR CITY SECRETARY'S LOCATED THAT SAYS THE COUNCIL SIGNED OFF ON THIS WHOLE CONCEPT? NOT THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND AS OF THIS MORNING.
UM, DIRECTOR MORRIS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS? UM, I HAVEN'T REVIEWED THE CITY OF DALLAS DOCUMENTS.
I'VE CERTAINLY REVIEWED THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL DOCUMENTS.
UM, YOU HAVE SENT STAFF TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS I'M TALKING ABOUT NOT MY STAFF.
SO IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD DEVELOP A, WHAT, WHAT INSTRUCTION WAS GIVEN TO EITHER DALLAS STAFF OR UM, CITY POSITION WITH REGARD TO ADVOCATING FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DALLAS AND UH, HOUSTON, AND SEE WHAT THAT GETS YOU.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT DALLAS COUNCIL MEMBERS DID AT THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL ON DALLAS TO HOUSTON AND DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO PULL THAT
[02:05:01]
FOR YOU.I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
JUST SO WE KNOW THE FULL HISTORY, DID YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP, UM, AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT IN THE REFERENCE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON? THE 2017 PROGRAM DOES INDICATE SUPPORT FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON, BUT DOES NOT MENTION FORT WORTH.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S HELPFUL AS WELL.
UH, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ROGERS.
SO I, I'LL JUST END MY LAST OF MY STATEMENT HERE.
LIKE I SUPPORT, I WANT THE ONE SEAT RIDE.
I THINK ALL OF US ON HERE, LIKE THE CONCEPT, UM, WHAT I DIDN'T GET INTO BUT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THE CURRENT ALIGNMENT AND DESIGN IS HOW IT CUTS OFF PART OF DOWNTOWN.
SO, THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THOUGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GRACIE WAS BEFORE ME, BUT WE'LL GO NOW.
UM, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UM, AND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS, IS OBVIOUSLY VERY BENEFICIAL AND VERY HELPFUL TO US.
I WON'T GO BACK THROUGH THE QUESTIONS I HAVE BECAUSE SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS, SO I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO, UM, TO REPEAT, REPEAT THAT.
BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT CERTAINLY HAS MY SUPPORT.
UH, I THINK, UM, I CAN SEE THAT WE CAN ALL IT, IT'S WHAT CHAIR WEST JUST SAID, WE CAN ALL SEE THE BENEFITS, UM, EVEN TO FORT WORTH, ALTHOUGH THAT'S THE PART THAT I THINK IS TRICKIER FOR US.
AND, UM, SO FOR ME, AS I JUST HAVE LISTENED TO EVERYBODY AND PICKED OUT SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WANT TO, UH, ZERO IN ON, AND THAT'S THE ELEVATED INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS, UM, AS IT COMES INTO THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, AND AND MR. MORRIS, YOU CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THIS FOR ME.
DO WE HAVE ELEVATED STRUCTURES FOR THE, THE TRAIN IN FORT WORTH OR ARLINGTON, OR DOES THAT, IS THAT JUST PART OF THE DALLAS? UM, SO, UH, SUPPORTING YOUR QUESTION, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE'RE HERE HANDCUFFED IN DALLAS BECAUSE WE ARE MEETING, WE ARE MEETING THE EXISTING HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION THAT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY APPROVED, BUT WE DIDN'T TAKE THAT FOR A GIVEN.
WE EXPLORED SUBWAYS AND OTHER DOWNTOWN STATIONS AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER, UH, ELEMENTS, UH, UM, AND SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THAT PARTICULAR STATION, BUT WE COULD NOT FIND ANY REASONABLE EXPECTATION.
UM, AND I, AND I THINK IF YOU GO BACK TO MR. RIDLEY'S, IF YOU MAKE A THEORETICAL ASSUMPTION, YOU CAN GO 125 MILES AN HOUR ON TRE, WHICH YOU CAN'T, THEN THE SPEED DIFFERENCE WILL BE SMALL.
UM, BUT THE REALITY IS IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO A SUBWAY, UM, YOU GOTTA UNLOAD THE TRAIN, GRAB YOUR LUGGAGE.
IT'S 20 MINUTES, 40 MINUTES FOR HUMANS WITHOUT A VEHICLE TIME.
SO WE COULDN'T GET SOME OTHER COMBINATION OF SUBWAY AND SO AND SO FORTH TO WORK WITHOUT HITTING SOME SNAG THAT SAYS, WELL, THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
OTHER, OTHER THAN THE ONE SEAT RIDE.
BUT THE STATION WAS A PRODUCT OF EARLIER WORK THAT WAS DONE WITH LOTS OF OPTIONS THAT RESULTED, WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN ANY OF THAT.
THE ONLY INVOLVEMENT OF THE RTC WAS THE ORIGINAL IDEA WAS TO STOP HIGH SPEED RAIL AND WALKS THE HI WALKS THE HATCHEE.
AND OUR COMMENT WAS, UH, YOU'VE GOTTA GET TO DOWNTOWN.
WHY WOULD YOU BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL AND STOP IT THERE? SO, UH, OTHERS BEFORE US CAME UP AT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.
THERE'S, I THINK, VERY JUSTIFIED REASONS WHY IT'S ELEVATED AND NOT IN A SUBWAY, IF THAT'S THE QUESTION.
UH, BUT IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, WE WERE NOT CONSTRAINED BY AN ALREADY APPROVED IN ENVIRONMENTAL IN ARLINGTON OR FORT WORTH.
SO IN THOSE PARTICULAR CASES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WE ARE, WE'RE AVOIDING THE 360 1 61 INTERCHANGES ON I 30.
SO WE ARE FORCED INTO A TUNNEL IN ARLINGTON.
AND THE EASIEST WAY INTO FORT WORTH IS, IS THROUGH A TUNNEL AS WELL.
WE WOULD'VE LOVED TO HAVE A TUNNEL IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, BUT THE CARDS DEALT TO US WAS A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION GOING TO HOUSTON AT THE ENVIRONMENTALLY APPROVED LOCATION THAT AMTRAK, TO THEIR CREDIT, IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AND ADVANCING HIGH SPEED RAIL.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON, IT IS, IS IT ELEVATED THE WHOLE WAY OR IS IT JUST ELEVATED FROM SAY, WAXAHATCHEE COMING NORTH? UM, WELL, IT, IT, A LOT OF IT IS BUILT ON VIADUCT, EITHER VIADUCT, SO THE, THE, THE CLASSIC SORT OF VIADUCT STRUCTURE OR ON BERM, WHICH IS A BUILDUP OF EARTHWORKS IN ORDER TO TAKE IT AT, AT A, UM, CONSISTENT LEVEL.
WHAT YOU DON'T WANT WITH A HIGH SPEED ROUTE IS EITHER TO, UM, INTRODUCE CURVES.
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY BY DEFINITION, THE SHARPER THE CURVE, THE THE LOWER THE SPEED.
UH, BUT ALSO YOU DON'T WANT TO KEEP CHANGING ELEVATIONS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
SO IT'S, IT'S A MIXTURE THROUGHOUT THE ROUTE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF VIADUCT AND BURN WORK.
SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S THAT VIADUCT INFRASTRUCTURE
[02:10:01]
THOUGH.IT'S, IT'S THE, IT'S, IT'S WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PROPERTY, TO THE PEOPLE, TO THE COMMUNITIES, TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE UNDER THIS, RIGHT? AND, AND SURROUNDING THIS.
AND, UM, DALLAS DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD FOR, UH, KEEPING THE, THAT PARTICULAR AREA, UM, ENGAGED AND VITALIZED AND, AND IN FACT, THAT PART VERY OFTEN GETS IGNORED AND NEIGHBORHOODS GET DIVIDED.
AND I THINK WHEN IT'S PART OF THE WHOLE REASON WE'RE BRINGING I 3 45 DOWN, RIGHT, IS BECAUSE OF WHAT IT DID TO ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES UNDERNEATH.
SO I TRULY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THIS.
I I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CORRIDOR.
NOW, MAYBE PARTS OF IT ARE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, AND WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT I DO WORRY, AGAIN, POTENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS UNDER, UNDERNEATH THOSE SPACES.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF ELEVATED RAMPS WITH 6 35 AND 75.
AND I'VE RECENTLY HAD A TOUR, UM, WITH THE SECURITY DIRECTOR FROM TI OF SOME OF THOSE SPACES.
AND THERE'S A CREEK AND THERE'S SOME COMMUNITIES UNDER THERE LIVING, UM, VERY CONSISTENT CONSISTENTLY.
SO I, I WANT US TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE BUILDING AND THE IMPACT OF WHAT WE'RE BUILDING.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE ENGINEERING STUDIES, BUT THERE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY IMPACT STUDY TO WHAT HAPPENS UNDERNEATH THIS RAIL, THIS ELEVATED INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, I, I TOO, WITH MY COLLEAGUES, AS I LOOK AT SLIDE 28, I BELIEVE, UM, I, I THINK THAT WE TALK ABOUT THAT THE HYATT HAS, YOU KNOW, THE RAIL YARD RIGHT THERE, BUT THAT RAIL YARD HAS BEEN DOWN AT GRADE.
AND SO I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FROM THE I BERNICE JOHNSON RAIL STATION AND THE HYATT IS GOING TO BE THIS TRAIN, AND SOME, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS, WILL THEY SEE TRAIN, OR WILL THEY SEE CONCRETE? DO WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW PROTECT THE TRAIN? WHAT, WHAT WILL, WHAT'S THE TOP OF THAT LOOK LIKE? SO ON TOP OF THE RAILROAD TRACK IS A, A GANTRY THAT RUNS THE ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM.
SO REMEMBER, IF THE CONCERN IS WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING ELEVATED BETWEEN THE HYATT REGENCY AND THE RAIL DISTRICT, THEN THE ROUTE IS, UH, THERE'S ANOTHER ROUTE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE HYATT REGENCY.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO ON THE EAST SIDE.
THE BENEFIT OF GOING ON THE EAST SIDE, IT HELPS YOU WITH THIS NOTION OF, UH, STREETCAR INTERFACE, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMUTER, UH, ACCESS TO THE UNION STATION.
SO YOU BRING IN AMTRAK TRAINS INTO UNION STATION FROM ALL OVER A NEW ONE GOING TO ATLANTA, YOU WOULD'VE A SEAMLESS CONNECTION TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE THE CONNECTION TO FORT WORTH.
YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT CONNECTION.
I WANT YOU TO PICTURE COMING OUT OF UNION STATION, GRABBING YOUR SUITCASES, CROSSING INTERSTATE 30 AND GETTING TO A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, VERSUS YOU HAVE A SEAMLESS CONNECTION FOR THAT PARTICULAR MOVEMENT.
SO, UM, CHAIR, IF I MIGHT JUST COMMENT, WE'RE VERY ALIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS THAT YOU RAISED.
UM, I MEAN, WE, WE ARE BENEFICIARIES OF WORK THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE IN TERMS OF GETTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCES.
SO THAT'S GOOD THAT THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE REDONE WHOLESALE.
IT DOES NEED TO BE REVIEWED AFTER THREE YEARS.
UM, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF, UH, COMMISSIONING THAT PIECE OF WORK RIGHT NOW.
BUT ON, ON BEHALF OF AMTRAK, WE ARE, WE ARE VERY, UM, ALIVE TO, UH, MAKING SURE THAT COMMUNITIES KNOW, KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S PROPOSED AND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.
SO YOU'VE GOT MY, UM, COMMITMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE DO PROPERLY DISCUSS THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES WITH YOU.
AND WITH REGARD TO THE, THE VISUALS, I MEAN, ALL I'D SAY IS THAT YEAH, TYPICALLY YOU WOULD SEE THE CATY, WHICH IS THE OVERHEAD WIRES AND THE TRAIN GOING UNDERNEATH.
UM, IT IS ACTUALLY VERY DRAMATIC.
I MEAN, I GUESS I'M KIND OF BIASED, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
UH, I THINK I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME PICTURES OF THAT.
UM, I THINK, SO WHEN WE WERE MET PREVIOUSLY, MR. MORRISON AND, UH, DIRECTOR PEREZ, WE, OR EXCUSE ME, DEPUTY MANAGER, UH, PEREZ, SORRY, I'VE GOT MY WORDS ALL SCRAMBLED FOR A MINUTE.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE NEEDED VISUALS, HOW WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE VISUALIZING ALL OF THIS, AND NOW WE'RE GETTING A GLIMPSE OF THAT.
BUT I THINK SOME ADDITIONAL VISUALS WOULD BE GOOD.
AND IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, I THINK SOME CONVERSATIONS, UM, WITH THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, THIS DECISION MAY HAVE BEEN MADE NINE YEARS AGO, BUT, UM, I THINK WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE CATCHING UP TO THAT.
SOME, SOME DECISIONS AND STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE,
[02:15:01]
AND PERHAPS YOU ALL HAVE CHECKED IN, AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE CHECKED IN ALONG THE WAY, BUT I THINK SOME OF US FEEL AS IF ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS IS KIND OF PLOPPED DOWN AND WE NEED SOME ABILITY TO, TO WORK THROUGH THAT AND TO, UM, TO GET OUR HANDS AROUND THE VISUALS, THE, THE, UM, THE PATH OF TRAVEL.AND THEN, AS I SAID EARLIER, JUST THE IMPACT.
SO, ROSA, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA, UH, ENGAGE, UM, WSP, IS THAT CORRECT? AND WE COULD GET SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, LOOKING AT WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS TO THIS PROPERTY UNDERNEATH, UM, THE ELEVATED INFRASTRUCTURE AND SURROUNDING.
SO YES, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'VE TALKED TO WSP, WE'RE GOING TO USE THE EXISTING ADVANCED PLANNING CONTRACT, AND WE WILL LOOK AT DATA RELATED TO DENSITY RELATED TO LAND VALUE, POPULATION, ET CETERA.
UM, AS WE WALK, AS WE WALK THROUGH IT, WHEN WE GET THE DRAFT, IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WE'LL WORK TO GET THAT AS WELL.
AND PERHAPS WE COULD GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT DOES HAPPEN TO THE COMMUNITIES IN JAPAN THAT ARE, I'M ASSUMING THEY HAVE THE ELEVATED, UM, RAIL, SINCE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BOOKING THE HOTEL ROOMS. SO MAYBE IF THERE'S ANY, ANYTHING THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND BY WHAT THAT IMPACT HAS BEEN IN OTHER PLACES.
I MEAN, I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN FIND OUT.
THE, ACTUALLY THAT'S THAT GRADE, THE, UH, THE PLACE WHERE I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE HOTEL THAT IS ACTUALLY AT GRADE, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT VARIES BY ROUTE.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL HAVE, UM, THE DEPUTY MAYOR, PRO TE AND THEN MS. WILLIS, UM, FOR FIVE MINUTES EACH.
UH, AND MOST OF YOU DON'T REALIZE, MAYBE YOU'RE DOING THE AUDIENCE.
THIS IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, SO WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THAT EVENT, UM, SHORTLY.
BUT IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE.
AND I'M GONNA BE VERY SHORT BECAUSE I'VE, I WAS ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO BY LUCK I WAS HERE IN 2015 AND IN 2016, SO THAT'S WHEN I BEGAN TO SEE THE HEADLINES AND THE EXCITEMENT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN OPTION IN TERMS OF MOBILITY, UH, STARTED HITTING THE HEADLINES.
I, I'M, I DID ASK QUESTIONS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT, UH, ON, ON, WHICH IS PART OF MY DISTRICT AND THE LOWER PART OF, UH, MY DISTRICT IN THE FRUIT DALE AREA.
BUT THAT WAS, HAD TO DO WITH SOME BUYOUTS THERE.
FROM A PRIVATE STANDPOINT, IT WAS, NO, MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE WAS NO IMMINENT DOMAIN.
BUT I THINK THIS JUST GIVE, GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY.
AND I WAS WRITING NOTES, UH, LONG TERM, UH, JUST THE BENEFITS WE WERE GAINED FROM THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR, PREPARING OUR YOUTH FOR NEW OPTIONS AND NEW, UH, JOBS AND NEW CAREER PATHS.
I THINK I CAN SEE THE BOOM IN BUSINESS.
UH, LOCAL BUSINESSES WILL, WILL, I THINK, BENEFIT, UH, JUST FROM THE TOURISM THAT WILL BEGIN TO COME IN AND PLACEMENT OF, OF CERTAIN RESTAURANTS WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE HIGH ABOVE THE, THE, THE RAIL AS IT'S, IT'S MOVING.
UH, SO I THINK IT'S A POSITIVE FOR THE BUSINESS AND ECO ECONOMICS.
UH, WE LOOK AT, UH, REDUCING CONGESTION AND TRAVEL, BUT I JUST SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, DALLAS TO BE WHAT IT, WHAT WE SAY IT IS, BIG D AND ALL INCLUSIVE.
AND SO I JUST THINK THIS IS ANOTHER OPTION.
UH, WE WILL HAVE TO GET OVER THE HURDLES.
UH, I'M HAPPY TO SEE SOMETHING THAT MOVES FASTER THAN I DO, YOU KNOW,
SO, UH, BUT FOR ME, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I HAVE BEEN WITH IT A LITTLE BIT LONGER, PERHAPS, OTHER THAN OUR GODFATHER HERE, MR. TENNELL ATKINS.
I BELIEVE HE WAS HERE AT THAT TIME, UH, EARLY ON, UH, TO BE INTRODUCED.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, WE ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR DALLAS.
BUT I JUST SIMPLY BELIEVE IT WOULD JUST PUT US ON THE MAP AS HAVING ANOTHER OPTION IN TERMS OF, UH, MOBILITY.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I WANNA ADD.
AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP, UM, I WILL PRESENT THAT TO YOU WHEN WE ARE, WHEN HAVING ANOTHER, WHEN WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MEET.
BUT I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF DALLAS.
UM, WE'RE STILL ON ITEM C, MS. WILLIS, AND THEN CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON, AND THEN MS. BLACKMAN FOR FIVE MINUTES EACH.
I TOOK MY KIDS ON A TRIP TO CHICAGO, DID THE SLEEPER CAR THE WHOLE BIT, UM, HAVE TRAVELED ON THE ASLA.
UH, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHILE GOING FROM BOSTON TO DC AND CROSSING SEVERAL STATES IS PROBABLY A BIG DEAL TO SOME IN TEXAS, UH, HAVING SOMETHING THAT'S JUST DALLAS TO HOUSTON, SELF-CONTAINED IN THE STATE IS OKAY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER DRIVEN FROM DALHART TO HARLINGEN, BUT WE GOT A LOT OF ROOM IN THIS STATE.
SO, UM, I, I REALLY LOVE THE, THE WAY THAT WE CAN LINK THE ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE ASPECT OF THIS BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON, AND HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, THE ENERGY AND SHIPPING SECTORS THAT WE DON'T HAVE
[02:20:01]
AS MUCH OF UP HERE.UM, YOU KNOW, VIRTUAL'S OKAY, BUT WE LIKE EYEBALL TO EYEBALL AND HANDSHAKES SOMETIMES.
SO I REALLY LOVE THAT ASPECT OF THIS.
UM, MY FAMILY'S ALSO BEEN A CONSUMER OF THE TRE, UH, WHEN MY MOM LIVED IN FORT WORTH BEFORE SHE MOVED OVER HERE.
SO WE, WE USED THE TRE TO GET BACK AND FORTH SO SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.
UM, SO I, I LOVE TRAIN TRAVEL AND I'VE, I'VE BEEN A FAN OF THIS DALLAS TO HOUSTON PLAN FOR A WHILE.
UM, AND, AND REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE IT IN MY LIFETIME,
UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE, THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT'S BEEN SPENT ON THIS, MR. MORRIS, YOU'VE REFERENCED, UM, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF, UH, ASPECTS OF THIS BEING EXPLORED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS, INITIATIVES, STUDIES, THEY'RE GOING ON AROUND HERE ALL THE TIME, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GET ATTENTION UNTIL THEY START TO COALESCE A LITTLE MORE AND RISE TO THE TOP.
AND SO I'M A BIG FAN OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUSED MODEL WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN COME TO ME WITH YOUR IDEAS, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T SHOPPED IT WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND GOTTEN THEIR INPUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA MAKE YOU GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
AND SO I THINK IN THIS CASE, SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOTTA TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO REACH OUT TO THE AFFECTED PARTIES IN AN EARLIER TIMEFRAME, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOW WE DO HAVE AN ISSUE BEFORE US.
SO I'M, I GUESS I'M A LITTLE LESS SYMPATHETIC TO ALL THE TIME SPENT, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS NOW COALESCING AND WE'RE HAVING TO GIVE IT ATTENTION.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOU TO LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE DID HAVE.
I WASN'T A MAJOR PART OF MY PRESENTATION, HUNDREDS OF THEM, AND SEE WHO WE MET WITH OVER THOSE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
AND, UM, UM, JUST, JUST REFLECT ON THAT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE TIE TO THE, I'M A GRASSROOTS BOTTOM UP GUY.
WE IMPLEMENTED A GRASSROOTS BOTTOM UP INITIATIVE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.
AND, UH, IF YOU WOULD, LET US SEND IT TO THE COUNCIL SO THEY KNOW THAT PRO I, I BELIEVE THAT BOX WAS CHECKED.
WELL, I BELIEVE PEOPLE RAISE A HAND, UM, IN THE PROCESS A LITTLE LATER, IT SUGGESTS THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A BOX THAT WASN'T CHECKED.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU, I THINK, YOU KNOW WHAT WE, I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO BELABOR IT, BUT, SO I'M, I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH ASPECT OF THIS, UH, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF DALLAS TO HOUSTON, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE YEARS AGO, DECISIONS WERE MADE AND THAT DALLAS IS NOW BEING PENALIZED IN A WAY FOR ARLINGTON AND FORT WORTH TO HAVE SOME CONNECTIVITY.
UM, SO I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT, WHERE WE'RE COMING INTO PLAY ON THIS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL RESOLUTION OF ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO TALKED ABOUT A ONE SEAT RIDE.
I'M SURE THAT SOUNDED FABULOUS AT THE TIME.
BUT I THINK WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE'VE GOT HESITANCY IS HOW THIS IS BEING PROPOSED TO BE EXECUTED.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, THINGS MOVE FAST AROUND HERE, AND I WOULD SAY THAT I WOULD RESPECT A FUTURE COUNCIL'S NEED OR DESIRE TO EVALUATE DECISIONS WE'RE MAKING TODAY, 10 YEARS, HENCE, AND, UH, CHANGE THEM OR MODIFY THEM TO REFLECT THE CITY AND, UH, WHERE WE'RE GOING.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE WHOLE NEED TO BE PART OF A NATIONAL NETWORK OF THE FUTURE, UH, AND WITH THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING TODAY AND HOW WE PRIORITIZE THESE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I LEAN TOWARD PUTTING MORE ENERGY TO DALLAS, TO HOUSTON, AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS DFW PIECE.
UM, BUT I, I'M ALSO HAVING DIFFICULTY AROUND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASPECT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE MAKING ASSUMPTIONS.
I REALIZE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A TREMENDOUS VOLUME OF PEOPLE COMING TO TEXAS.
BUT, UM, DR. PEREZ, I'M HEARING THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD OR MAKE SOME DECISIONS, THEN THE ECO DEV STUDY PART COMES TO PLAY, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOT THIS CHRONOLOGY ISSUE GOING ON.
SO WHAT CAN YOU POINT TO, TO SAY, YES, IT'S GONNA HAVE THIS KIND OF, UH, ECO DEV IMPACT ON THE CITY OF DALLAS WITH PEOPLE FROM FORT WORTH BEING ABLE TO COME TO DALLAS, AND FOR ARLINGTON TO BEING ABLE TO COME TO DALLAS, THAT WAS DONE POST COVID.
WHAT DO WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIS? UM, SO THE, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT THAT I DISCUSSED, UH, IT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HA WE HAVEN'T DONE, UM, FORMALLY WHAT I WOULD SAY IS I WOULD POINT YOU TO OTHER STATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD, UH, AND THE PROXIMITY OF THOSE STATIONS.
AND, UM, I MEAN, UH, MR. BYFORD MENTIONED, UH, THE FOUR SEASONS IN, IN TOKYO.
IT'S RIGHT NEAR, UH, ONE OF THE STATIONS, UH, FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL.
IF, IF YOU GO AND, AND JUST RESEARCH THE FOUR SEASONS, YOU ACTUALLY SEE PICTURES OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL FROM THE HOTEL, FROM THE ROOMS.
[02:25:01]
AND SO I, I MEAN, AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING FORMALLY, BUT INFORMALLY, AND AS I MENTIONED, THE RESEARCH, UH, I MEAN THE, THOSE, THOSE EXAMPLES EXIST ACROSS THE WORLD.AND SO, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED HERE, I MEAN, WE WILL DEFINITELY INCORPORATE THAT FEEDBACK INTO THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, JUST, UH, PRELIMINARILY, I MEAN, THAT'S THE TYPE OF INFORMAL RESEARCH THAT WE'VE DONE TO SEE, TO, TO SEE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS.
UH, IF, IF YOU LOOK AROUND THAT STATION IN, IN TOKYO, THERE'S, UH, THERE'S HOTELS, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT.
AND, AND SO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, IF COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, WE'LL DO IT FOR YOU OBVIOUSLY.
UM, BUT, UH, I MEAN, IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME, I, I INVITE YOU TO GO LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD, HIGH SPEED RAIL STATIONS AND, AND JUST LOOK AT THE BOOM OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AROUND THAT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST HOTELS, IT'S, UH, LUXURY APARTMENTS.
IT IS, UH, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO, UH, IT, IT, IT'S EXCITING TO ACTUALLY BE, UH, BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT HERE.
AND SO, WE'LL, WE WILL DO THAT RESEARCH AND WE'LL SHARE THAT FEEDBACK WITH YOU.
BUT AGAIN, UM, JUST, JUST LOOKING AT THE STATIONS AND THE RAIL ACROSS THE WORLD, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT WOULD DEFINITELY, UH, MOVE DALLAS FORWARD.
I THINK MR. BIER WANTS TO SPEAK AS WELL.
MAY I MAKE ONE MORE SUGGESTION? A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE, AND, AND I CAN SPEAK WITH SOME, UM, AUTHORITY.
'CAUSE I USED TO LIVE, THERE ACTUALLY WAS, UH, AROUND KING'S CROSS STATION IN LONDON, WHERE YEARS AGO, 1995, I WAS THE GROUP STATION MANAGER AT THE STATION MANAGER OF THE UNDERGROUND STATION.
UM, AND AT THE TIME, IT WAS PRETTY GRIM AROUND KINGS CROSS THAT WHOLE AREA, KINGS CROSS HOUSTON OF LONDON.
UM, THE HIGH-SPEED TRAIN, WHICH GOES THE EURO STARCH GOES FROM PARIS TO LONDON, ORIGINALLY WENT INTO WATERLOO.
BUT THAT WAS ONLY EVER A TEMPORARY, UM, ARRANGEMENT.
THE LONG TERM AIM WAS TO TAKE THE HIGH SPEED CHAIN INTO ST.
AND, UH, TO SAY, BUT IT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY IT'S HAD A TRANSFORMATIVE, UH, IMPACT.
KING'S CROSS LOOKS NOTHING LIKE WHAT IT ONCE, UH, USED TO LOOK LIKE.
UH, TOTAL TRANSFORMATION, UH, NEW APARTMENT BUILDINGS, UH, CONVERSION OF OLD BUILDINGS, HOTELS, BUSINESSES.
IT REALLY IS QUITE REMARKABLE.
AND, UH, AGAIN, IT'S BECOME A DESTINATION, ITS OWN RIGHT.
WHAT WAS A PRETTY DOWDY MAINLINE STATION WHEN I USED TO GO TO UNIVERSITY IN LEICESTER FROM THERE IT WAS, IT WAS KIND OF DERELICT, UH, ST.
WELL, INTEREST OF MY COLLEAGUES' TIME, AND I APPRECIATE IT'S NOW BEAUTIFUL, YOUR STORY.
AND I, I LOVE WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BROUGHT UP ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND ABOUT DESTINATIONS AND IN OTHER CITIES.
UM, AND, UH, BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT HAVE AS MUCH, I MEAN, WHEN I'VE GONE TO CONVENTIONS ELSEWHERE, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AS RIVETING AND DYNAMIC.
YOU KNOW, DALLAS, TEXAS IS EMBARKING ON A $3.7 BILLION CONVENTION CENTER.
IT'S GONNA TRANSFORM AN AREA, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOTELS AND HOUSING AND AN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
AND THERE IS A PROPOSAL BEFORE US, AND I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE CAN TORPEDO THAT A $5 BILLION DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS, INCLUDING SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO SHOEHORN INTO HOUSING DEALS, AND THAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S BEING OFFERED TO US WITHOUT US HAVING TO BEG FOR IT.
AND SO THAT, THAT'S YOUR TIME FOR THIS ROUND.
SO I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY ON THE TABLE THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY TIED TO THIS STATION, AND THAT WE CAN'T LOOK $750 MILLION OF TAX REVENUE ACROSS 20 YEARS.
THAT, THAT REALLY IS YOUR TIME.
I'M SORRY, I'M TRYING, BUT WE, WE HAVE A PROGRAM WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME FOLKS TO, OKAY, SO CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON, AND THEN MS. BLACKMAN, FIVE MINUTES EACH.
SO I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, AND, UM, MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES TALKED ABOUT SOME THINGS, BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOME THINGS I COULD TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
AND THE FIRST THING I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE DOCUMENT Y'ALL SHARED ABOUT PUBLIC STAKEHOLDER AND CITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND THE FIRST BULLET SAYS, ELECTED OFFICIAL BRIEFINGS WERE HELD.
WHO WERE THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS? IT'S A SLIDE DATED MARCH, 2024.
I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT IT'S GOT A LETTER OF WRITING.
MS. MENDELSON, WAS IT A SLIDE THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SLIDE TWO, WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THAT? WE, THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE ALSO OUTLINING ALL THE RTC MEETINGS.
I THINK IT'S IN THE WHITE, IN THE WHITE PAPERS.
OH, SO YOU'RE IN THE WHITE PAPER.
COULD COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? I APOLOGIZE.
I, I GET ASKED TO REPEAT THE QUESTION ALL THE TIME.
[02:30:01]
BRIEFINGS WERE HELD, AND THEN YOU GIVE THREE DATES.WHO WERE THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS? I WILL FIND THAT INFORMATION OUT FOR OUR STAFF BEHIND ME.
IT'S, BUT IT WASN'T DALLAS ELECTED OFFICIALS, CORRECT? I DON'T, I HAVE TO FIND OUT FOR YOU.
WELL, I HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING ON OUR PUBLIC MEETING SITE.
I WILL PULL, I WILL PULL ALL OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD, PERIOD, AND FLAG ALL THE ONES THAT AFFECTED COMMUNITY GROUPS AND OR OFFICIALS IN DALLAS.
SO THE NEXT BULLET IS ABOUT THE RTC MEETINGS.
AND, UM, THE MAYOR APPOINTED ME TO THIS SOMETIME IN 2020.
SO THE FIRST DATE YOU HAVE LISTED, I WAS NOT A MEMBER.
THIS WAS A VIRTUAL MEETING, AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO DISCUSSION OF DALLAS TO FORT WORTH.
IT WAS ONLY DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
AND THEN THE SECOND DATE, NOVEMBER 12TH, UM, THIS WAS ALSO A VIRTUAL MEETING.
IT WAS, UM, THE FIRST ONE THAT YOU LISTED.
AGAIN, THE ONLY DISCUSSION WAS DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION AT EITHER OF THOSE ABOUT THIS, UH, SEVEN FOOT SEVEN, I'M SORRY, SEVEN STORY STATION, WHICH AT THE TIME I'D NEVER HEARD OF THE NEXT FOUR MEETINGS.
THE MARCH 11TH MEETING, IT WAS A 10 MINUTE PRESENTATION.
THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION, AND IT WAS FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, WAS THE AGENDA ITEM.
THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ABOUT DOWNTOWN AT ALL.
THE MAY 13TH MEETING, THERE WAS A, THERE WERE COMMENTS MADE THAT SAID THERE'D BE MORE STUDY ABOUT DOWNTOWN DALLAS, THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OPTIONS, AND THAT YOU'D BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH CITY OF DALLAS, AND THAT YOU WOULD REALLY GET INTO IT IN PHASE TWO, IN WHICH CASE YOU ARE ONLY IN PHASE ONE AT THIS TIME.
THAT WAS THE ONLY PART THAT WAS EVEN BROUGHT UP IN THAT 10 MINUTES.
THE NEXT MEETING, JULY 8TH, AGAIN, THE AGENDA ITEM WAS DALLAS TO FORT WORTH.
AND THE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE WAS THAT YOU WERE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK WITH TDOT AND YOU WERE GONNA COORDINATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS WHEN YOU GET TO PHASE TWO.
SO AGAIN, AT THIS POINT, I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I HAD NO IDEA AT ALL, ZERO ABOUT WHAT WE WERE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT WITH A STATION IN DALLAS, AS YOU ARE NOW DESCRIBING IT, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE THAT THERE WAS A TWO YEAR TIMEFRAME AND THREE STATION CONCEPT WAS MENTIONED WITH THE ONE SEAT RULE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A ISSUE AMONGST THIS COUNCIL ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THIS COUNCIL GENERALLY SUPPORTS THIS.
IT'S BEEN IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL, BUT NOT AS IT'S BEING PRESENTED.
AND THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU'RE GETTING PUSHBACK ON.
OKAY, THE NEXT MEETING WAS IN FEBRUARY 10TH, AND THEN AGAIN, THIS IS DALLAS TO FORT WORTH.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO GO TO PHASE TWO IN ADVANCE, A HIGH SPEED OR HYPERLOOP ALONG THE I 30 CORRIDOR.
THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ABOUT STATIONS OR DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
THEN WE GO BACK TO VIRTUAL ON MARCH 9TH.
THE ITEM IS DALLAS TO FORT WORTH.
AND THE COMMENT WAS MADE THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS FOR STATIONS AND THE WHOLE NEPA PROCESS.
I ASK QUESTIONS AT THAT MEETING, AND I SAY, ARE WE STILL DOING IN ARLINGTON STATION BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A MEMBER OF A TRANSIT AGENCY? THE NEXT QUESTION I ASK IS, ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE LANDOWNERS, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC? AND THOSE STAKEHOLDERS? THE ANSWER WAS YES.
THE NEXT QUESTION I ASK IS THAT, CAN YOU CONFIRM YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WITHOUT, UM, WITHOUT TALKING TO THESE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS? AND BRENDAN MADE THIS PRESENTATION AND HE SAID, THAT'S TRUE.
SO I KEEP HEARING FROM YOU THAT, WELL, WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE HUNS WANT, BUT THIS WAS, THIS WAS MY AFFIRMATION THAT YOU WERE ACTUALLY DOING THAT.
THE NEXT ITEM WAS DECEMBER 14TH.
THIS IS WHERE, UM, REALLY THIS STARTED TO BLOW UP BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, THE CONTRACT ABOUT TUNNELING.
AND IT BECAME VERY CLEAR THAT THINGS WERE MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT EVER HAVING BEEN DISCUSSED.
CAN YOU PROVIDE A BRIEFING WHERE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, A SEVEN STORY STATION IN THE CEDARS? I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT.
SO REMEMBER, THE, THE STATION IN THE CEDARS IS NOT A FUNCTION OF OUR PROCESS.
THE STATION IN THE CEDARS IS A FUNCTION OF YOUR PROCESS BECAUSE HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DOWNTOWN DALLAS AND DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH, OUR OFFICE DIDN'T LOCATE THAT PARTICULAR STATION.
THAT STATION WAS LOCATED AS PART OF THE PROCESS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL BETWEEN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON AND DOWNTOWN DALLAS, WE EXPLORED A WHOLE BUNCH OF OPTIONS THAT DIDN'T ASSUME WE WOULD GO TO THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.
OUR CONCLUSION WAS, THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS GO TO THAT LOCATION THAT YOU ESTABLISHED IN THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STUDY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
SHOW ME WHERE IT SAYS WE ESTABLISHED IT THOUGH.
I I WILL, I'LL, I'LL GO INTO YOUR BOOKS.
[02:35:01]
DID THE CITY OF DALLAS STAFF DO WITH REGARD TO COMMUNICATING TO THE CITY OF DALLAS? THE WORK THAT WAS BEING DONE ON ALL THE OPTIONS FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON.SO YOU WOULD SEE A COUNCIL WOULD SEE THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS. I WILL WORK WITH YOUR CITY TO FIND THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
NOW, WITH REGARD TO ALL OF THESE MEETINGS, I WILL PULL ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS.
I WILL PULL ALL THE MEETINGS THAT I'VE HAD, UH, WITH THE HUNTS, WHICH IS EXTENSIVE.
I WILL PRESENT TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATION I PRESENTED TO THE HUNTS DURING THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS.
UH, AND WE WILL PULL ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS FOR ALL OF THESE PARTICULAR DATES WITH ALL, AS I INDICATED TO, UH, COUNCILMAN WEST, WHO THE DALLAS MEMBERS WERE AT ALL THESE PARTICULAR MEETINGS TO DESCRIBE THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS.
BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE MAKING A CLAIM THAT SOMEHOW THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL WAS INVOLVED IN THE LOCATION OF THE DALLAS STATION AND THE ELEVATION OF THE DALLAS STATION.
I'M SAYING WE WERE NOT, I'M NOT SAYING THE RTC WAS, I'M SAYING THE COUNCIL, BECAUSE I'VE YET TO FIND A REPORTER OR ANYBODY IN THIS BUILDING THAT SAYS, YEAH, I KNEW THAT WAS GONNA BE A SEVEN STORY, UH, STATION.
IF YOU'RE ASKING ME TO HELP YOU FIND THAT INFORMATION, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP YOU FIND THAT INFORMATION.
WELL, I, I HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS.
THERE'S A WHOLE STUDY FROM 2017 WHEN WE WERE PRESENTED AT THE RTC, THAT MAP, WHICH YOU'RE USING THE SAME ONE OF ALL THE DIFFERENT ALIGNMENTS.
THERE WAS NEVER A DISCUSSION THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS AN EVALUATION THAT ACTUALLY SAID IT WASN'T VIABLE TO DO I 30 THAT TWO TIMES.
SO WHY WASN'T THAT PRESENTED TO THE RTC THAT SAID, WE HAVE A STUDY? SO WE WENT AND DID OUR OWN AND SAID, NOW IT IS VIABLE.
THAT'LL HAVE TO BE YOUR LAST QUESTION FOR THIS ROUND.
YOU CAN ANSWER THAT IF, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
UM, I THINK TXDOT HAD A MAJOR FAILURE IN THEIR CORE EXPRESS STUDY.
THEY ASSUMED 100% OF ALL THE ROUTES WERE ON THE TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS, AND THEY HIT THE SAME FAILURE.
WE HIT THAT YOU CAN'T PUT HIGH SPEED RAIL ON THE TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS.
SO THEY FOLDED THEIR 10 AND WENT HOME AND SAID, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION, AND THEREFORE IT CAN'T BE BUILT.
'CAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS TO WORK.
THEY HIT THE SAME THEORETICAL THAT MR. COUNCILMAN RIDLEY INDICATED WE'D LIKE TO GO 125 MILES AN HOUR ON THE TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS, AND YOU CAN'T.
SO THEY SAID, WELL, UH, WE, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD.
THE LESSON LEARNED WAS THEY DID NOT EXPLORE THE 50 OPTIONS THAT WE DID.
SO THE LESSON LEARNED WAS DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET AND ASSUME THERE'S ONLY ONE ROUTE.
WE WENT AND EXPLORED 50 ROUTES.
THAT'S WHY THE FALL 2020 STUDY STARTED WITH THE ASSUMPTION EVERY ROUTE WILL BE STUDIED.
SO THIS ISN'T A QUESTION, BUT MY NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
MS. BLACK ME REGISTER FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
SO, UH, WE TOOK THE TRAIN A LOT.
UM, AND SO MY QUESTION, LOOKING FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE IS WHAT IS THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE? SO I SEE THESE AS TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS.
YOU HAVE THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON SEGMENT, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
THEY ARE RELATED, BUT THEY ARE, BECAUSE I THINK THE FUNDING SOURCES ARE ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT FUNDING.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, GIVE ME WHAT THE USER EXPERIENCE WOULD BE FROM HOUSTON INTO A STATION, BECAUSE I, I AM CONFUSED ON DO WE HAVE THREE STATIONS IN DOWNTOWN? DO WE HAVE TWO? AND, AND I'M NOT ON TRANSPORTATION OR ON RTC, SO I'M GETTING THIS, UH, AT A REALLY JUST PAPER ONE DIMENSIONAL.
SO IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IS THE, THE HOUSTON TO DALLAS EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY GET HERE? UM, WELL, SO I, OUR AIM, OF COURSE IS TO MAKE IT EXCELLENT THAT THE, UH, ONBOARD SERVICE, THE, UH, THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE FULLY ACCESSIBLE, THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE A STATE OF THE ART MODERN, UH, HIGH SPEED TRAIN WOULD MAKE IT FOR, UH, TO BE A VERY, UH, PLEASANT, UH, EXPERIENCE, UH, FROM START TO FINISH FROM HOUSTON INTO DALLAS.
SO WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN DALLAS, YOU WOULD ARRIVE AT A, UH, STATE-OF-THE-ART, AGAIN, SAME EXPRESSION, BUT MODERN STATION, FULLY ACCESSIBLE, LOTS OF RETAIL OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AND THAT STATION WOULD THEN HAVE THIS SEAMLESS INTERCHANGE THAT WE'RE TALKING AROUND ABOUT WITH MY COLLEAGUE, MR. MORRIS.
I IDEALLY ON IN ORDER THAT YOU WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO PROCEED ONTO FORT WORTH IF YOU WISHED.
AND THEN THERE WOULD ALSO BE EXCELLENT CONNECTIONS, BOTH WITH DART AND ACROSS TO THE AMTRAK STATION.
SO AGAIN, IT WOULD BE, UM, SEAMLESS IN TERMS OF THROUGH TICKETING.
UH, I THINK SHE'S ASKING YOU ASSUME FOR A MOMENT IT'S ONLY HOUSTON TO DALLAS.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET TO DALLAS? YOU SPECIFICALLY, LIKE WHERE IS THAT POINT IN WHICH YOU DE TRAIN? IS IT AT THE CEDARS, IS IT AT EBJ? IS IT AT THE TRAIN STATION? I'M TRYING
[02:40:01]
TO FIGURE OUT DO WE HAVE WHERE THE ACTUAL DROP OFF POINT IS BETWEEN THE DALLAS AND HOUSTON AND IS IT THE CEDARS? YEAH, SO THE, THE STATION IS, UH, IT'S, IT'S NOT AT, UH, UNION STATION.IT'S IN, IT'S IN FAIRLY CLOSE PROXIMITY.
SO WE WOULD HAVE A, UH, PEOPLE MOVE A PROBABLY SUBTERRANEAN PEOPLE MOVE A AIR CONDITION BETWEEN THE TWO STATIONS.
DO YOU MEAN SPECIFICALLY GEOGRAPHICALLY BY STREET WHERE IT IS? SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S IT'S GONNA BE CONNECT.
IT'S, NO, THEY'RE NOT THE SAME.
THEY'RE GONNA, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THIS.
WITH A MILE PEOPLE BETWEEN TWO STATIONS.
THERE'S A HIGH SPEED, UM, STATION, WHICH IS THE TERMINUS OF DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
OR LET'S DO IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND HOUSTON TO DALLAS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO GO ONTO, TO FORT WORTH.
THAT'S NOT THE SAME STATION AS THE AMTRAK STATION, BUT THERE WILL BE A SUBTERRANEAN AIR CONDITIONED INTERCHANGE, UH, THAT YOU COULD QUICKLY GO FROM THE HIGH SPEED STATION TO THE AMTRAK STATION, UH, AND THE OTHER FACILITIES THAT YOU'VE GOT THERE.
AND THE AMTRAK STATION IS THE CEDAR STATION? NO, I, I ASKED THE CITY OF DALLAS STAFF TO MAKE SURE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER KNOWS WHERE THE DALLAS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION IS.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
SO THE DALLAS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION WILL BE IN THE CEDARS.
IT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLING, I GUESS WE'RE USING IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
AND SAME PLATFORM, UM, IN A LOT OF THE DOCUMENTS.
AND THEN THE CONNECTION THAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT WOULD BE TO UNION STATION, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE AMTRAK IS LOCATED CURRENTLY.
AND THAT'S THE MILE ONE? THAT'S ABOUT A MILE.
AND IS THAT STRETCH FUNDED? UM, IS THE PEOPLE MOVER FUNDED? THAT IS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION.
WE HAVE AN EXTENDING HIGH SPEED RAIL TO FORT WORTH.
IT'S, WE HAVE TO FIND FUNDING.
WE AS PART, WE, THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL AND THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE ON THE FIRST PAGE OF MY PRESENTATION, WE WOULD PROPOSE TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE HIGH SPEED RAIL COST TO FORT WORTH.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE A SEAMLESS CONNECTION TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, TO THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER, HOTELS TO UNION STATION WOULD BE A WONDERFUL THING FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND IF I MIGHT JUST ADD TO THAT, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FUNDING, WE DO KNOW THAT WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE IS FOR PEOPLE ARRIVING, UH, COMING NORTH UP TO DALLAS INTO THE HIGH SPEED STATION.
WE WANT THE INTERCHANGE WITH THE, WITH UNION STATION, THE CONVENTIONAL STATION THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS TO BE, UH, SEAMLESS, EASY TO USE.
WELL SIGN POSTED, AIR CONDITIONED SO THAT IT, IT, IT IS, IT IS AN EASY CHA UH, INTERCHANGE TO MAKE IF YOU THEN WANT TO CARRY ON, ON A CONVENTIONAL AMTRAK SERVICE, UH, AROUND THE REST OF THE NETWORK.
SO, BUT YOUR DALLAS TO HOUSTON DOES NOT HAVE THAT CURRENTLY FUNDED AS PART OF YOUR PARTICULAR PROPOSAL.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET OFF A TRAIN AND GET ON A NEW TRAIN.
SO IT'S REALLY NOT AN EASY, IT'S EASY 'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A TICKET, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME TRANSFERRING THAT, THAT HAPPENS THERE BE BETWEEN THE HIGH SPEED YES.
AND THE CONVENTIONAL AMTRAK SERVICES.
THEY'RE NOT THE SAME STATION, BUT WE WOULD MAKE THE INTERCHANGE, UM, EASY, EASY TO USE.
AND USUALLY PEOPLE MOVERS ARE HOW LONG? I MEAN, A MILE IS A PRETTY LONG MILE.
I MEAN, IT'S A PRETTY LONG STRETCH.
I MEAN, YOU TYP YOU TYPICALLY WOULDN'T HAVE ONE THAT IS A MILE LONG.
IT'S A BIT LIKE AN AIRPORT IN A VERY, VERY LONG CORRIDOR.
YOU TYPICALLY, UM, HAVE A, HAVE A, A PEOPLE MOVER, A SHORT, UM, GAP, AND THEN ANOTHER PEOPLE MOVER.
UM, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY'S MOVED ON A LOT SINCE, UM, PEOPLE MOVERS WERE FIRST INVENTED.
SO THEN THEY TRANSFER, AND NOW THERE'S A NEW TRAIN THAT THERE'S, THAT'S TAKEN IN BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
AND THAT'S WHERE THAT TRAIN IS THE SAME TRAIN THAT COMES INTO DALLAS STATION.
THE NOTION OF A ONE SEAT RIDE IS YOU GO, OKAY, HOUSTON TO DALLAS, YOU SIT IN YOUR TRAIN, YOU SIT THERE PROBABLY FOR TWO MINUTES AS EVERYONE GETS OFF, PEOPLE GET ON ONE SEAT RIDE.
IF YOU WISH TO GO TO AMTRAK OR UNION STATION, YOU GO DOWN THE ESCALATORS TO THE LOBBY AND YOU WOULD THEN GO THROUGH THIS AIR CONDITIONED SPACE IN OUR PROPOSAL, YOU'D GO THROUGH THIS AIR CONDITIONED SPACE TO UNION STATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO ON OUR, OUR PROPOSAL TO YOU.
IF YOU ASK US TO GO WEST OF THE HYATT REGENCY, I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD GET THAT CONNECTION, RIGHT.
WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE TOO FAR AWAY FROM UNION STATION.
SO YOU WOULD GO SEVEN FLOORS DOWN TO THE STREET, YOU'RE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF INTERSTATE 30, YOU WOULD CROSS AT LAMAR OR SOME STREET, AND YOU WOULD TAKE YOUR LUGGAGE UP ACROSS THE SIGNALED INTERSECTIONS TO THE AMTRAK STATION.
I THINK THAT'S HORRIBLE WHY I AM PROPOSING THE PROPOSAL WE HAVE FOR YOU.
SO THEN, AND SO WHAT ARE WE, WITH THIS NEW, NOT THIS NEW ALIGNMENT, BUT THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
WHAT ARE WE SOLVING FOR? IS IT FOR STOPS AT THE AIRPORT? IS IT STOPS IN ARLINGTON? IS IT, I,
[02:45:01]
'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ROUTE VERSUS ANY OF THE OTHER ONES, AND I KNOW YOU'VE OUTLINED IT IN YOUR INFORMATION, BUT I WANNA HEAR IT SPECIFICALLY.SO THE, THE BENEFIT OF CONNECTING FORT WORTH TO DALLAS IS YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE, UH, SEAMLESS CONNECTIONS FROM HOUSTON TO DALLAS BY GOING TO ARLINGTON OR GOING TO FORT WORTH.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE, THIS MAY SURPRISE YOU.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH REGION THAT ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF DALLAS.
WE'RE 8.2 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE REGION ON OUR WAY TO 12.
IT IS OUR WAY TO GET TO DFW AIRPORT IN A FAIR, UH, WAY TO GET TO LOVE FIELD.
AND IT PREVENTS ME BUILDING HIGH SPEED RAIL FROM FORT WORTH TO, THE PREVIOUS PLAN WAS TO BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL FROM FORT WORTH TO AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO.
SO INSTEAD OF BUILDING HIGHSPEED, THE STATE'S PLAN IS AN UPSIDE DOWN.
U YOU, YOU GO DALLAS, I'M SORRY, EXCUSE ME.
UH, HOUSTON, DALLAS, ARLINGTON, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, LAREDO, MONTEREY, MEXICO.
YOU, WHY ARE YOU BUILDING TWO NORTH-SOUTH HIGH SPEED RAILROADS WHEN YOU CAN USE THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE OF THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON ROUTE.
SO THE PURPOSE, INSTEAD OF BUILDING TWO, YOU BUILD ONE.
AND ANYONE THAT WISHES TO GO TO AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO SOMEDAY NOT RIGHT NOW, IS YOU JUST SIMPLY BRANCH OFF ON YOUR WAY TO A AND M UNIVERSITY AND GO TO AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO.
SO INSTEAD OF FORT WORTH BUILDING HIGH SPEED RAIL TO AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, AS PART OF THE STATE PLAN, FORT WORTH WOULD GET THE BENEFIT OF THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON PIECE.
AND YOU GET THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE OF MORE RIDERSHIP WHEN YOU ADD AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO TO THAT PARTICULAR MIX.
OTHERWISE, WE'RE BUILDING THE UPSIDE DOWN U AND YOU'RE BUILDING TWO NORTH SOUTH HIGH SPEED RAIL LINES.
THAT, IN MY MIND, DON'T MAKE SENSE.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
UM, AND ALSO TO, SO WE TALK ABOUT THE CEDARS AND OKAY, FIRST OF ALL, WHEN WAS ALL OF THIS? WAS IT DEVELOPED IN 2017? LIKE WHEN WAS ALL OF THIS REALLY BEING DISCUSSED? SO IN TERMS OF THE CEDARS, I DON'T HAVE THE DATES.
I'LL HAVE TO DEFER THAT TO, TO, UH, GO HIGH SPEED RAIL HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN DOWS AND HOUSTON FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS.
I'M LOOKING AT THIS SPECIFIC, UM, THIS SPECIFIC TRAIN STATION, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S OUR PROCESS, IS IT, I MEAN, THE CITY OWNS IT.
IF WE WANTED TO REEVALUATE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOW A DYNAMIC AREA, WE'VE NOW DECIDED WE'RE BUILDING A NEW CONVENTION CENTER.
IT'S NOT THE SAME PLAN, IN MY OPINION, AS WHEN IT WAS IN 2017.
SO MY QUESTION IS, DOES IT STILL MAKE SENSE? AND I BELIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, YOU CAN OPEN UP ONLY A SECTION OF IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO OPEN UP THE WHOLE THING.
BUT I, I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO IS THIS THE APPROPRIATE, UM, IS IT, ARE WE GETTING OUR, GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS AREA AND ALL THE PLANS ABOUT, UM, REDEVELOPMENT, DOES THIS STILL MAKE SENSE? AND, AND, AND TO SAY, YES, WE'RE GONNA GO WITH IT, THEN I WANNA KNOW WHY, BECAUSE IT'S CHANGED IN SEVEN YEARS.
SO I THINK, UM, WE GOT YOUR ANSWER TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION.
I THINK IT WAS NOVEMBER 3RD, 2020 WHEN THE CEDARS, UM, DECISION, WHEN THE RECORD OF DECISION WAS MADE FOR THE, UH, LOCATION OF THE PLATFORM OR STATION FOR THE HIGH SPEED RAIL IN THE CEDARS.
UM, SO JUST A, JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
UM, AND THEN IN TERMS OF UNION STATION, UNION STATION IS ALREADY A HUB.
AND SO, UM, THAT, UH, IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS, WAS CHANGING.
IT'S ALREADY A MULTIMODAL HUB.
SO THAT DECISION, I THINK WAS AN EASIER DECISION FOR CITY COUNCIL TO LOOK AT BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY A VARIETY OF, OF, OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THERE.
NOW, IN TERMS OF THE PLATFORM, I'M NOT SURE, I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO MICHAEL MORRIS OR DR.
KINK, CARLY, ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE ENVIRONMENTAL COULD BE REOPENED, UH, RELATIVE TO THE PLATFORM OR THE STATION IN THE, IN THE CEDARS.
I THINK ANDY NEEDS TO ANSWER THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION.
HE, HE'S USING ALL THE EXISTING PERMITS.
SO I THINK HE NEEDS TO BE ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF HE HAD TO OPEN UP THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.
SO I'LL HAPPILY TO COMMENT ON THAT.
UM, I THINK IF IT SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL MATTER, BUT IF WE WERE TO, IF SUDDENLY THE QUESTION IS, UM, SHOULD WE REOPEN THE, THE WHOLE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE HIGH SPEED STATION SHOULD BE WHERE IT IS PROPOSED WITH ALL THE PERMITS THAT WE'VE GOT, THE ROD THAT'S IN PLACE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, THAT TO ME IS A MASSIVE REOPENER
[02:50:01]
AND WE'LL PUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT AT RISK.UM, CERTAINLY IN TERMS OF TIME, UH, TIMESCALE, IT WILL PUT THE PROJECT BACK.
UM, PUTTING THE TIMESCALE BACK WITHOUT QUESTION ADDS EXPONENTIALLY TO COST AND THEREFORE WOULD BRING THE WHOLE BUSINESS CASE INTO SEVERE QUESTION.
SO WITH THE FUNDING SITUATION, IF YOU, IF WE DON'T, ARE ALL THESE SEGMENTS RELIED ON EACH OTHER? IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR HOUSTON TO DALLAS OR DOESN'T GET IT FUNDED, THEN DALLAS TO FORT WORTH DOESN'T EXIST.
AND VICE VERSA, IF WE DON'T GET THE FUNDING FOR DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, THEY'RE BUILT, ARE THEY, ARE THEY ALL DEPENDENT ON EACH OTHER? NO, THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE PROJECTS.
BOTH WITHIN THE SAME FRA, UH, GRANT PROGRAM, NAMELY CID CORRIDOR ID.
UH, BUT THE WAY I'VE DESCRIBED THEM IS THEY ARE SEPARATE BUT COMPLIMENTARY.
THAT'S BUT, BUT, BUT, BUT THE FUNDING IS NOT RELIED ON ONE, ON A ONE, NOT DOING ONE DOESN'T PRECLUDE THE OTHER.
UM, AND THEN LOOKING AT, I DID PULL UP THE TOKYO.
UM, SO MY QUESTION IS, IS YEAH, THE TRAIN STATION IS ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE ACROSS THE STREET.
IT DOESN'T RUN THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY NEXT TO THEIR WALL.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IS WHAT IS THE ACTUAL, THE PROXIMITY FROM THE STATION TO THE BUILDING? BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IN THESE THAT IT IS LITERALLY GOING IN FRONT OF THE HYATT REGENCY, LIKE LITERALLY IN FRONT.
AND WHEREAS YOU LOOK AT THESE OTHER TRAIN STATIONS, AND I'VE BEEN THE ONES THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT, UH, ON THEIR PROPERTY IN FRONT, IN FRONT OF THEIR WINDOW.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE IN WHICH, UH, CON, YOU KNOW, DESIGN ACTUALLY GOES AROUND IT.
SO I, I'M JUST SAYING THAT, UH, PRO, UM, IF YOU, WHEN YOU GIVE US THAT INFORMATION, MAKE SURE YOU TELL US IT IS A HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE FRONT DOOR.
I'M GONNA GO TO CHAIRMAN GRACIE FOR FIVE MINUTES THEN.
UH, MAYOR PRO, MAYOR PRO TEM FOR FIVE MINUTES.
DO IT FOR FIVE MINUTES AND THEN BACK TO YOU CHAIRMAN MENDELSON FOR THREE.
EVERYBODY GOT THAT BEFORE THE QUEUE CHANGED? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
UH, I JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.
UM, AND IT, IT'S REALLY CENTERED AROUND THE, THE, THE ROUTE.
SO I'M GONNA START FIRST WITH THE STATION IN HOUSTON.
IS THAT A PROPOSED ELEVATED STATION? IT, IT IS, UH, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT RIGHT IN DOWNTOWN D UM, HOUSTON, IT'S, UH, IT'S SLIGHTLY OUTTA DOWNTOWN, BUT IT IS AN ELEVATED STATION.
AND THE R THE ROUTE THROUGH ALL THE WAY TO DALLAS IS ELEVATED ON, IN, UM, EITHER VIADUCT OR BY.
UM, AND THEN I SAW ON, I THINK IT WAS SLIDE 29, IT SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE ELEVATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FLAWS THAT, UH, COMING OUT OF, OR IF IT WAS, I FORGET WHAT IT WAS.
IT SAID, LEMME SEE, I WROTE IT.
A VERTICAL TRANSFER ADDS 20 MINUTE DELAY TO A, TO ACCOUNT FOR A 17 STORY ELEVATION.
AND THAT'S, SO IF IT WERE COMING FROM, SO WHAT WOULD THE DELAY BE COMING FROM FORT WORTH TO ARLINGTON TO DALLAS? BECAUSE THAT'S ESSENTIALLY BEING AN ELEVATION.
I THINK YOU SAID IT EARLIER, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEA LEVEL.
AND I'M A BIT OF A GEEK WHEN IT COMES TO THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO AM I TO, TO ASSUME THAT THERE'S NOT A DELAY EVEN THOUGH THERE'S AN INCLINE ON HIS TRAIN, THERE'S NOT A DELAY COMING UP BECAUSE OF THE ELEVATION OR SOMETHING.
IS THAT COUNCILMAN, LEMME TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB EXPLAINING THAT SOMEONE FROM DALLAS COME, UM, SOMEONE FROM HOUSTON COMES INTO DALLAS, AND IF THEY WERE TO STAY ON THAT PARTICULAR TRAIN IN OUR PROPOSAL, THE TRAIN WOULD STOP FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES BY POLICY.
PEOPLE GET ON AND OFF, AND THEN YOU SIT, STAY IN YOUR SEAT, RIGHT? AND YOU EX AND YOU CONTINUE ON YOUR JOURNEY TO ARLINGTON AND IN FORT WORTH, RIGHT? THAT'S THE ONE SEAT RIDE.
THE, THE ASK OF US WAS, WELL, WHAT IF YOU PUT YOUR DALLAS TO FORT WORTH IN A TUNNEL? RIGHT? SO WE LOOKED AT A TUNNEL UNDERNEATH THE DALLAS HIGHSPEED RAIL STATION AND WE LOOKED AT A TUNNEL, NOT UNDER THAT PARTICULAR STATION.
SO FOR EVERYONE, THE TRAIN STOPS TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN GOING TO ARLINGTON OR FORT WORTH, IT TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO TAKE THE 17 STORY ELEVATOR.
'CAUSE THE, THE SUBWAY IS ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET DOWN BECAUSE WE, THE TUNNEL ENGINEERS SAID, THIS IS THE ELEVATION TO GET UNDERNEATH THE TRINITY RIVER.
IF WE'RE RIGHT UNDER THE DALLAS STATION, YOU TAKE THE ELEVATOR DOWN, IT'S ROUGHLY 20 MINUTES, 20 MINUTES TO A HUMAN.
WHEN YOU GO DOWN WALKING, WAITING FOR AN ELEVATOR, WAITING YOUR TURN TO GET ON THOSE ELEVATORS, THE PERCEPTION IS IT'S 40 MINUTES.
SO 40 MINUTE PERCEPTION PRETTY WELL ELIMINATES
[02:55:01]
WHY WOULD I BOTHER TO WAIT? WHY WOULD I BOTHER TO MAKE THAT PARTICULAR MOVEMENT? UH, WHEN YOU'RE PENALIZED BY 40 MINUTES, IF YOU WISH TO BUILD A SUBWAY STATION NOT RIGHT UNDER IT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL TRAVEL TIME AT THE SURFACE STREET.SO YOU TAKE THE ELEVATOR DOWN TO THE SURFACE STREET.
YOU, YOU WALK THE SURFACE STREET TO ANOTHER STATION, YOU TAKE THAT ELEVATOR DOWN 10 STORIES.
SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE, THE, THE, UH, THE TRAIN, THE SPEED OF THE TRAIN AND THE TIME TO, IT'S NOT THE GEO FROM ONE LOCATION TO POINT B TO POINT C.
IT'S ABOUT THE TIME FROM PARKING AND GETTING TO THE TRAIN IS WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
AND THE IDEA, THE IDEA WAS IF YOU PUT IT IN A SUBWAY, THEN THERE'LL BE MORE DEVELOPABLE LAND.
THE PERCEPTION IS YOU HAVE MORE DEVELOPABLE LAND BECAUSE THE RAIL TRACK ISN'T TAKING UP WHERE BUILDINGS CAN GO.
I THINK THAT ISN'T REALLY TRUE IF YOU TAKE THE DENSITY THAT YOU WOULD BUILD IF YOU HAD HIGH SPEED RAIL.
BUT REMEMBER, IF YOU BUILD A SUBWAY TUNNEL, YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL OF MAKING AN ASSUMPTION.
YOU'RE GONNA PUT BUILDINGS ON TOP OF A SUBWAY TUNNEL.
SO JUST 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA BUILD MORE BUILDINGS.
SO THE ASSUMPTION OF SUBWAY HAS MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VERSUS NOT.
YOU REALLY GOTTA BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO PLACE THOSE COLUMNS IN ADVANCE AND NOT TRY TO DRILL COLUMNS UNDER AN ACTIVE PASSENGER RAIL TUNNEL.
AND I GUESS WHERE I'M TRYING TO GET TO THIS IS BECAUSE ONE, THIS IS A VERY EXCITING PROJECT, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD REALLY FOR THE ENTIRE, UH, STATE, TO BE HONEST.
AND, AND, AND I SEE WHERE IT'S GOING IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THEY COULD HAVE, UH, REALLY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, UH, FROM THERE.
BUT I DON'T WANNA MAKE A DECISION BASED ON EXCITEMENT.
AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE GET INTO A POINT WHERE WE MOVE AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS THING BECAUSE IT'S SO BIG AND IT'S SO EXCITING THAT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU MENTIONED IN SOME OF THOSE STUDIES, THE, THE DIFFERENT FLAWS.
YOU THINK YOU HAD DIFFERENT, ABOUT 50 DIFFERENT ROUTES AND THE FLAWS, UH, FOR ALL OF THEM.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO ENCOURAGE US TO DO IS TO CONSIDER THE FLAWS AS WE DESIGN THIS, CONSIDER THE FLAWS THAT IMPACT THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE REGION AS WELL.
UH, FROM THERE, THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT, BUT IT JUST SEEMS DISCOMBOBULATED RIGHT NOW.
AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL SAY WE'RE VOTING FOR AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT ONLY TO DISCOVER FIVE YEARS LATER BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ALL THESE THINGS.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE, DANG, I WISH WE WOULD'VE DONE THIS.
SO I JUST WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS DECISION BASED ON PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT EACH ONE OF THESE STOPS, BUT ALSO, UH, FROM THE FLAWS PERSPECTIVE, THAT IT ALSO IMPACTS ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN A WAY THAT WE CAN ALL BE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND IT'S NOT GONNA BE SOMETHING, AGAIN, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, TECHNOLOGY'S CHANGING.
HELL, IT COULD PROBABLY BE TWO YEARS FROM NOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT'S, WE COULD END UP WITH THE REGRET.
SO AS WE'RE MAKING THESE DECISIONS, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ARE MAKING THESE, BECAUSE AGAIN, AS A STAFFER, I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL SIDE AND I NEVER HEARD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FORT WORTH PIECE.
SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE MISSING EACH OTHER.
SO I WANT US TO ALIGN AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SOMETHING YEAH.
AND WE CAN ALL BE EXCITED AND HAPPY AND PROUD OF.
IF YOU, IF YOU TURN THE CLOCK BACK AND COUNCILMAN SUPPORTING YOUR POINT, YOU HAVE A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, NOT REAL MOVEMENT ON A CONVENTION CENTER, UH, SOMEWHAT DYSFUNCTIONAL UNION STATION.
THAT, THAT WAS THE VISION 10 YEARS AGO.
WHAT, WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS TO THINK WHAT MAY BE SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE WILL HAVE IS A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, A BRAND NEW CONVENTION CENTER, A HIGH SPEED RAIL CON, UH, A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION CONNECTED TO A CONVENTION CENTER.
A CONVENTION CENTER THAT IS NOW CONNECTED TO A HUB, A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION THAT NOW HAS AIR CONDITIONED ACCESS TO A HUB, INCLUDING THE NEW AMTRAK LINE TO ATLANTA WITH EQUAL ACCESS TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
I, I, I THINK THE VISION OF 10 YEARS AGO NOW HAS SOME INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE IT CONFUSING.
BUT I THINK IF YOU STOP AND LAYER THOSE ONION SKINS TOGETHER, I BELIEVE MY MY OPINION IS YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD WILL, WILL HAVE.
IF, IF COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I MIGHT JUST ADD TO THAT, MY, MY ADVICE WOULD BE, AND YOU MAKE A REALLY VALID POINT ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IS MAKE A DECISION BASED ON EMOTION, BUT EQUALLY YOU MAKE A A VERY VALID POINT.
WHAT YOU, YOU EQUALLY DON'T WANT TO DO IS MAKE A DECISION NOW THAT IN 10 YEAR, WELL SAY 10 YEARS TIME, YOU'RE LIKE, DAMN IT, I WISH WE'D DONE, WE, WE'D GONE WITH THAT SEAMLESS INTERCHANGE, UM, WHERE WE TALK ABOUT A 20 MINUTE, UM, A JOURNEY TIME.
IT'S NOT THAT THE ELEVATOR TAKES 20 MINUTES, OF COURSE IT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, ELEVATORS ARE SUPER FAST THESE DAYS.
THEY CAN DO THAT PRETTY QUICKLY.
BUT WHEN YOU ADD TOGETHER ALL OF THE FACTORS OF GETTING
[03:00:01]
OFF THE TRAIN, GETTING YOUR STUFF TOGETHER, GETTING ON THE ELEVATOR, DOING THE WALK, THE MORE, UM, UNPLEASANT YOU MAKE THE INTERCHANGE, THE LESS PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO DO IT.IT'S A BIT LIKE IF I CAN DO A DIRECT FLIGHT RATHER THAN CHANGE SOMEWHERE, I'LL ALWAYS CHOOSE THE DIRECT FLIGHT, EVEN IF I HAVE TO PAY A BIT MORE.
'CAUSE IT'S SUCH A PAIN TO HAVE TO CHANGE TERMINALS OR DO THIS AND THAT.
SO, SO THAT, SO MY ADVICE WOULD BE, IF IT DOES MAKE SENSE, I APPRECIATE THERE'S LOTS OF FACTORS, BUT IF YOU CAN ACHIEVE THAT EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN WHERE IT REALLY IS AN, AN INTEGRATED TRANS TRANSIT, UM, OR TRANSPORT SYSTEM, RATHER THAN AN ORGANIC ONE, WHICH HAS BITS ADDED ON OVER TIME, YOU WILL HAVE A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY.
AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OF MORE QUESTIONS REAL QUICK.
WITH THE OTHER STATIONS ALL OVER, I MEAN, THE OTHER HIGH SPEED RAILS ALL OVER THE WORLD, CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONSISTENCY OF THE STATIONS IN BETWEEN? ARE THEY ALL THE SAME IN TERMS OF ELEVATED AND ALL OF THAT? OR ARE THEY DIFFERENT? BECAUSE I THINK YOU MENTIONED KIND OF THE U OF ULTIMATELY TRYING TO, TO CREATE THIS U FROM ONE CITY TO ANOTHER.
AND RIGHT NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE INCONSISTENT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE STATIONS LOOK LIKE.
AGAIN, TRYING TO VISION OUT WHAT IS IT, WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING LIKE IN, IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES? ARE THEY ALL THE, THE SAME? SURE.
GENERALLY, YES, BECAUSE TYPICALLY, UNLESS SOMETHING, UNLESS SAY A STATION WAS ADDED AT A MUCH LATER STAGE, TYPICALLY, UH, A HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT IS THE WHOLE PROJECT END TO END WITH THE INTERMEDIATE STATION.
SO TYPICALLY WHERE EVEN IF YOU USE DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS, YOU, YOU TEND TO USE THE SAME ARCHITECTS.
WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS CREATE SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, EASY TO USE.
SO THE MORE THE STATIONS LOOK SIMILAR, THE SIGNAGE IS CONSISTENT.
THE, THE, THE, THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE IS THE SAME.
AND CERTAINLY YOU SEE THAT IN PLACES I CAN THINK OF IN ON THE EURO STAFF, FOR EXAMPLE, IN GERMANY, IN JAPAN, ITALY, AND THE OTHER, UH, LOCATIONS.
SO THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE AIMING TO ACHIEVE.
UH, AND THE ONE SEAT, UH, ONE SEAT RIDE IS ABSOLUTELY THE NORM.
UM, YOU WOULDN'T, YOU WOULDN'T TYPICALLY CHANGE, THE ONLY TIME YOU WOULD CHANGE IS IF, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAME IN FROM BERLIN TO PARIS AND THEN YOU WANTED TO GO ONTO, UM, BORDEAUX.
YOU MIGHT CHANGE AT THE, UH, GUARDIAN OR WHICHEVER PARIS STATION YOU COME IN AT.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THE, THE AIM WOULD ALWAYS BE TO KEEP IT, UM, ONE SEAT FROM, UH, ONE SEGMENT AND THEN ONTO ANOTHER WITH VERY, VERY SIMPLE INTERCHANGE.
I'M SORRY, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
UM, I'M GONNA ASK THIS FIRST QUESTION A DIFFERENT WAY REGARDING THE, THE, THE, THE, THE LEVELS, UM, THE ELEVATIONS COMING FROM FORT WORTH, OR I'LL JUST SAY FROM ARLINGTON TO DALLAS.
IF THOSE ARE UNDERGROUND, JUST FROM THE TIME YOU GET ON THE TRAIN TO DALLAS, WOULD THERE CREATE A DELAY BECAUSE OF THE ELEVATION, BECAUSE OF THE INCLINE GOING UP? OR I'M GONNA ASK IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
IF IT WERE ELEVATED, WOULD THAT REDUCE THE TRAVEL TIME? DO YOU MEAN IN TERMS OF THE CUSTOMER, WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO? OR THE ACTUAL TRAIN? THE TRAIN, THE TRAIN ITSELF, IF IT WERE HERE VERSUS HERE, TO ME, GOING THIS WAY UP CREATES A DELAY VERSUS IF IT WERE HERE, I MEAN, A MODERN, A MODERN HIGH SPEED CHAIN OPERATING UNDER FIT FOR PURPOSE, MODERN CATY, IN OTHER WORDS, THE ELECTRICAL OVERHEAD WIRES, A, A, A REASONABLE INCLINE DOESN'T REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BUT ONE HUGE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TRAIN, LET'S SAY COMING FROM FORT WORTH, TERMINATING IT DALLAS, AND THEN CUSTOMERS HAVE TO GO UP IN AN ELEVATOR TO GO AND GET ON THE TRAIN, THEN TO GO FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
THAT DEFINITELY WILL ADD A DELAY TO BOTH THE CUSTOMER, BUT ALSO THE TRAIN.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE TRAIN WILL BE ENTERING A TERMINAL STATION.
SO THERE ARE SPECIFIC SAFETY IMPLICATIONS FOR ENTERING A TERMINAL STATION RATHER THAN A THROUGH STATION, LITERALLY.
'CAUSE YOU ARE APPROACHING A DEAD END.
MAYOR PROAM, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M GOING TO CHANGE THE, THE QUESTION A LITTLE BIT.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT SINCE 2015.
I DON'T HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, MY CONCERN IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE HAVE NOT DID A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY, A STUDY, UH, FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH.
WHAT IS THE ECO ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY OF DALLAS? WHEN YOU GOING 30 MILES FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, IF YOU TALKING ABOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL AND YOU'RE NOT HIM, YOU'RE NOT TAKING THE SPEED OF A HIGH SPEED RAIL TO GET TO DALLAS, TO FORT WORTH.
WELL, IN MY PARTICULAR OPINION,
[03:05:01]
YOU'RE PUTTING UNDUE PRESSURE ON THE AMOUNT OF PARKING YOU'RE GONNA BE BUILDING AT AN END STATION BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON.SO OVER TIME, AS YOU GO FROM 8 MILLION PEOPLE, FIRST OF ALL, AT 8 MILLION PEOPLE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BUILD A WHOLE BUNCH OF PARKING GARAGES NEAR, NEAR THE STATION.
AND IF YOU'RE BUILDING PARKING GARAGES, YOU'RE NOT BUILDING MORE, UH, UH, IMPORTANT OR MORE ECONOMIC VALUE LAND USE.
AND THEN OVER TIME, WHEN YOU APPROACH 12 MILLION PEOPLE, YOU'RE GONNA BE BUILDING MORE PARKING.
SO THE CLOSER YOU CAN GET THE INDIVIDUALS TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION, UH, WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO EITHER DRIVE ON THE ROADWAY SYSTEM IN 12 MILLION PEOPLE AND COMPETE WITH THEM, UH, YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER OPPORTUNITY, UH, BOTH IN ARLINGTON AND IN FORT WORTH.
YOU ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY OF GETTING TO DFW AIRPORT AND THIS EQUAL ACCESS, UH, THAT WE DESIRE.
BUT, BUT I THINK MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR STAFF WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF A DALLAS STATION AND WHAT IS THE ONLY DALLAS TO HOUSTON, AND WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT CAN BE INTRODUCED IN DALLAS OF HAVING A HIGH-SPEED RAIL EXTENSION THAT GOES TO ARLINGTON AND FORT WORTH.
YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THERE.
AND, UH, I, I THINK WHEN YOU MAKE A TRADE OFF OF PARKING AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU CAN GET AROUND UNION STATION AND THE DISTANCE THAT CAN TAKE YOU BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE A SEAMLESS CONNECTION OF LIGHT RAIL TO HIGH SPEED RAIL, YOU DO NOT HAVE A SEAMLESS CONNECTION OF REGIONAL RAIL TO HIGH SPEED RAIL, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE A SEAMLESS CONNECTION OF AMTRAK INNER CITY ACT GRADE RAIL TO HIGH SPEED RAIL.
CAN CAN I SPEAK TO MAGIC WHEN YOU PRESENT THIS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPER COMMITTEE, YOU DID NOT TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT.
WHY, UH, HONORABLE MAYOR AND, AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS MAD JANELLE GAFFEY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
UH, WE, WE DID TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY IN, IN VERY, UH, SHORT, SUCCINCT SLIDES.
THERE WAS THREE SLIDES THAT TALKS ABOUT PARTNERS AND INVOLVEMENTS WITH PARTNERS.
IT DIDN'T GO INTO THE DETAILS THAT YOU SEE HERE WITH, WITH THE PRESENTATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PEREZ HAD, UH, ENGAGED WITH THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TO DO THIS.
BUT THIS IS PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, IN IN OUR CONTINUED EFFORT TO, UH, WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL, AS WELL AS THE K BAILEY HUTCHINS CONVENTION CENTER.
I ALSO WANNA MENTION THAT, UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF CONVENTIONS AND EVENT SERVICES HAS ENGAGED WITH A CONSULTANT TO FOCUS ON, UH, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, UH, TO THE DALLAS STATION, AS WELL AS, UH, THE SURROUNDING AREA OF, UH, OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL.
SO ROSA, UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE ALIGNMENT, IS THERE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE HOTELS BASED ON ALIGNMENT? WELL, THE ALIGNMENT, DEPENDING ON, ON WHERE IT'S STOPS AND WHERE IT, WHERE IT STARTS AND WHERE IT, UM, BEGINS TO TRAVERSE TO, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN IMPACT.
OUR INITIAL LOOK IN THE MASTER PLAN WAS REALLY MORE AT THE IMPACT TO THEIR ABILITY TO GET TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT NOW, GIVEN SOME OF THE ALIGNMENT DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH, UM, MICHAEL MORRIS AND COGG, AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE ARISEN FROM COUNSEL AND FROM DR.
BENISON AND MAD AND OTHER CONSTITUENTS, IS TO REALLY LOOK AT, UM, THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT TRANSPORTATION CONNECTION AND THEN THE AREA IMMEDIATELY ABUTTING THE CONVENTION CENTER.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE AREA IN AND AROUND, UH, REUNION TOWER, THE HYATT HOTEL, UM, THE ABUTTING IMPACT TO THE CEDARS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL WE'RE HAVING WSP DO UNDER THEIR ADVANCED PLANNING CONTRACT AND EXISTING CONTRACT.
AND WE'LL HAVE TO BRING THAT BACK TO YOU AS THEY, UH, DEVELOP IT.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FIRST IS GET THE DRAFT AND HAVE US LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY ANSWERED AND SPOKEN TO ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TODAY.
AND WERE PRESENTED ON THE FIFTH.
AND THEN GO BACK AND MAKE ANY TWEAKS WE NEED TO BEFORE BRINGING IT TO YOU.
AND IT'S YET ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME, UM, ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
IS IT TRUE THAT IF YOU DO A ALIGNMENT, IT'S HARD TO GO BACK AND CHANGE IT? IS
[03:10:01]
THAT A FIRST STATEMENT? MICHAEL? UM, MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU BUILD A HIGH-SPEED RAIL LINE, IT'S GONNA LAST A HUNDRED YEARS.SO YOU DON'T WANT TO BUILD A HIGH SPEEDED RAIL LINE AND TRY TO CHANGE IT.
MY POINT IS DOWNTOWN DALLAS, I'M LOOKING FROM DALLAS TO FULL WORLD.
I'M LOOKING AT A REGION, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT DALLAS.
WE TALKING ABOUT OUR PROPERTY TAX AND THE VALUE OF DOWNTOWN DALLAS, AND THAT'S WHAT I, I GOT ELECTED FOR OUR CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT ALIGNMENT, SO WE NEED ALIGNMENT.
WHAT IS THE BEST ALIGNMENT FOR THE CITY OF DOLLARS? WHAT IS THE BEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY OF DOLLARS? WHAT IS BEST FOR THE MERCHANT OF THE CITY DOLLARS? WHAT BEST, BEST FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF DOLLARS? AND SO I DON'T HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.
I WAS HERE IN 2015, BUT THINGS DONE CHANGED OVER 10 YEARS AGO.
SO WHAT IS THAT NEXT PROCESS AND PROCEDURE? WHAT IS THAT NEXT TIMELINE? WHAT IS THAT TIMELINE, DR. PEREZ? SO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT, UM, STUDY THAT WE ANTICIPATE DOING WILL BE ABOUT THREE MONTHS TIMEFRAME.
AND AGAIN, UH, AS PART OF THE NEXT STEPS, WE DID MENTION THAT WE WOULD COME BACK AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH COUNCIL.
I HAVE RIDDEN ON MANY HIGH SPEED RAIL OVER OVER THE WORLD, BUT I NEVER SEEN ALIGNMENT WITHIN 30 MILES EACH OTHER, LIKE FROM FORT WORTH TO DALLAS.
IT'S 30 END OF ALIGNMENT IN THE WORLD THAT IS 30 MILES FROM EACH OTHER, FROM TWO CITIES IS, UH, MAYOR PRODA.
WE'RE PULLING A HIGHSPEED RAIL ALL OVER THE WORLD AND LOOKING AT THOSE, UH, SYSTEMS THAT HAVE MULTIPLE DOWNTOWN STATIONS.
AND WHEN WE HAVE THAT FINISHED, WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU OR GIVE IT TO ALL OF YOU.
SO WITH THAT, BY SAYING THAT MS, THAT WE NEED TO DO DALLAS OR HOUSTON FIRST, NUMBER ONE, IT'S NOT FUNDED YET.
SO, UH, AMTRAK QUESTION TO YOU.
HOW SOON WILL YOU KNOW, UM, IN YOUR FINANCIAL STUDY WHEN YOU WILL BE ON BOARD? WILL YOU BE A MAJOR INVESTOR IN A HIGH SPEED RAIL? WILL YOU BE A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP IN HIGH SPEED RAIL? SO WHAT IS YOUR TIMELINE? I KNOW YOU JUST GOT A BOARD A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, SO, YEAH.
WELL, AT THE MOMENT WE'RE IN THE CORRIDOR ID PROGRAM WHERE WE, THERE'S A SERIES OF STEPS WE'VE JUST CLEARED STEP ONE, WE'RE INTO STEP TWO WHERE YOU LOOK AT A SCOPE OF WORK.
UM, AND THEN STEP THREE IS THE, UH, FINAL OR THE, THE FIRST REVIEW RATHER, UH, BECAUSE OF THREE YEARS HAVING ELAPSED OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PACKAGE AFTER THAT POINT, IN PARALLEL, THAT'LL TAKE TO THE END OF THE YEAR.
IN PARALLEL, WE'LL BE PUTTING TOGETHER THE FINANCIAL, UM, CASE AND BUILDING THE, THE, THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL PACKAGE, WHICH WILL ENABLE US.
WE, WE ANTICIPATE BY THE END OF, UM, 2025, WE WILL, UH, HAVE THE, ALL THE AUTHORITIES THAT WE NEED, ALL OF THE FINANCES THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO THEN PUT A SPADE IN THE GROUND WITH THAT.
SO FROM DALLAS TO, TO HOUSTON, WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE COST THAT'S STILL UNDER REVIEW AT THE MOMENT? I MEAN, THE FIGURE THAT HAS BEEN, UH, BANDED AROUND, UH, TO DATE HAS BEEN, OR, OR APPROXIMATED I SHOULD SAY, HAS BEEN NORTH OF $30 BILLION, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY.
UH, BUT THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUSINESS CASE IN TERMS OF THE PROJECTED RIDERSHIP AND THE PROJECTED REVENUES, THE BUSINESS CASE IS OVERWHELMING IN TERMS OF, UH, FUTURE RETURNS TO THE, TO THE CITIES OF DALLAS AND TO HOUSTON, UH, AND A POSITIVE NET RETURN AFTER A PERIOD OF OPERATION.
MICHAEL, WHAT IS THE CAUSE FROM FULL WORK TO DOLLARS ON HIGH SPEED AS PART OF OUR, UH, PRODUCT, UH, THAT WE'RE PRODUCING IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL? SO WE WILL KNOW THAT SHORTLY, PROBABLY NORTH OF $6 BILLION IS MY GUESS, BUT WE HAVEN'T, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE HAVEN'T EVEN REALLY STARTED THE ENGINEERING OF THAT.
UM, BUT THAT'S THE PRODUCT THAT'LL BE PRODUCED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, STUDY IN, IN LESS THAN 365 DAYS.
WELL, I, I WAS LOOKING AT SOME PAPER, IT WAS NORTH OF $10 BILLION AND YOU DID A, UH, STUDY THAT YOU HAD X AMOUNT OF RIDERSHIP IT PROBABLY TAKE A THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE IT PAID BACK.
YEAH, I, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S PRODUCING HOW MANY DISPLACEMENT WE'RE GONNA HAVE.
I'VE BEEN TOLD WE'RE HAVING AN NORTH OF 300 DISPLACEMENT.
I'VE BEEN TOLD I HAVE NORTH OF, UH, A HUNDRED DISPLACEMENT.
I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S NORTH OF $10 BILLION.
UM, I DON'T, I THINK THAT THE DISPLACEMENT WILL BE IN A AREA OF A DOZEN AND THE COST IS NOT THAT HIGH.
BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE'RE NOT AT THE COST PHASE YET.
UM, WE HAVE HAD HIGH SPEED RAIL PROVIDERS AROUND THE WORLD TELL US WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PAY FOR THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING COST TO GO BETWEEN DALLAS AND, AND UH, FORT WORTH.
UM, THAT IS WHY WE'RE PURSUING THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS WITHOUT ANY FEDERAL MONEY.
[03:15:01]
DALLAS TO HOUSTON IN THE QUARTER ID PROGRAM TO PURSUE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING, UH, FOR THAT PARTICULAR QUARTER.SO WE WILL KNOW A LOT MORE AS WE, AS WE CONTINUE.
I, I'M A GLASS HALF FULL PERSON.
WE HAVE SENT OUT THIS INFORMATION, UH, TWO DEVELOPER INTERESTS THAT I HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF US SINCE LAST SUMMER.
UH, I WOULD, WE HAVE ASKED TO MEET WITH THEM AGAIN TO GO OVER THESE MOST RECENT IDEAS.
UM, IT'S A COMMITMENT WE MADE TO THE MAYOR LAST SUMMER.
IT'S A COMMITMENT I MADE TO THEM IN THE SIX OR SO OR SEVEN MEETINGS I'VE HAD WITH THEM.
UH, ANY CRITICISM THEY HAVE IS WELCOME.
UM, I, I KEEP FINDING AS BEST, UH, INNOVATIVE IDEAS TO DEVELOP WIN-WIN.
I'VE DONE IT THROUGH MY WHOLE CAREER AND I REMAIN HOPEFUL WE'LL FIND WIN-WIN IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
AND WE TALK ABOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL FROM, FROM DALLAS TO, TO FOLK WORK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TUNNELING.
UH, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT JUST TUNNELING, UM, IN FORT WORTH AND ARLINGTON, BUT NOT IN DALLAS? AND THE REASON THAT IS, YES, SIR, WE'RE TUNNELING IN ARLINGTON.
WE'RE TUNNELING IN FORT WORTH.
WE'RE NOT TUNNELING IN DALLAS BECAUSE OF THIS EQUIVALENT 40 MINUTE PENALTY.
IF I WENT INTO A TUNNEL, THAT WOULD MAKE IT USELESS TO, UH, FORCE EVERYONE OUT OF A TRAIN AND, AND, UH, GO INTO A TUNNEL TO GO THE REST OF THEIR WAY.
EVERYONE WHO WISHES TO GET TO DALLAS, IT'S FINE.
THEY CAME IN IN A TUNNEL, BUT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THEM WISH TO GO ONTO HOUSTON.
BUT THIS, THIS CITY PRODUCED AND, AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED WAS A STATION THAT WAS HANDED TO US IN THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON STATION.
SO WE EXPLORED, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, DOZENS OF OPTIONS THAT ASSUMED WE DON'T GO TO THAT STATION AND WE ASSUMED WE WOULD GO TO THAT STATION.
AND GOING TO THAT STATION IS A MUCH BETTER SOLUTION THAN NOT GOING TO THAT PARTICULAR STATION FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THAT I TRIED TO DESCRIBE IN MY PRESENTATION, THE PENALTY TO THE TRAIN THAT HAS TO ACT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOW THAT IT'S AN END STATION INSTEAD OF A THROUGH STATION.
AND THE IMPACT TO THE PASSENGERS THAT HAVE TO COMMANDEER 17 STORIES AND MAYBE FIVE OR 10 BLOCKS, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE SUBWAY STATION WOULD BE, IT'S JUST NOT WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO.
JUST LIKE YOU WOULDN'T GET ON AN AIRPLANE AND GO, UH, UH, DALLAS TO AUSTIN AND HAVE THREE TRANSFERS ON THE WAY TO YOUR TRIP TO AUSTIN, YOU JUST WOULDN'T DO IT.
AND, UH, FORCING A SECOND TRANSFER TO THE PASSENGERS THAT ARE GOING TO DFW AIRPORT WOULD NOT GIVE ME THIS EQUAL ACCESS TO BOTH AIRLINES.
SO FOR LOTS OF REASONS, I THINK THE DECISION WAS CORRECT TO LOCATE THE STATION WHERE IT WAS.
THANK GOD IT'S NOT IN WAXAHATCHEE AND IN DOWNTOWN.
AND I BELIEVE, UH, WE'LL WORK HARD TO TRY TO GET THIS SEAMLESS CONNECTION AND THE SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THAT PARTICULAR CONNECTION.
ROSA, HOW MANY DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT DO YOU HAVE COMING THROUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR THE HIGH SPEED RAIL? HOW MANY HAVE WE, HOW MANY HAVE WE LOOKED AT? YES.
UM, WE'VE LOOKED AT SEVERAL, PROBABLY 10 TO 12 DIFFERENT, UM, ALIGNMENTS.
UM, TRYING TO, UH, ONE FIGURE OUT HOW NOT TO GO THROUGH THE CONVENTION CENTER.
ANOTHER WHERE WE STARTED A DISCUSSION DURING THE PLANNING PROCESS OF HOW TO BISECT, NOT BISECT OR BISECT LESS SOME OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S ABUTTING.
AND SO I THINK, UM, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 12 THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THE LAST YEAR.
YOU, YOU HAVE HAD AN INTEGRATED TEAM FOR TWO YEARS LOOKING AT WHERE'S THE, WHERE'S THE BEST ROUTE PLACE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER IN RELATION TO THE RAIL DISTRICT IN RELATION TO I SPEEDED RAIL AND IN RELATION TO INTERSTATE 30.
UM, AND THROUGH ALL OF THAT COMMUNICATION BY 20 OR 30 PEOPLE EVERY MONTH MEETING ON IT, UH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO OPTIONS THAT TOUCH THE CONVENTION CENTER.
YOU'LL GET A PRESENTATION SHORTLY, UH, THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I GUESS QUESTION YOU MAGIC, UH, WOULD THIS COME TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE ALIGNMENT, BECAUSE I HEAR WE DON'T HAVE ALIGNMENT, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY.
SO MY CONCERN IS, NUMBER ONE, YOU KINDA GOT A COURT BEFORE THE HEARTS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'M STARTING A RELAY AND I GOT A SCRATCH MAN, BUT I CAN'T GET IT TO AN ANCHOR GUY.
UM, UH, ANY UPDATES TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THE HIGH SPEED RAIL, BECAUSE IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MORE THAN JUST A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT, WILL BE COMING BACK TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR UPDATES.
[03:20:01]
WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TWO TO THREE MONTH STUDY.SO WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE BRIEFING YOU PROBABLY EARLIER JUNE, BEFORE JUNE AND, AND ROSA, WHAT IS THAT TIMELINE? WE WILL START TURNING DIRT ON THE CONVENTION SUM.
SO ONCE WE GET, UM, THROUGH THE BRIEFING TODAY AND BRING BACK SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU IN A, IN A COUPLE OF FUTURE MEETINGS, I'D LIKE TO FIRST, IF WE COULD, UH, DO KIND OF A LINEAR TIMELINE.
WE'LL NEED TO DO THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS FIRST AND SEND THOSE OUT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, UH, SOMETIME IN END OF YEAR, BEGINNING OF, OF NEXT YEAR WHERE WE'LL START TO ACTUALLY TURN DIRT ON THE ACTUAL, UH, CONVENTION CENTER.
BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GET PAST TODAY AND SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT OR RECOMMENDATIONS AND, UM, THEN COME BACK TO YOU WITH A MORE SOLIDIFIED TIMELINE AND A, AND A MEMO IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.
BACK TO YOU, UH, MR. MORRIS, YOUR TIMELINE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE HERE AT ROSA TIMELINE CONVENTION CENTER.
SO WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THE ALIGNMENT FOR THE HIGH SPEED RAILS BETWEEN FULL WORKING AND DALLAS? SO WE GOT, WE RECEIVED A LETTER ON MONDAY.
UH, AFTER FOUR YEARS WORTH OF WORK, UH, THE FEDERAL TRANS ADMINISTRATION WISHED ENOUGH WORK WAS COMPLETED TO MAKE SURE UNDER FEDERAL RULE, THAT WE COULD GET THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL IN LESS THAN 365 DAYS.
THEY HAVE SENT US A LETTER ON MONDAY THAT THEY'VE SEEN ENOUGH EVALUATION TO PERMIT US TO BEGIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS.
SO WE ARE BEGINNING THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS THAT WAS ON THE FIRST PAGE OF MY PRESENTATION.
SO WE ARE 365 DAYS BY DEFINITION, BY FEDERAL CLOCK TO BE COMPLETED.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL BETWEEN DALLAS AND UH, UH, DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
WE ARE ALSO HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO BE IN THE QUARTER ID PROGRAM.
WE ARE GONNA GO THROUGH ALL THE STEPS THAT DALLAS AND HOUSTON IS GONNA GO THROUGH IN THE QUARTER ID PROGRAM.
WE DO NOT WANT TO GET IN THE WAY OF DALLAS TO HOUSTON BECAUSE THAT'S THE MOTHERSHIP TO OUR PARTICULAR IMPROVEMENT.
SO WE WILL BE FOLLOWING IN LINE BEHIND THEM ON THEIR QUARTER ID APPLICATION AS WE SEEK FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAIL LINE.
I GUESS, UH, ON REGULATIONAL ALIGNMENT, IF YOU HAVE A ALIGNMENT THAT WAS CALLED A LIABILITY TO DEVELOPERS TO DEVELOPMENT, WHAT IS THE OPTION? WHAT DO YOU DO? SO IF YOU GO BACK TO MY PAGE THREE, WHICH IS, UH, PAGE WHATEVER IN YOUR PRESENTATION, I APOLOGIZE, WILL YOU PUT UP PAGE THREE? WE HAVE FOUR OPTIONS.
I WANT TO PUT IT UP SO YOU CAN SEE IT WHERE YOU PUT THAT UP, PLEASE.
THE PAGE WE REFERRING TO LOOKS LIKE, UH, SLIDE 18, APOLOGIES.
SO WE HAVE FOUR OPTIONS WE WISH TO SHARE WITH THE, UH, DEVELOP THE, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE.
UH, WE STILL HAVE ELEVATED WEST OF THE HYATT REGION.
WE STILL, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, YOU HAVE FOUR GREEN BOXES WHERE ELEVATED WEST OF THE HYATT REGENCY HAVE BEEN FOR THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
WE'RE ELEVATED EAST OF THE HYATT REGENCY.
WE ARE ELEVATED EAST OF THE HYATT REGENCY WITH THIS NEW IDEA OF THIS PEDESTRIAN LOBBY, LINEAR SIDEWALKS AND A POTENTIAL PEOPLE MOVER.
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY, UH, WE ARE SEEING IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST FOR THE PEDESTRIAN CAP OR THE PEDESTRIAN DESTINATION BETWEEN UNION STATION AND THE HYATT REGENCY.
SO THOSE ARE THE FOUR OPTIONS.
WE'LL TAKE THEM INTO ENVIRONMENTAL.
98% OF THE ROUTE IS IDENTICAL.
THE REST OF THE WAY, IT JUST HAS THESE FOUR TAILS.
WE WILL WORK WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS AND ANY SCHEDULE YOU WISH TO GIVE US TO TRY TO GET CONSENSUS ON THE BEST WAY TO MAKE THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT.
SO THOSE FOUR OPTIONS WOULD COME BACK WITHIN 365 DAYS.
WELL, WE, WE WILL PROBABLY, UH, MY SUSPICION IS YOU MAY WISH US TO COME EVERY TIME YOU GET A CONVENTION CENTER BRIEFING, A STREETCAR BRIEFING, UM, UH, OR ANY OTHER TRANSPORTATION BRIEFING BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO SUGGEST TO YOU THESE NEED TO ALL BE LAYERED INTO AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM.
SO YOU SHOULD SEE HOW THESE IMPACT EACH OF THOSE COMPONENTS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
SO ROSE, SO ROSE, HOW DO THIS, UH, COME BACK TO COUNCIL? YOU LOOK AT IT TWO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, TRANSPORTATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO BY THE CONVENTION.
SO DR. PEREZ, YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT? YES, SIR.
UH, MAYOR PRO TEMPS, UH, THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS WE CAN DO, LIKE WE DID, UH, WITH A SEPARATE TRANSPORTATION AND
[03:25:01]
SEPARATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, REPORT.UM, UH, THERE, THERE'S OPTIONS FOR THAT.
BUT I, I THINK THAT THE NEXT MILESTONE IS DEFINITELY COMPLETING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY, UH, DURING WHICH TIME WE'LL BE ENGAGED WITH ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS, BOTH INTERNAL, EXTERNAL, UH, AND SO I'M, I'M ANTICIPATING PROBABLY AS MAG MENTIONED, STUDY BEING DONE IN TWO TO THREE MONTHS.
SO MAYBE IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, WE'LL COME BACK IN JUNE, UM, AND MAYBE GIVE UPDATES TO COMMITTEES, UH, DURING THAT TIME.
UH, MR. MARIO, DO RTC HAVE ANY INPUT IN THESE ALIGNMENT? IT, I, I KNOW THE RTC WOULD BE EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN WHATEVER YOUR OPINION IS ON CONNECTING HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DOWNTOWN DALLAS AND DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH.
DO THEY HAVE AN OPINION? WOULD THEY HAVE AN OPINION? WOULD THEY HAVE AN DECISION? OHM, SORRY, WOULD HAVE A DECISION ON THIS, RIGHT? I I, I THINK THEY'RE ON RECORD OF, OF CONNECTING SEAMLESSLY IN THE ONE SEAT RIDE.
BY, BY DEFINITION, THAT'S THEIR POLICY.
UM, I THINK THEY'RE SILENT ON THE NOTION OF GOING WEST OR EAST.
I THINK WHEN THEY LEARN MORE ABOUT THE, UH, ABILITY OF CONNECTING, UH, OPTION TWO C TO HAVE THE SEAMLESS CONNECTION THAT ANDY TALKED ABOUT BY HAVING AIR CONDITIONED SPACE BETWEEN THE HUB AND THE HIGH SPEED RAIL, EVEN THOUGH THAT COSTS THE RTCA LOT MORE MONEY, I THINK THEY'RE GONNA LIKE THAT.
AND THEN THEY'LL, THEY WOULD BE SILENT ON THE PEDESTRIAN CAP OPTION TO SEE IF THAT'S OF INTEREST TO ANY OF THE PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AS A WAY TO MITIGATE THE APPEARANCE OF, UH, HIGH SPEED RAIL AND UNION STATION TO THE DEVELOPERS OF HYATT REGENCY.
I THINK THEY'D BE LOOKING FOR YOUR DIRECTION.
IMAGINE IF I HAD TO GUESS, THEY'RE GONNA LIKE THE PEOPLE MOVER CONNECTION BETWEEN UNION STATION AND, UM, AND HIGH SPEED RAIL.
THEY MAY LIKE, UH, TRINITY GROVES TO SOUTH DALLAS AS A WAY TO PROVIDE ACCESS AND EGRESS FOR CONVENTIONEERS.
IF THAT ENDS UP BEING A COMPONENT OF YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFIT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, I THINK YOU WOULD SEE THE RTC INTERESTED IN HELPING YOU THERE, IF THAT'S OF INTEREST TO YOU.
UM, MAYOR PROTE, FOR THE SAKE OF, UH, CONTINUING TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT AND AND TRANSPARENT INFORMATION, UH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT'S UP TO YOU AND CHAIR VALS ON THIS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST HAVING A JOINT, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE CAN BRIEF YOU EVERY, EVERY SO OFTEN AT YOUR DESIRE EVERY COUPLE MONTHS, AND WE CAN GIVE YOU FULL UPDATES ON EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHETHER IT'S IN THE HIGH SPEED DRILL, AND ANY, AND THE MULTIMODAL STATION AND ANY OTHER PROJECTS RELATING TO THAT, THAT, THAT ENSURES THAT EVERYONE IS GETTING THE SAME INFORMATION AND THE TIMELINESS OF THE INFORMATION WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
UH, JUST LAST STATEMENT THAT, UH, MY CONCERNS NUMBER ONE IS, UM, THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
YOU KNOW, I, I DO SUPPORT HIGH SPEED WELFARE FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON, BUT FROM FORT WORTH TO DALLAS IS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT.
IT GONNA CRIPPLES THE CITY OF DALLAS TO TAXPAYERS.
BEFORE WE GO FORWARD, WE DID TURN ON TURN, TURN OVER EVERY ROCK TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
BASIL, DO YOU RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, I'LL JUST ECHO A, A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, UM, BUT I THINK A LOT OF CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED.
UM, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A MATTER OF SUPPORTING THE NOTION OF HIGH SPEED RAIL.
I THINK THAT WE WANT TO SEE THAT TECHNOLOGY, UH, WE WANT TO, UH, PROMOTE, UM, CONNECTIVITY ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
UM, BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUE IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT I, WHAT REALLY DRAWS PAUSE TO ME IS THE, UM, NEED FOR AN ALIGNMENT TO CONTINUE TO, I, I UNDERSTAND THE STATE'S, UM, THOUGHT THE STATE IS NOT SITTING ON THIS PANEL RIGHT NOW, AND THEY, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HAVE NOT, UM, UH, COMMITTED AS, AS WELL AS YOU, UM, TO THIS BEING, UH, MONETARY BURDEN FOR THEM.
SO THE STATE'S WISHES IS GREAT, UH, IN THEORY, BUT, UM, WHEN SITTING AT THIS DAIS, WE HAVE TO BE THINKING OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON RTC.
AND SO I REALIZE WHEN I'M THERE AND SPEAKING TO YOU, MR. MORRIS, IT'S IN, UH, A WITH MY REGIONAL HAT ON.
UH, THAT'S, THAT HAT'S OFF TODAY.
AND I, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE QUESTION THAT MS. BLACKMAN BROUGHT UP, WHICH IS, WHAT ARE WE SOLVING FOR? UM, I FEEL LIKE THE ANSWERS WERE REALLY SKATED AROUND.
AND, UM, I I ALSO THINK THAT SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN EXPLICITLY SAID, AND MAYBE AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, IF YOU WILL, IS THIS SEEMS REALLY INTENTIONAL TO INCLUDE ARLINGTON.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
WE ALREADY HAVE A CONNECTION FROM THE
[03:30:01]
CITY OF DALLAS TO THE CITY OF FORT WORTH.WE ALREADY HAVE A TRACK ALIGNMENT FROM THE CITY OF DALLAS TO THE CITY OF FORT WORTH.
THE ONE THING THAT WOULD BE MISSING IS THAT YOU CAN'T EASILY GET TO THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN ARLINGTON OFF OF 30.
SO I'M CURIOUS WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN SPOKEN ABOUT AT ALL FROM ANY OF THE PANELISTS.
UM, AND ARE WE INTENTIONALLY TIPTOEING AROUND THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ASKING ME, COUNCILMAN.
UH, I'LL, I'M, I'LL ANSWER THIS.
I'D LOVE ALL OF Y'ALL 'CAUSE WE'VE HEARD ANSWERS FROM ALL OF Y'ALL ANSWER THIS.
NOBODY HAS TALKED ABOUT THE BENEFIT FOR OUR ARGUMENT.
YOU CAN TAKE THE TRE TO DALLAS, BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, AND IT ONLY TAKES YOU TWO DAYS, UH, TO MAKE THAT TRIP.
IT'S OVER 65 MINUTES ON TRE BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
IT STOPS SEVERAL TIMES AND IT DOES NOT DIRECTLY INTERFACE WITH THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
IT TAKES YOU, I DON'T KNOW, THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE IF YOU WANT TO GO TO HIGH SPEED RAIL.
THAT'S TO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING.
I I, I'D LIKE YOU TO ANSWER MY QUESTION.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH IF IT ALREADY EXISTS? I'M NOT TELLING YOU, I'M NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO TELL ME HOW IT COULD BE BETTER.
IN A REGION OF 12 MILLION PEOPLE, WHICH IS MY JOB, 2045, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT A SEAMLESS CONNECTION OF 12 MILLION PEOPLE TO HIGH SPEED RAIL, TO GO TO HOUSTON, TO GO TO AUSTIN, AND TO GO TO SAN ANTONIO.
THE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON THE EASTERN AND WESTERN SIDE OF THE REGION IN, IN 2024 IS NOT THE SAME NUMBER ON THE EASTERN AND WESTERN SIDE OF THE REGION IN 2045.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE ACCESSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE IN DALLAS TO GO TO HOUSTON, AUSTIN, AND SAN ANTONIO BY HAVING A STATION THAT THEY TOO CAN GO TO IN ARLINGTON AND IN FORT WORTH.
AND BY DOING SO, FORT WORTH WOULD NOT HAVE TO INITIATE A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION TO AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO AS CALLED FOR IN THE STATE HIGH SPEED RAIL PLANT.
THEY'D RATHER USE THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE OF THIS INVESTMENT, SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY, SAVE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT MONEY, AND SEND TRAINS TO AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO VIA THIS HIGH SPEED RAIL TRACK.
SO WITH THAT THEORY, IS THAT, IS THAT WITH THE MINDSET THAT SOMEONE FROM HOUSTON'S GONNA JUMP ON THIS TRAIN AND TAKE IT IN A U FASHION DOWN TO LAREDO, TEXAS? NO, BUT SOMEONE IN FORT WORTH WOULD, IF THEY WANT TO GO TO AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO IN THE CURRENT PLAN, THEY'RE, WE WOULD BE BUILDING HIGH SPEED RAIL TO AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO.
'CAUSE THE CURRENT PLAN DOESN'T GO DALLAS TO AUSTIN.
SO WE ARE A CRITICAL PIECE IN ORDER FOR OTHER CITIES TO HAVE AN ASSET.
YOU'RE A CRITICAL PIECE IF YOU WISH TO GAIN THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
YOU HAVE NOT PROVIDED THAT ANSWER ON THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE FOR US NECESSARILY.
I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THE RIDERSHIP FOR THE TRE AND, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALREADY HAVE A SEAMLESS WAY TO CONNECT.
AND YOU MAY HAVE YOUR OPINION ABOUT TRE, MY FAMILY USES IT OFTEN, UM, AND, AND, AND LOVE IT, HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT.
UM, WELL, AS YOU, AS YOU KNOW ON THE RTC, THE RTC HAS FUNDED 80% OF THE TRE.
IT'S A, IT'S A REALLY AN INITIATIVE OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL.
DARDEN FORT WORTH TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITIES ARE NOT REAL FANS OF THE TRE BECAUSE THEY DON'T PENETRATE LARGE PORTIONS OF THEIR SERVICE AREA.
WHEN TRE STARTED, IT HAD 11,000 RIDERS TRE'S DOWN TO 4,000 RIDERS.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF TRE, BUT IF YOU BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL, YOU DO NOT LOSE ANY RIDERS ON THE TRE.
'CAUSE THE TRES, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH IS MINIMAL COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WISH TO GET ON AND OFF AT ALL THE STATIONS ALONG THE TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS.
UM, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE THE PITCH DOWN FOR SELLING THE PROJECT VERY WELL, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT I'M GETTING, UM, YOU KNOW, LOGISTICAL ANSWERS THAT ARE, ARE REALLY ABOUT WHAT I'M ASKING.
I AND, AND, AND AGAIN, YOU ARE SELLING THE PROJECT VERY WELL, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT I NEED IS, IS A SOLD PROJECT.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
I'M LOOKING AT A, UH, HUGE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN CONNECTING THE CITY OF DALLAS TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, UH, SAME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ALIGNMENT.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME APOLOGIZE IF I'M NOT ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, BUT I DID SUGGEST ONE TO A DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR STAFF WOULD BE, WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS OF HAVING A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON? AND WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HAVING A HIGH SPEEDED RAIL STATION WITH THE ADDITIONAL HIGH SPEEDED RAIL TO FORT WORTH? AND YOU MAY WANT TO ASK, AND WHAT IS
[03:35:01]
THE BENEFIT OF HAVING AN AIR CONDITIONED, UH, CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR UNION STATION, THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION? THOSE THREE SCENARIOS WILL BE THE METHODOLOGY TO ANSWER YOUR PARTICULAR QUESTION.'CAUSE I THINK YOU'LL SEE MUCH GREATER ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS IN THE SECOND AND THIRD OPTION THAN YOU'LL EVER SEE IN SIMPLY DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
NOW, IF THE CITY OF DALLAS WISHES NOT TO PERFORM THAT WORK, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO PERFORM THAT WORK.
BUT I THINK IT'S BETTER COMING FROM YOUR PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF CITY OF DALLAS EMPLOYEES.
SO THEY WORK DIRECTLY FOR YOU MORE SO THAN YOU AS AN RTC MEMBER.
AND IF THEY WISH FOR, SO WHATEVER REASON NOT TO DO THAT, THEN I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET THAT THOSE ANSWERS FOR YOU.
BUT I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD SEE DALLAS TO HOUSTON ECONOMIC IMPACT TO DALLAS HOUSTON, ALL THE WAY TO FORT WORTH, ECONOMIC IMPACT TO DALLAS, WHICH I THINK IS HUGE.
AND THE ADDITION OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE FACILITIES AS WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH I THINK IS EVEN BIGGER.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE WAY TO ANSWER YOUR PARTICULAR QUESTION, WHAT IS THE DELTA IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BENEFIT OF US HAVING HIGH SPEED RAIL TO FORT WORTH? AND WHAT IS THE DELTA OF HAVING BETTER SEAMLESS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN OUR CONVENTION CENTER AND OUR UNION STATION? AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE HUGE IMPACTS AS A RESULT OF THAT, IN MY OPINION.
UH, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER BAA, CAN I ADD IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND? YES, SIR.
UM, I, I WAS INVOLVED, UH, MANY YEARS AGO WITH THE LONE STAR RAIL, UH, HIGH SPEED, UM, UH, HIGH SPEED CONCEPT, UH, FROM SAN ANTONIO TO AUSTIN, AND THEN IT WAS GONNA BE ALSO FROM SAN ANTONIO TO CORPUS CHRISTI.
UH, THERE'S A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF DALLAS IN HAVING A HIGH SPEED RAIL.
WE, WE HAVE THE CONNECTION TO HOUSTON AND TO FORT WORTH THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO CREATE THAT TRIANGLE TO HOUSTON, AUSTIN AND, AND BACK TO FORT WORTH, OR HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION FROM DALLAS, UM, TO, UM, TO AUSTIN AND CONTINUING SOUTH ALL THE WAY, UH, TO CORPUS CHRISTI AND CONTINUING NORTH ALL THE WAY UP TO LUBBOCK AND, AND, AND, AND UP NORTH THERE IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.
AUSTIN IS GONNA BUILD THE I OR REBUILD THE I 35.
THEY'RE GONNA SPEND TWO, TWO AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS AND MANY AND MANY HOURS OF CON INCONVENIENCE TO THE MOTORING PUBLIC.
AND A HIGH SPEED RAIL COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY, UH, A, A VERY GOOD RELIEF, UH, FOR, FOR MOTORISTS AND TRAVELERS TRAVERSING BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND, AND, AND DALLAS.
WE MAY NOT SEE IT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS OR 15 YEARS, BUT IF, IF WE DON'T BUILD IT, IF WE DON'T CREATE IT, WE LOSE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.
IMAGINE, I'M, I I'M NOT ARGUING THAT A HIGH, HIGH-SPEED RAIL WILL BRING US, UH, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
AND, AND I, I SAID THAT AT THE VERY BEGINNING, UH, WHEN I SPOKE.
I, I THINK THAT WHAT I'M NOT WANTING TO DO IS FEEL THAT THERE'S AN ULTIMATUM, UH, BEING PUT IN FRONT OF US THAT THAT SAME OR SIMILAR ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM A HOUSTON TO DALLAS ALIGNMENT IS CONTINGENT ON US SUPPORTING SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF, UH, WHICH IS THE WESTERN ALIGNMENT GOING TO FORT WORTH.
I I HAVE NOT YET HEARD A CASE OTHER THAN IT IS, UM, MAKING A SEAMLESS CONNECTION FOR AN OVERALL VISION OF THE STATE GOING FORWARD.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE FOR TODAY.
AND SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS AND I'M SEEING IF THIS IS GOING, I, I DEFINITELY, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TAKE OUR TIME ON AN INVESTMENT THIS LARGE, A PROJECT THIS LARGE.
AND IF THIS IS GOING TO, UH, NEED TO REVISIT THE CURRENTLY, UH, APPROVED, FEDERALLY APPROVED, UM, UH, ALIGNMENT OF THE PLATFORM, IF THERE IS WAYS FOR THAT TO FLUCTUATE OUR OPTIONS, EVERYTHING THAT WE SEE THAT HAS BEEN DENIED, HAS BEEN DENIED BASED ON, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY FIT IN WITH WHAT WE ALREADY ARE FEDERALLY APPROVED FOR.
BUT IF THIS IS THIS SCALE OF, UH, OF, OF A PROJECT AND THIS, AND POTENTIALLY THIS SCALE OF AN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO ALL OF ITS JURISDICTIONS, WE SHOULD DO IT RIGHT.
AND IF THAT MEANS TAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND SPENDING A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT FOR THE PLATFORM AND THIS ACTUALLY BE CONDUCIVE TO ALL OF THE CITIES INVOLVED, THEN THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD BE APPROACHING THIS.
NOT THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU AND THIS IS BEST YOU'RE GONNA GET WHEN MAKING A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT FOR A PROJECT.
THAT'S NOT THE MINDSET I THINK ANY OF US SHOULD EVER TAKE.
AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT'S YOUR TIME? I'M BEING ASKED TODAY IS WHAT I FEEL.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S YOUR, THAT'S YOUR TIME FOR THIS ROUND.
[03:40:01]
MR. MAYOR.CHAIRMAN ARVA RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
EVERYONE THANK THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
UM, MR. MORRIS, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND AS WELL AS OUR, OUR STAFF AMTRAK.
UM, THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS ON MANY DIFFERENT LEVELS.
I'M HEARING A LOT OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AND COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AND I THINK THAT'S, THEY'RE ALL VERY FAIR AND I, I'M SURE THAT WE WILL GET RESPONSES, UM, AS FAR AS WHAT SOME OF THOSE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
UM, IT IS DISINGENUOUS TO SAY THAT, UM, THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMUNICATION ON THIS TO THIS COUNCIL, UM, BECAUSE, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 225 PUBLIC MEETINGS ON HIGH SPEED RAIL THROUGHOUT THE REGION, BUT TONS OF THEM IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, I'VE ATTENDED MANY OF THEM.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS, UM, THAT I HAVE NOT ATTENDED, BUT I HAVE SEEN WHEN THOSE HAVE COME THROUGH, AND THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS THAT MYSELF AND I KNOW OTHERS ON THIS COUNCIL HAVE REQUESTED WITH INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL.
THE NCT COG IS ONE PROJECT, AND AMTRAK HAS ANOTHER PROJECT.
AND I WANT TO THANK AMTRAK FOR STEPPING UP BECAUSE HIGHSPEED RAIL HAD BASICALLY DISAPPEARED BETWEEN HOUSTON AND DALLAS AND AMTRAK.
THESE ARE THE, THESE ARE THE, THE REASONS THAT I DO SUPPORT HIGHSPEED RAIL AND WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE KIND OF GET BACK TO WHAT WE'RE AT.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE A HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY, AND LITTLE BY LITTLE HIGHWAYS WERE BUILT AND THEY CONNECTED TO CITIES.
AND I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO THAT.
THEY DID IT RIGHT OR WRONG INSIDE OF THE CITIES, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
WE ARE RIGHT NOW AT A POINT, MR. MAYOR, THAT WE CAN BE AT THE PRECIPICE AND THE CENTER OF HIGH SPEED RAIL FOR THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.
THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN LINES THAT HAVE BEEN NOT APPROVED, BUT SAID THAT WE CAN GO FROM DALLAS TO LOS ANGELES TO LAS VEGAS, TO DENVER, AND ALL THE WAY TO ATLANTA.
IF WE STOP THIS AND PAUSE THIS, I'M, I'M NOT SAYING THAT NOT TO ASK QUESTIONS.
I'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, UM, AS THIS HAS BEEN PROGRESSING, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IF WE ARE THE EPICENTER OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL FOR THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES, THIS CAN TAKE DALLAS INTO A TRAJECTORY, MR. MAYOR, THAT I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.
YOU HEARD, YOU HEARD IT SAID THAT THIS PROBABLY COULD NOT BE CHANGED FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER COUNTRIES, OTHER CITIES LIKE JAPAN, AS WELL AS SPAIN AND OTHER PLACES IN EUROPE THAT HAVE HAD THIS TECHNOLOGY FOR DECADES.
WE ARE FINALLY CATCHING UP DEVELOPMENT AND PROPERTY VALUES AS FAR AS THE, THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE BEEN PRESENTED AND I'VE SEEN AND ACTUALLY SKYROCKET AND GO UP ALONG THESE, THESE RAIL LINES, BECAUSE HIGHSPEED RAIL IS NOT LIKE FREIGHT.
IT'S NOT LIKE A STREETCAR, AND IT'S NOT LIKE EVEN AMTRAK'S PASSENGER TRAINS.
SO THAT'S A QUESTION I'D LIKE TO ASK IS IF, CAN YOU ALL EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIGH SPEED RAIL WHEN IT COMES TO THE, THE, THE LINE SOUND, UM, THE CLEANLINESS OF IT TO THE ENVIRONMENT VERSUS OTHER TYPES OF RAIL THAT IS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES? SURE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
THE, THE, THE ESSENCE OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, VERY HIGH SPEED.
SO LIMITED STOPS, UH, STATE OFTHE ART TECHNOLOGY, THE, THE LINE, THE TRAIN WOULD BE BUILT ON TECH, ON INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT VERY HIGH SPEED OPERATIONS.
SO, UM, THE CATY WITH THE OVERHEAD WIRES, THE TRACK, THE SWITCHES, THE SIGNALING SYSTEM, IT'S ALL DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE, UH, TRAINS MOVING AT VERY HIGH SPEED WITH A, UM, YOU KNOW, EXCELLENT SAFETY RECORD, PERFECT SAFETY RECORD.
UM, IT'S, UM, FULLY ACCESSIBLE, UH, VERY, UH, CLEAN, VERY, UH, SPACIOUS TRAINS TYPICALLY, UM, HIGH SPEED TRAINS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING LONG DISTANCE LIMITED STOPS HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, VERY HIGH QUALITY ONBOARD CATERING, OTHER ONBOARD SERVICES, UH, PROVISIONED TO DO WORK ON BOARD, UH, EXCELLENT CUSTOMER INFORMATION.
UM, AND THE STATIONS THEMSELVES, UH, IT'S OFTEN SET OF A DESTINATION IN THEMSELVES IN THAT TYPICALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE SERVING, UM, BUSINESS TRAVELERS AND LEISURE TRAVELERS, UH, YOU TEND TO GET, UH, STATIONS THAT HAVE, UM, A VERY GOOD RETAIL OFFERING, UM, AND EVEN POTENTIALLY BUSINESS SPACE.
SO IT, IT REALLY IS, UM, IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE TO EVEN CONVENTIONAL, UM, CONVENTIONAL PASSENGER RAIL, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT STOPPING REGULARLY.
YOU ARE MOVING AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS INTO STATE-OF-THE-ART STATIONS, UM, OVER AN UNPRECEDENTED TIMEFRAME.
AND I WOULD ARGUE A TIMEFRAME, BECAUSE REMEMBER I TALKED ABOUT THE SWEET SPOT IN MY PRESENTATION.
THE, THE PHRASE THAT WE ALWAYS USE IN THE HIGH SPEED COMMUNITIES WHERE TYPICALLY OVER JOURNEYS THAT ARE TOO
[03:45:01]
LONG TO DRIVE AND TOO SHORT TO FLY, YOU COULD DRIVE, BUT YOU'LL NEVER BEAT THE TRAIN.THE TRAIN THE TRAIN WILL ALWAYS OUTPACE, UH, THE CAR AND YOU WILL NOT GET THE CAPACITY THAT A HIGH SPEED TRAIN WOULD BRING ON A, ON A INTERSTATE.
AND SIMILARLY, WHEN YOU FACTOR IN, UH, HAVING TO GET TO THE AIRPORT, GO THROUGH SECURITY, GET TO THE GATE, UM, TAXI TO THE RUNWAY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AT THE OTHER END, UH, THE TRAIN IS SUPER COMPETITIVE.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I SAID IT'S NOT THE RIGHT SOLUTION NECESSARY FOR EVERY ROUTE.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BUILD NEW YORK TO LA YOU'RE GONNA FLY THAT, BUT OVER A CERTAIN DISTANCE IT CANNOT BE BEATEN.
AND, AND HAVING BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING LIVED IN DALLAS FOR THE LAST, YOU KNOW, OVER 20 YEARS, WHAT, 25 YEARS NOW, I CAN TELL YOU I'VE MADE THAT DRIVE AND I'VE MADE THAT FLIGHT AND I'M CONSTANTLY GOING, UH, IS IT BETTER TO FLY OR IS IT BETTER TO DRIVE? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PART OF ME IS LIKE, UH, IT'S ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME PERIOD.
UM, AND, UM, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY, IT TAKES TIME TO GO GET YOUR RENTAL CAR, WHAT ALL THAT BUSINESS WITH THE PLANE VERSUS IF I DRIVE, IT'S ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A DIFFERENCE IN IT.
UM, THE NEXT THING IS YOU, UM, THAT WAS MENTIONED WAS HIGH-SPEED RAIL AND THE CLEANLINESS OF IT CAN DO, DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON HOW IT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP OUR CCAP ON EITHER, EITHER, EITHER OR IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AS FAR AS BRINGING THE NUMBER OF CARS, REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS? UM, FOR US IN, UM, THE CITY OF DALLAS, UH, OUR MODELING SHOWS THAT FOR THE, UM, FOR THE ENTIRE ROUTE, WE WILL BE TAKING 12 AND A HALF THOUSAND CARS OFF THE I 45 EVERY DAY.
UM, WHICH IS A HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT.
UM, YOU DID ASK, FORGIVE ME, YOU DID MENTION WHAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IT LOOK AND SOUND LIKE? UH, THERE ARE ZERO, UM, SMELL EMISSIONS 'CAUSE IT'S AN ELECTRIC TRAIN.
UM, WITH ALL THE BENEFITS THAT THAT BRINGS, UH, WITH RENEWABLE BENEFIT, UH, RENEWABLE ENERGY.
I MEAN, TYPICALLY THE NOISE IMPACT IS YOU SORT OF HEAR A SWOOSH AS THE TRAIN GOES BY.
UH, BUT, BUT PRETTY MUCH THAT'S IT.
UM, SO THE FACT THAT YOU TAKE ALL THOSE CARS OFF THE ROAD AT, UM, THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE I 45 ROUTE AND DOWNTOWN AS WELL, UM, IN TERMS OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE GETTING IN THEIR CAR AND DRIVING OFF TO THE AIRPORT, I THINK THAT HAS A HUGE, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT THAT WILL BE FELT FROM THE DAY IT WAS OPENED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD JUST ADD, WHEN I TESTIFY IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE ON HIGH SPEED RAIL, THE FIRST ITEM I ALWAYS BRING UP IS SAFETY.
SO THIS, THIS TECHNOLOGY HAS EXISTED FOR 54, 55 YEARS WITH NO FATALITIES.
UM, YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES EVERY YEAR THAT ARE ON INTERSTATE 45 TIMES A HUNDRED.
UH, I HAVE PUT THAT TOGETHER IN MY TESTIMONY.
AND JUST FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, THESE 12,500 CARS HELPS TECH BILL MORE CAPACITY, BUT THE RISK YOU HAVE DRIVING VERSUS FLYING COMPARED TO HIGH SPEED RAIL VERSUS DRIVING THE SAFETY BENEFITS ALONE, I, I THINK ARE, UH, CRITICAL.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, TEXDOT IS, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON MAKING INTERSTATE 45 SAFER, BUT IT'S NEVER GONNA BE SAFER THAN THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL TRAIN.
I HAVE SEEN THE SAFETY, UM, NUMBERS AS FAR AS HIGH SPEEDED RAIL GOES VERSUS, UM, DRIVING A CAR.
WE WE'RE GOING THROUGH VISION ZERO RIGHT NOW AS A CITY, AND TO TAKE 12,000 VEHICLES POTENTIALLY OFF THE STREETS IN THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS MANY DIFFERENT BENEFITS.
UM, THE NEXT THING IS, UM, MENTIONED.
THERE'S, WERE THINGS MENTIONED ABOUT PRODUCING DOCUMENTS AND ALL OF THAT.
IF, IF Y'ALL CAN GET, JUST WORK ON THAT AND GET THAT TO US.
ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE FROM BEFORE OUR TIME, BECAUSE THERE WAS PROBABLY ONLY TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE DURING ANY OF THAT PERIOD.
ALL THE REST OF US ARRIVED AFTER 2015.
UM, EXPLAIN, UM, I ALREADY GOT THAT ONE.
UM, CONCENTRATING, UH, CONNECTIVITY WAS MENTIONED AS WELL, MR. MAYOR, AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET A SECOND ROUND TO GET IT ALL IN, BUT CONNECTIVITY WAS MENTIONED.
UM, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTIVITY TO LIGHT RAIL, STREET, CARS, PEOPLE, MOVERS, TRE, BUS SERVICE, ET CETERA, UM, WITH WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN, UM, WITH THIS CONNECTION? AND THAT'LL BE MY, MY LAST QUESTION, MR. MAYOR, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TIME.
SO AT, AT YOUR HUB YOU HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE LARGEST LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY GOING INTO THAT PARTICULAR STATION.
YOU HAVE REGIONAL RAIL, WE'RE WIDENING THE RAIL DISTRICT BRIDGE OVER INTERSTATE 30 TO EVENTUALLY EXTEND TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS TO FAIR PARK.
YOU HAVE AMTRAK SERVICE THAT INDIRECTLY GOES TO OKLAHOMA CITY, CHICAGO, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO.
YOU HAVE A NEW AMTRAK RAIL LINE THAT'S GOING TO ATLANTA AND UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST ALL GOING INTO, UH, UNION STATION THAT, THAT STATION IS, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE DISTANCE IS, BUT YOU HAVE TO CROSS A FREEWAY IN, I DUNNO, THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE OR HALF A MILE, WHATEVER IT IS, I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO WALK WITH A SUITCASE, AN EMPTY ONE, DON'T LOAD IT UP.
[03:50:01]
STATION AND WALK TO THE STATION, UH, WHERE, UM, THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION IS AND WALK IT, UH, AND, AND, AND, AND TELL YOURSELF WHAT, HOW, HOW NICE AN EXPERIENCE IS THAT VERSUS YOU CONNECT TO THOSE PARTICULAR SPACES, UM, THROUGH AN AIR CONDITIONED SPACE, POTENTIALLY ON AN, UH, LINEAR ACCELERATED SIDEWALK, MAYBE EVEN A SMALL, UH, TRANSIT VEHICLE.UH, UH, I THINK BACK TO HOW HUMANS LOOK AT OUT OF VEHICLE TIME, THE MORE SEAMLESS AND COOL YOU CAN MAKE IT, INCLUDING SHOPPING, RETAIL ON THE WAY YOU'RE TRAVELING THROUGH YOUR AIR CONDITIONED SPACE.
AND THE MORE YOU CAN MAKE DESTINATIONS AS, AS, UH, COUNCILMAN WEST TALKS ABOUT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, HOW CAN WE MAKE A PLACE THAT WE LIKE TO GO TO ON VACATION? HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE MAKE THAT PLACE HERE? THOSE ARE THE INGREDIENTS, I BELIEVE SPEAK TO YOUR SEAMLESS CONNECTIONS.
AND THAT'S WHY I AM SUGGESTING TO, UM, EXECUTIVE STAFF THAT WHEN YOU EVER HAVE A PRESENTATION ON A CONVENTION FROM NOW ON, WHENEVER YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION ON A CONVENTION CENTER, UH, OR YOU HAVE A CENTER, HUTCHINS CONVENTION CENTER, OR EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON'S, UH, UNION STATION OR HIGH SPEED RAIL OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU NEED TO BRING THIS SEAMLESS CONNECTION ELEMENT TO IT BECAUSE THIS IS COMING TO YOU AT A REALLY FA IT, IT'S UNFAIR TO YOU.
IT'S COMING TO YOU AT A REALLY FAST SPEED, HIGH SPEED RAIL TO AMTRAK'S CREDIT IS NOW BEING PICKED UP AGAIN.
AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE ADVANCING A CONVENTION CENTER AT THE SAME TIME.
THREE MONTHS AGO YOU, YOU ANNOUNCED A NEW HUB STATION.
UM, AND YOU COULD TAKE, YOU CAN TREAT THESE AS SILOS, BUT IF YOU, YOU KNOW, I'M TRAINED IN SYSTEM INTEGRATION.
IF YOU TREAT THESE AS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM, THE ECONOMY'S A SCALE OF THE MULTIPLE ELEMENTS OF A CONVENTION CENTER PERSON GOING TO TRINITY GROVES OR TO SOUTHERN DALLAS, OR HAVING A CONVENTION IN DALLAS THAT NOW A HIGH SPEED RAIL USER FROM ARLINGTON AND OR FORT WORTH COULD NOW GO TO YOUR CONVENTION ON HIGH SPEED RAIL AND GO TO YOUR CONVENTION AND GO BACK HOME.
THE ENDLESS COMBINATIONS THAT YOU HAVE, I BELIEVE, IS WHERE YOUR STAFF NEEDS TO TAKE YOU OVER THE NEXT THREE OR SIX MONTHS.
COUNCIL MEMBER, MAY I JUST ADD TO THAT JUST REALLY BRIEFLY.
UM, YOU'VE GOTTA GET THOSE END CONNECTIONS, RIGHT? UH, WHERE I TALKED ABOUT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A HIGH SPEED RAIL, UH, IT'S, IT'S A GIVEN TO ME THAT YOU CAN'T JUST DROP PEOPLE OFF WITH NO ONE WITH CONNECTION AND PEOPLE LIKE FIGURING OUT, TRYING TO GET, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND AN UBER OR WHATEVER.
UM, YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE EXCELLENT INTERMODAL CONNECTIONS AT EITHER END.
AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO DO JUST THAT.
IF YOU LOOK AT KINGS CROSS ST PANCREAS, YOU'VE GOT THE, UM, ALL THE TWO BLINDS, THE OVERGROUND, THE MAINLINE CONNECTIONS, THE BUSES, UH, THAT'S THE KIND OF, UM, INTERCHANGE THAT YOU WANT HERE, SUCH THAT IT MAKES IT ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE.
THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO USE IT THEN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, IT'S YOUR COMMITTEE AND, UH, WE'RE ON A SECOND ROUND NOW.
UM, SO DO YOU, YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUST ROLL RIGHT INTO THREE MINUTES OR DO YOU WANT TO WAIT? IF, IF IT'S POSSIBLE, YES.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, WE'RE ON, WE'RE ON ROUND TWOS NOW.
AND I'LL TRY TO MAKE THESE QUICK THREE MINUTES PLEASE.
UM, I LIKE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, THIS CONNECTION AND NOT WANTING TO MOVE YOUR LUGGAGE.
UM, WE ARE WORKING ON AND TRYING TO MOVE WHERE OUR UBER STOP IS AT DALLAS LOVE FIELD AND PEOPLE ARE LOSING IT OVER, HAVING TO GO 700 EXTRA FEET.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA SAY IF THEY HAVE TO GO 17 STORIES AND TAKE 20 MINUTES IN ORDER TO MOVE BETWEEN TRAIN LINES.
SO JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE, 700 FEET VERSUS 17 STORIES.
UM, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THESE CONNECTIVITIES AS WELL BECAUSE, UH, MR. MAYOR, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA BE LOSING GREYHOUND DOWNTOWN AND THAT'S A, A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CITY AS WELL.
SO HAVING THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS ALL THIS CONNECTIVITY CAN ALSO HELP SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT RELY ON BUS SERVICE TO LEAVE TOWN, UM, UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH BUS SERVICE AS FAR AS, UM, THAT GOES.
UM, THE NEXT THING IS, YOU MENTIONED THE 12,000 CARS COMING OFF ALREADY, UM, DRAGGING LUGGAGE, UM, THE PEOPLE MOVERS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN, UM, MR. MORRIS WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THEM? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE CAN IMAGINE IT.
I GOT TO SEE THE IDEA, BUT, UM, HOW IT WOULD ACTUALLY HANG UNDERNEATH THE LIGHT RAIL AND MOVE EVERYBODY IN THIS AIR CONDITIONED WAY FROM ALL THE WAY FROM RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT, HAROLD SIMMONS PARK TO THROUGH, UM, THE HYATT AND REUNION ALL THE WAY TO THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THEN TO, UM, DOWNTOWN WHEN THOSE WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS FOR PEOPLE TO GET UP AND DOWN IF THEY WANTED TO JOIN AT SOME OTHER AREA FROM THE SIDEWALK.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WOULD WORK? 'CAUSE IT WAS PRETTY FASCINATING LOOKING AT IT.
SO THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF IT REALLY BEING AN IDEA THAT'S UNFAIR
[03:55:01]
TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S SO NEW.BUT, UH, ROSA, WHAT WAS IT? NOVEMBER YOU BROUGHT US TOGETHER AND SAID, OKAY, THE CITY OF DALLAS IS NOW ANNOUNCING THE HUB STATION TO BE AT UNION STATION.
WAS THAT AROUND NOVEMBER, OCTOBER MAYBE? WELL, WE, WE STUDIED THE HUB DURING THE, DURING THE MASTER PLANNING, SO WE TALKED, OH, BUT I MEAN, WE WERE BROUGHT IN AND YOU ANNOUNCED IT'S GONNA BE THERE.
WHAT WAS THAT TO THE GROUP IN NOVEMBER? NOVEMBER? SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARTICULAR SLIDE, IT'S MY SLIDE 11, SLIDE 25 TO THE WHOLE PRESENTATION.
SO THIS CONCEPT CAME TO US AS WE'RE LISTENING TO THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE SEAMLESS CONNECTIONS.
SO AS YOU PULL UP THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, UM, THERE, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO IMPORTANT CONCEPTS.
UM, ONE IS THE HYATT REGENCY IS TO YOUR LEFT.
AND IT IS DIFFICULT A CONNECTION TO GO FROM THE HYATT REGENCY TO UNION STATION NOW.
SO WE'RE FLOATING THIS IDEA BECAUSE OF THE HISTORIC NOTION OF THE EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON UNION STATION THAT YOU WOULD BUILD POTENTIALLY AN A AN AUXILIARY ANNEX BUILDING.
AND YOU WOULD CONNECT HYATT REGENCY PEOPLE DIRECTLY INTO UNION STATION IN THIS, UH, WALKWAY.
YOU WOULD INTERSECT SEAMLESSLY WITH THIS WALKWAY SLASH PEOPLE MOVER SLASH SIDEWALK.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ALL THOSE CONCEPTS IN THERE UNDERNEATH THE RAILROAD TRACK, THE HIGH SPEED RAILROAD TRACK THAT'S ON ITS WAY TO, UH, FORT WORTH.
SO REMEMBER AT LEAST AT THE DALLAS HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION, THAT'S SEVEN STORIES OFF THE GROUND.
THE LOBBY IS FIVE STORIES OFF THE GROUND.
SO IF YOU JUST SIMPLY EXTEND THE LOBBY OVER INTERSTATE 30, LET IT HANG ON THE STRUCTURE THAT'S SUPPORTING THE HIGH SPEED RAILTRACK, AND YOU PUT ALL THESE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION IN THERE, YOU CAN DECIDE WHICH ONES YOU WANT.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT? DO YOU WANT A LINEAR SIDEWALK LIKE YOU'D SEE IN A MODERN AIRPORT? DO YOU, DO YOU WANT A, A SMALL PEOPLE MOVER THAT YOU WOULD GET IN AND IT WOULD TAKE YOU THERE? RIGHT NOW, THE CONCEPT IS TO GO FROM THE DALLAS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION SEAMLESSLY TO THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, AND NOTICE YOU WOULD JUST GO DIRECTLY INTO UNION STATION, GO FIVE STORIES DOWN INTO UNION STATION.
I THINK THAT AIR CONDITIONED MANEUVER BETWEEN UNION STATION TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION IS A VERY CONVENIENT OPTION THAT I'M NOT SURE ANYONE HAS.
WE SHOWED YOU THE DUBAI, UH, EXAMPLE, UH, THAT I DIDN'T, I'VE NEVER BEEN TO DUBAI, I DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED, AND I SAID, SOMEONE TOLD ME, HEY, MICHAEL, WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING ACTUALLY EXISTS IN, IN DUBAI.
UH, CHICAGO IS NOW DOING A SIMILAR THING WITH REGARD TO ITS, UH, TWO DOWNTOWN STATIONS AS PART OF THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS.
NOTICE THE ELEVATORS DOWN TO SIDEWALK LEVEL.
WE'RE NOT MAKING THE CHOICE FOR, FOR PEOPLE, PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE IF THEY WISH TO GO, WHATEVER, WHATEVER WAY THEY WISH TO GO.
AND THEN THE CONCEPT CAME TO US LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS, IS A SLIGHTLY ISSUE TO DEVELOPERS, WOULD YOU PUT A PEDESTRIAN CAP ON TOP OF THIS AND HAVE A DESTINATION THAT CAME TO US LOOKING AT THE SAN FRANCISCO HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION, UH, WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE A CONTROLLED PARK, UH, AT THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.
AND THEN YESTERDAY, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, IT CAME TO ME, UH, WHY WOULD YOU HAVE TO STOP THIS HERE? YOU COULD EXTEND THIS TO TRINITY GROVES.
AND IN THE CONVENTION CENTER PRESENTATION, I HEARD THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL AND EXTENDING THE REACH OF THE CONVENTION CENTER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY YOU COULDN'T EXTEND THIS ON THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON PORTION FOR SOME DISTANCE.
YOU'D HAVE TO CHECK THE ELEVATION, UH, TO MAKE YOU, AND WHERE, WHERE DO YOU WISH TO GO? SO IT'S UNFAIR TO YOU 'CAUSE IT'S A RELATIVELY NEW CONCEPT, BUT I BELIEVE THE ECONOMIC ECONOMIES OF SCALE BENEFITS, YOU GET MULTIPLIERS ON THE CONVENTION CENTER, YOU GET MULTIPLIERS ON UNION STATION, AND YOU GET MULTIPLIERS WITH REGARD TO THE HIGH-SPEED REAL ESTATE.
AND, UM, THAT WAS WHERE I WAS GONNA GO NEXT WAS, WAS THE POTENTIAL BE, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO WORK A DEAL WITH THE AMTRAK PORTION, UM, TO EXTEND THIS PEOPLE MOVER OVER TO WHEREVER, UM, THE, THE LINES GO.
UM, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE WE, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE GET, UM, YOU KNOW, SOUTH OF 30 CONNECTED TO THE REST OF, UM, THE CITY OF DALLAS, WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY HARD ON.
AND, UM, WINNING LOTS OF GRANTS BECAUSE OF THAT WORK THAT WE ARE WORKING ON WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, ROSA, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTANCE AWAY, BUT WITH THE PEOPLE MOVER, UM, HOW DOES THAT WORK, OR HOW DO YOU ALL SEE THAT IMPACTING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE CONVENTION
[04:00:01]
CENTER IS A SUCCESS? BECAUSE WE ARE, UM, HAVING A MAJOR INVESTMENT NOT USING ANY OF OUR CITY MONEY AS FAR AS, UM, THE, THE COFFERS GO.BUT WHAT DOES THAT BENEFIT AND IMPACT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER? SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE LOOKED AT WHEN WE LOOKED AT, UM, MOBILITY AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AROUND AND TO THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS EASE OF ACCESS FOR OUR CONVENTION GOER FOR THEIR GUESTS.
UM, A LOT OF OUR CONVENTIONS ARE SPORT RELATED.
SO YOU HAVE PARENTS AND CHILDREN, AND THEN FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY HERE.
AND SO I THINK PLAN THE RIGHT WAY.
THESE THINGS ANSWER SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, UM, RELATIVE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER CONVENTION CENTER.
NOW, UM, IN THE, IN THE PLANNING DOCUMENTS, IF YOU GO BACK, WE, WE MENTIONED SOME THINGS, IF WE USE THE UNION STATION AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN WE MET WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE BUILDING AND MET WITH COG AND OUR INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS, TRADITIONALLY THERE WAS A CONNECTION ALREADY OVER THE RAILWAYS.
UH, IF YOU HAVE GONE INTO UNION STATION, THERE'S A BAR NOW WHERE THERE USED TO BE A WALKWAY CONNECTION THAT WALKED YOU FROM ONE SIDE OF THE TRACKS ONTO THE, ONTO THE STATION.
AND SO AS WE EVOLVE THAT, THIS IS REALLY JUST A TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT TO THAT TRADITIONAL HISTORIC CONNECTION, RIGHT? SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE LOOKED AT AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PLAN, BUT ALL OF IT TO BE HELPFUL IN A WAY THAT SOLVES THOSE WALKABILITY AND DISTANCE ISSUES.
EVERYBODY WHO COMES TO DALLAS IS NOT A, A WALKER, RIGHT? THEY MAY WANT TO WALK A BLOCK VERSUS A MILE.
AND SO HOW DO WE SOLVE FOR THOSE THINGS AND STILL BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT WALKABILITY IN A WAY THAT FEEDS THE RETAIL AND THE RESTAURANTS AND THE, THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT WE'LL HAVE ALONG THE WAY.
AND, UM, IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER, UM, A FEW TIMES ABOUT THE HAROLD SIMMONS PARK.
UM, LUCKILY I'M VERY INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL, UM, BECAUSE IT IS IN DISTRICT SIX AND, UM, THE ALIGNMENT, UM, FOR COLLEAGUES THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE PARK IS IT WOULD GO OVER THEIR PARKING LOT.
AND SO NOT AFFECTING THE PARK IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, AND ALSO HAVE THOSE ELEVATORS FOR PEOPLE TO GET FROM DOWNTOWN, REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU GOT THERE ACROSS THE RIVER, NOT HAVING TO WALK ACROSS A BRIDGE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THERE, BUT IN AN AIR CONDITIONED PEOPLE MOVER, UM, I THINK THAT'D BE KIND OF A REALLY COOL RIDE FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AS WELL AS BIG KIDS LIKE ME.
SO, MR. MAYOR, I, I STILL MORE, BUT I THINK I CAN FINISH HERE AND JUST SAY, COLLEAGUES, PLEASE CONTINUE TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS AND LET'S BE COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER AND GET THIS DONE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, YOU STILL HAVE A ONE MINUTE ROUND.
SO CHAIRWOMAN MENDELSON, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY YOU BROUGHT UP THE LONE STAR HIGH SPEED RAIL, WHICH NEVER HAPPENED, AND THE TEXAS CENTRAL RAIL, WHICH NEVER HAPPENED, AND AMTRAK, WHILE I WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS, YOU KNOW, YOUR SLIDE PAGE 12 SAYS THERE'S GROWING POLITICAL SUPPORT, WHICH I WOULD A LITTLE BIT QUESTION BECAUSE OUR STATE LEADERSHIP HAS, UM, OPPOSED THIS RAIL, UM, ON THE RECORD.
AND THEN YOU GO ON TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE NOT ACQUIRED THE RIGHT OF WAY, NOR HAVE YOU ACQUIRED THE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT.
WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND IN MY PRESENTATION, I DID SAY IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL YET BECAUSE IT ISN'T.
I MEAN, WHERE AMTRAK BECAME INVOLVED, WE BE, WE WERE DOING A DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW, WE WERE INVITED IN BY TEXAS CENTRAL TO SEE DOES, IS THE PROJECT STILL VIABLE? UH, SO THAT'S WHY WE DID THE, THE, UH, FURTHER MARKET RESEARCH, WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS.
BUT HAVING A VIABLE PROJECT AND HAVING THE FUNDING AND THEN THE POLITICAL, UM, ASCENT TO PROCEED WITH THAT PROJECT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO I DELIBERATELY SAID THAT WE ARE NOT ACROSS THE LINE YET.
SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT IT'S VIABLE.
UM, I'M WONDERING IF YOU MEAN IT'S VIABLE OPERATIONALLY, MEANING IN THE, IN THIS REPORT, WHICH I'VE ONLY RECENTLY RECEIVED, I WILL SHARE IT WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO READ THIS.
IT WAS PREPARED FOR THE FEDERAL, UH, RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION.
THEY ACTUALLY SAY IT'S NOT VIABLE FINANCIALLY AND THAT NO PRIVATE COMPANIES HAVE EXPRESSED ANY REAL INTEREST IN OPERATING IT BECAUSE IT WILL OPERATE AT A DEFICIT.
HOW WOULD THAT BE FUNDED? UM, WELL, OBVIOUSLY I DON'T HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF KNOWING EXACTLY WHICH DOCUMENT YOU ARE LOOKING AT.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE DATE OF THAT, PLEASE? THIS IS THE JUNE, 2017 DALLAS-FORT WORTH CORE EXPRESS SERVICE ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS FINAL REPORT.
THEY JUST CALL IT THE FINAL REPORT USUALLY.
SO, SO THE, THE, UM, THE OUTLINE BUSINESS CASE THAT WE
[04:05:01]
HAVE REVIEWED, UH, IS INFORMED BY THE MARKET, UM, RESEARCH, UH, AND THE COSTING ANALYSIS THAT WE'VE DONE.AND THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE BUSINESS CASE IS VERY NET POSITIVE.
IN OTHER WORDS, THAT THE REVENUES, UM, AND THE, THE RIDERSHIP WOULD FAR OUTWEIGH THE COST OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS AND, UM, I JUST WANNA OBJECT A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
TOKYO HAS 6,158 PEOPLE PER KILOMETER.
LONDON 5,640 PER KILOMETER, DALLAS, 1,300 PER KILOMETER.
TOKYO HAS 0.32 CARS PER HOUSEHOLD.
LONDON 0.76 CARS PER HOUSEHOLD, DALLAS, TWO CARS PER HOUSEHOLD.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE, UM, VERY MUCH IN LOVE WITH THE TEXAS SPIRIT, WHICH REALLY SAYS I'M GONNA GET IN MY CAR AND DRIVE TO HOUSTON.
UM, THE NEXT THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT I HAVE SAID THIS AT RTCI OBJECT THAT FORT WORTH WOULD GET A BELOW GRADE STATION THAT ARLINGTON, WHO'S NOT EVEN A MEMBER OF A TRANSIT AGENCY, WOULD GET A BELOW GRADE STATION.
AND THERE'S EVEN THE SUPPOSITION THAT DALLAS WOULD GET SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
DALLAS NEEDS A BELOW GRADE STATION, AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING LESS THAN OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD PROJECT FOR DALLAS AS PROPOSED.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY TO YOU, WE NEED A NEW PLAN, WHETHER THAT'S TAKE DOWN THIS SEVEN STORY ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEARED STATION, WHETHER THAT'S RECONSIDER EVEN GOING TO UNION STATION, YOU PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE, BUT THIS IS NOT A GOOD DEAL FOR DALLAS.
SO THE NEXT THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, I THINK SHOULD BE TIED TO YOUR SUCCESS IN DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
YOU YOURSELF SAID MICHAEL MORRIS, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON, AND I HAVE YOUR QUOTE, I DON'T THINK YOU'D EVER ADVANCE HIGH SPEED RAIL FROM DALLAS TO FORT WORTH IF IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO HOUSTON, IT MAKES NO SENSE.
THAT WAS YOUR QUOTE AT THE COG MEETING.
AND SO THERE'S NO POINT OF US EVEN GOING ONE STEP FURTHER UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER.
AND LET'S SEE, MY NEXT ITEM IS YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORE TIME FOR THIS ROUND.
CAN I ANSWER THAT, MAYOR? CAN I ANSWER THAT? YOU CAN, BUT THEN, UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON AFTER THAT.
UM, IF WE CAN ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEAR BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, UH, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO START CONSTRUCTION THE NEXT DAY.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SUCCESS OF THE STEPS THAT MY AMTRAK COLLEAGUE WILL HAVE.
UH, THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF PAPER I'LL EVER HAVE IN MY CAREER IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, APPROVAL OF HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS WITH A COTTON BELT.
ONCE YOU HAVE IT IN FEIS, THERE IS NO GOING BACK AND THERE'S NO CHANGES.
BUT YOU, YOU GUYS ALL STILL HAVE ANOTHER ONE? OKAY, MS. WILLIS, THREE MINUTES.
SO GOING BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL, OR I'M SORRY, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND MAYBE THIS IS REALLY FOR, UM, MR. FRI, IT'S JUST A NOTE THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT THIS ECONOMIC STUDY BEING TIED TO THE STATION AND THE AREA IMMEDIATELY AROUND THE STATION.
BUT I'D REALLY WANNA UNDERSTAND THE RIPPLE.
AND SO WHAT'S THAT IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN, ON UPTOWN ON, UH, PRESTON CENTER,
AND I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU WOULD DESIGN IT, I'M JUST SHARING WITH YOU THAT THAT IS SOMETHING I'D WANT TO SEE US LOOK AT IS A LITTLE MORE BROAD.
BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS MAKING THAT TRIP AND COMING FROM HOUSTON, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE JUST GONNA STOP AT THAT STATION IN THE AREA RIGHT AROUND IT.
I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, UH, THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF WHAT THAT VISIT MIGHT MEAN.
AND I KNOW ROSA IS REALLY ANXIOUS TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO WE ARE DOING THE RIPPLE EFFECT.
WE'RE GOING A MILE OUT, THREE MILES OUT, FIVE MILES OUT, 10 MILES OUT SO THAT IT CAN START TO SHOW WHAT THE IMPACT IS.
THERE'S SOME, UM, STUDY FACTORS THAT WE'LL LOOK AT, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEETING WITH WSP NEXT WEEK TO LOOK AT SOME PRELIMINARY DATA THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE AND PULLED TOGETHER OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.
AND WE'LL LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT OTHER STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE BEFORE WE BRING IT BACK.
WE WANNA BRING YOU A STUDY THAT'S ACTUALLY WORTH SALT.
NOT, AND DOESN'T, OF COURSE, WE DON'T MIND ENGENDERING ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, BUT WE DON'T WANNA NOT ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT IN TOTALITY, UM, WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE.
AND THEN THIS COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I JUST ADD QUICKLY MM-HMM,
IT IT COULD BE BENEFITS UP TO 18 MILES AWAY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, A REGIONAL RAIL SYSTEM, A CONNECTED BIKE PEDESTRIAN SYSTEM.
SO IT'S CRITICAL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION.
BUT TO YOUR POINT, IT'S ALSO CRITICAL TO
[04:10:01]
UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AS DEFINED BY OTHER COMMUNITIES ON THE PLANET EARTH THAT HAVE HIGH-SPEED RAIL.AND THE EXAMPLE THAT WAS GIVEN PREVIOUSLY IN LONDON, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS, CAN BE CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE IF THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS ALREADY INVESTED IN A REGIONAL RAIL SYSTEM OR A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM SUPPORTING YOUR POINT.
SO THAT'S SECONDARY INFORMATION ON THE PLANET EARTH.
AND I WOULD LIKE PRIMARY INFORMATION IN DALLAS, TEXAS.
UM, SO I DID BRING UP DALLAS BEING PENALIZED FOR A LACK OF VISION, EXERCISED OR NOT EXERCISED 40 YEARS AGO.
AND SO I, I HEAR WHEN WE ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY, IT'S ALL ABOUT THIS TRIANGLE AND ABOUT CONNECTIVITY, BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE DALLAS IS BEING ASKED TO OVER-INDEX AND BENEVOLENCE IN OUR ROLE IN THIS.
AND TO THE POINT ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, UNDERGROUND STATIONS IN FORT WORTH AND IN ARLINGTON, I JUST, THE DISRUPTION THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE PRESENTING IS REALLY CONCERNING.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S SO EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN TO EUROPE AND HAS SEEN HOW EASY IT IS AND HOW ADOPTED IT IS, AND IT'S JUST PART OF LIFE.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT HERE IN OUR GREAT BIG STATE.
UM, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN EXAMINED THROUGH EXCLUSIVELY A TRANSPORTATION LENS.
AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT FROM YOUR SEAT.
UH, YOU ALL'S SEATS, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR LANE.
BUT, UM, WE HAVE TO THINK IN A MORE ALL-ENCOMPASSING WAY.
UH, AND I DO APPRECIATE THE SAFETY ASPECT.
I MEAN, THAT WAS SOMETHING NEW THAT I LEARNED TODAY.
I WOULD LOVE TO BRING THAT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY AND TO THIS STATE.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER.
NOT ONLY THE ECONOMIC, UH, BENEFITS THAT IT COULD BRING TO THE CITY, BUT WE'VE HAD A HISTORY OF BIFURCATING NEIGHBORHOODS AND, UH, WE ARE CONSIDERING LATER TODAY LOOKING AT, UM, UNDOING SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE MANY YEARS AGO.
AND THIS JUST FEELS LIKE THE WRONG DIRECTION WITH THAT.
I THINK A NEW PLAN IS IN ORDER, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NOT DRILLING DOWN, UH, WHERE, UM, A LINE MIGHT BE BURIED, UH, IS THERE A LINEAR PARK OPPORTUNITY THERE WHERE YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CONSTRUCTING SOMETHING OVER THIS, BUT IT COULD GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREEN THREAD.
UM, SO I LOVE THE IDEA, BUT I DO THINK A NEW PLAN OR SOME NEW THINKING IS IN ORDER THAT DOES NOT DIVIDE.
WE'RE REVERSING THAT, UH, AND SEE HOW WE CAN BRING SOME NEW THINKING TO THIS.
'CAUSE I THINK WE WANT IT, WE WANNA WORK WITH YOU ON THIS, BUT THERE ARE JUST SOME OBJECTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE OVERCOME.
SORRY, I THOUGHT SOMEBODY WAS BEFORE ME.
UM, I JUST WANNA TOUCH ON SOME OF THE POINTS THAT HAVE COME, UH, BEEN SAID.
ONE IS THE, THE NOTION THAT 17 STORIES, UM, WITH ESCALATORS, ELEVATORS, WHATEVER, UM, IS TAKES 20 MINUTES TO ME IS JUST FEAR MONGERING AND UNREALISTIC.
UM, I LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY AND COMMUTED, UH, TO HOBOKEN, UH, ON A DAILY BASIS FOR WORK, UM, UNDER, UH, THE, THE, UH, HUDSON RIVER.
AND, UM, WAS AS FAR DOWN AS THE PATH TRAIN GOES IN, IN, UH, LOWER MANHATTAN.
UM, I I, I KNOW EVEN IN, IN DC I MEAN THE, AND WE ARE, WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO IT.
THE DEPTH THAT SOME OF THESE TRANSIT IS, UH, TRANSIT ARE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO ALL, ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT I, I GET THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THE US TO HAVE A MORE REALISTIC DIALOGUE THAN WHAT I, I THINK IS AGAIN, MORE SALESMANSHIP.
COUNCILMAN, I TAKE SOME EXCEPTION TO THE TERM SALESMANSHIP AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, BUT WE WILL SEND YOU THE MATH.
WE HAVE 300 PEOPLE GETTING OFF THE TRAIN.
THEY DON'T ALL APPEAR AT THE ELEVATOR AT THE SAME TIME.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I QUESTION ANY TECHNICAL, UH, ABILITY OF, OF YOUR OKAY, YOUR THAT'S FINE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY AND NIGHT.
I, I JUST, I I JUST THINK THAT WHEN, WHEN, WHEN WE'RE THROWING ANECDOTAL, UM, NUMBERS OUT THERE THAT HAS NO BACKING, THAT'S FINE.
WE WILL SEND YOU THE MATH, THE CALCULATIONS OF 300 PEOPLE GETTING THEIR LUGGAGE, GETTING OFF THE TRAIN, WALKING TO THE ELEVATOR, MAKING SURE YOU DON'T GET ON THE SAME ELEVATOR THAT TAKES YOU TO GROUND LEVEL.
HOW MANY ELEVATORS DO YOU BUILD? HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN PUT ON AN ELEVATOR? WE WILL SEND YOU ALL THAT PARTICULAR MATH.
THE TRAIN ISN'T GONNA LEAVE UNTIL THE LAST PERSON COMES FROM 17 STORIES UP.
WE THINK THAT TAKES 20 MINUTES.
AND WE'LL SHOW YOU THE MATH THAT DID THAT, UH, CALCULATION.
IT, IT ISN'T, IT ISN'T SOME SORT OF SPIRITUAL ESTIMATE.
IT WAS, UH, ESTIMATED BY THE ENGINEERS THAT DESIGNED THESE PARTICULAR THINGS.
AND IT'LL TAKE ABOUT 20 MINUTES FOR 300 PEOPLE TO GATHER THEIR THINGS, GET OFF A TRAIN, MOVE, MOVE 17 STORIES, RESEAT THEMSELF, GET ON A TRAIN FOR THAT TRAIN TO LEAVE.
LOOK FORWARD TO THAT INFORMATION.
[04:15:01]
OPTIONS, I ALSO BELIEVE WOULD BE MORE VIABLE.I THINK THAT, UM, IT, IT'S ALSO, UM, SOMEWHAT, UM, DISHEARTENING TO HEAR THAT THERE'S JUST KIND OF A FEAR MONGERING, UH, UH, APPROACH ON WHY WE CAN'T DO IT, BECAUSE OF HOW LOW IT IS, WHAT THE TIME IS GONNA TAKE INSTEAD OF, UH, MORE OF A HOW TO GET IT DONE ATTITUDE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M USED TO HEARING FROM, UH, COG AND, AND THE INNOVATION OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL ARE SPEARHEADING.
AND THAT'S NOT BEEN THE SPIRIT AT ALL, UM, OF THIS DIALOGUE.
UM, SO IF YOU WOULD LOOK OVER THE MATH AND HELP ME ON HOW I CAN ELIMINATE THOSE 20 MINUTES FROM THOSE 300 RIDERS, IF YOU WANT ME TO BUILD MORE ELEVATORS, WELL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT NOW WITH WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.
UH, AND THAT'S ALL AGAIN, BACK, BACK TO MY LAST COMMENTS BASED ON THE ALIGNMENT AND WHAT'S BEEN FEDERALLY APPROVED NOW, INSTEAD OF GETTING BACK TO THAT DRAWING BOARD AND SEEING HOW WE CAN MAKE THE ACCESS NO, I'M HAPPY TO BUILD, I'M HAPPY TO BUILD YOU A SUBWAY STATION.
IF YOU CAN SOMEHOW GET ME FROM 20 MINUTES DOWN TO SOMETHING REASONABLE.
I'LL SEND YOU THE MATH AND YOU, YOU TELL ME, YOU KNOW, THE CAN-DO SPIRIT OF HOW I UNLOAD 300 PEOPLE FROM, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SIR, THE CAN SPIRIT IS EXPECTED FROM YOU, NOT ME.
YOU'RE ASKING OUR APPROVAL IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN HAS NOT BEEN A PART OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AT ALL.
UM, MAY I JUST MAKE A POINT YES, SIR.
IN, IN THE SPIRIT OF HOPING IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
UM, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE HERE, OBVIOUSLY IS WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING BY THE PEOPLE OF DALLAS AND WE WANNA MAKE THIS THING A REAL SUCCESS.
SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE IS THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL TIME OF THE INTERCHANGE.
UM, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ALL THE MATH, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I'VE, I'VE ACCEPT WHAT IT AT PHASE VALUE FOR TODAY.
UM, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE CONCEPT OF THE VALUE OF TIME.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CERTAINLY IN, UM, VARIOUS WORLD AUTHORITIES THAT I'VE WORKED AT TRANSPORT FOR LONDON BEING ONE IN PARTICULAR, THE VALUE OF TIME, IT SOUNDS VERY SUBJECTIVE AND FUZZY, BUT, BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY, UM, A, A DEMONSTRABLE LINK BETWEEN ACTUAL TIME AND PEOPLE'S VALUE OF TIME.
AND EVEN IF THE ACTUAL ELAPSED TIME ISN'T THAT GREAT, IF IT'S JUST TOO MUCH OF A PAIN TO CHANGE TRAINS, PEOPLE WILL NOT DO IT.
THEY MIGHT DO IT THE FIRST TIME, BUT IF IT WAS SUCH A LOAD OF HASSLE AND THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE ELEVATOR AND THEY HAD TO TAKE THE ELEVATOR AND MAYBE THEY MISSED THE TRAIN, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN TIME YOUR CONNECTIONS, BUT YOU CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT ONE TRAIN TO BE HELD UP, UM, WAITING FOR THE OTHER ONE.
WHAT YOU RISK IS UNDERMINING YOUR OWN PRODUCT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL, THE, THE RIDERSHIP THAT YOU ARE PREDICTING BECAUSE OF A SEAMLESS INTERCHANGE WON'T ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
SO I JUST OFFER THAT BY WAY OF, UM, SOME CLARIFICATION.
IT'S NOT JUST THE ACTUAL TIME, IT'S ALSO PEOPLE'S VALUE OF TIME.
AND, AND I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO BE REALLY CLEAR THAT IF WE, UH, I GET THAT, THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, MAYBE QUESTIONING THE ONE SEAT RIDE BY HAVING A SUBTERRANEAN STATION.
UM, IT WAS REALLY MEMBER DONALD WILLIS MENTIONED, I THINK REVISIT THE CONCEPT OF THE ELEVATED STATION.
JUST AGAIN, COUNCIL, IF WE DO THAT, THAT ALMOST CERTAINLY, UM, BECAUSE IT UNDERMINES THE, ALL THE BASIS UPON WHICH THE EIS IS BASED AND THE, AND THE, UM, THE, UH, AUTHORITIES WE'VE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN, THE APPROVALS WE'VE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN.
UH, I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO, UM, EXTREMIST STATEMENT TO SAY YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY END UP KILLING THE PROJECT IF YOU HAD TO START AGAIN WITH THAT FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN ISSUE FROM SCRATCH, DALLAS AND HOUSTON IS WHAT I MEAN.
UM, I I MEAN, I, IF, IF, IF YOU WANTED ME TO LOOK AT THAT, I COULD, BUT I, I COUNSEL THAT I THINK YOU WOULD KILL THE DALLAS HOUSTON PROJECT, UH, BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN WITH A COMPLETE, A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TERMINUS AT DALLAS.
UM, AND, AND AGAIN, THAT'S THE PART OF THE ALIGNMENT THAT I, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF.
UH, AND I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE THAT, UM, ESPECIALLY AT THE EXPENSE OF ONE.
THAT TO ME DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE AND IT HASN'T BEEN ARTICULATED WHY IT DOES.
UM, I THINK, UM, AGAIN, PLANNING AN URBAN DESIGN, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEM WEIGH IN.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME RIGHT NOW, SO HOPEFULLY IN MY LAST, UH, MINUTE I'LL BRING THEM OUT.
SO IF THEY COULD BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
BUT I, I JUST THINK THAT I, UM, BUT I, I, I, I ALSO JUST WANNA SAY THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HARP IN ON WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS TO OUR CITY AND WITH A LENS OF JUST WHAT IT IS ACTUALLY FOR OUR CITY, I THINK THAT IT'S ALSO COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR US TO NOT, UM, CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, THE PROTECTION OF OUR ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ASSETS THAT ALREADY EXIST.
WE'VE, WE HAVE STAKEHOLDERS AND WE HAVE ASSETS THAT ALREADY EXIST THAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING THE IMPACT THAT THIS GOES.
AND IT SHOULD NOT BE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.
IT SHOULD BE WORKING IN TANDEM.
AND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ESSENTIALLY IN, IN NOT FORGETTING ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THIS WOULD BRING YET, SEEING WHAT THIS COULD DO WITH WHAT YOU'RE
[04:20:01]
PROPOSING TO ME IS MAKING US PICK CHOICES ON THE ASSETS THAT WE SHOULD BE PROTECTING AT ALL COSTS.THAT'S YOUR TIME FOR THIS ROUND, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND MR. MORRIS, I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING AT WARP SPEED FOR DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
SO, UM, CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.
I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR, UM, ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND, AND DOING THEIR JOB AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE, UH, ROSA, THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, UH, ALIGNMENT, UH, OR EVEN CONCEPTUAL IDEA WAS STUDIED PRIOR TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, MASTER PLAN AND THE TRINITY PARK.
IS THAT CORRECT? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
CAN YOU, UH, HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROPOSED ROUTE AT AN ELEVATION WILL BENEFIT OR COMPLIMENT THE CONVENTION CENTER? SO AS WE'VE, SO I WANNA GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT TO THAT.
SO AS WE WORK THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN, WE ENGAGE WITH, WITH COG, WE ENGAGED WITH OUR NEIGHBORING, UM, LANDOWNERS TO KIND OF LOOK AT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT, UH, TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT WERE COMING AROUND.
OUR DISCUSSION RELATIVE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER WAS ALWAYS ABOUT CONNECTIVITY, EASE OF ACCESS, WALKABILITY, UH, RELATED TO HOW CONVENTION GOERS, AND THEN PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN DOWNTOWN OR VISIT DOWNTOWN, EVEN IF THEY LIVE IN OTHER, UH, DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY, UM, INTERACT WITH, WITH, WITH THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO OUR GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BE A BETTER NEIGHBOR, RIGHT? AND A BETTER PARTICIPANT IN, IN DOWNTOWN IN TERMS OF CONNECTIVITY, UH, TO DIFFERENT COMPONENTS IN THE CITY.
SO SOME OF THE PLACEMAKING THAT, UM, I DON'T THINK YOU MENTIONED RIGHT NOW WAS HOTELS.
APARTMENTS, THE HOUSING COMPONENT.
AND SO THE ECONOMIC STUDY, UM, CAN, DO, WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT LIMITATIONS WOULD BE, UM, WOULD OCCUR IF, IF WE WENT AT AN ELEVATED.
UM, SO THAT'S PART OF THE, THE STUDY THAT WE'VE ASKED WSP TO, TO LOOK AT IS, UM, HISTORICALLY AND AROUND THE WORLD, AND THEN CONCEPTUALLY, UM, AND FORECASTING A LITTLE BIT LIKE WHAT KIND OF DENSITY, WHAT KIND OF, OF, UH, DEVELOPMENT, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT COULD OCCUR.
WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE LAND VALUE? UM, DOES IT PRECLUDE ANYTHING FROM DEVELOPING AROUND OR DOES IT ENCOURAGE, RIGHT? SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO, TO EXPLORE.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE BRING IN NOT JUST WSP, BUT WE BRING IN OUR INTERNAL WORKING GROUP.
SO THAT'S 14 CITY DEPARTMENTS, WHICH DOES INCLUDE PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN, WHO'VE BEEN WORKING WITH US ON THE CONVENTION CENTER SIDE.
SO WE'LL BRING 'EM INTO THE FOLD IN THIS COMPONENT AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE STUDY, MAKE SURE WE'RE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, RIGHT? AND SO WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDY IS INFORMED ENOUGH TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AGAIN THAT YOU'VE ASKED THUS FAR, SOME THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE ASKED, BUT THEN OBVIOUSLY WE'RE PREPARED IF IT ENGENDERS MORE QUESTIONS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, CONNECTIVITY IS, IS A BIG CONCERN OF MINE, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CONNECTING ALL PARTS OF DALLAS TO ONE ANOTHER, NOT ONLY THROUGH TRANSPORTATION, BUT THAT WALKABILITY COMPONENT.
AND, AND COUNCILWOMAN WILLIS, YOU KNOW, MENTIONED A GREAT, UH, CONCEPTUAL OF, UH, PUTTING A PARK OVER A POSSIBLE, UM, DECOMPRESS, UH, PLATFORM.
UM, HOW MANY HOTELS AND ARE WE, ARE YOU SEEKING FOR, FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER? AND AGAIN, JUST TYING BACK TO THAT ECONOMIC PLAN.
SO FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER PLAN TO WORK, WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL 4,500 ROOMS. THAT'S BASED ON, UM, TWO STUDIES.
THE FIRST WAS DONE IN 2015, WHICH WAS KIND OF FED THE INITIAL STUDY.
AND THEN WE HAD THAT STUDY UPDATED IN, UM, 2021, AND WE'RE UPDATING IT AGAIN.
BUT 4,500 IS KIND OF THE BASELINE OF THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL HOTELS, HOTEL ROOMS. SORRY.
UM, AS FAR AS THE CURRENT, UH, ALIGNMENT, ARLINGTON AND FORT WORTH ARE BEING PROPOSED TO HAVE, UM, A DIFFERENT CONCEPT THAN WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN DALLAS.
IF WE WERE TO REVERSE THAT AND HAVE DALLAS WITH A UNDERGROUND DECOMPRESS PLATFORM STATION AND FORT WORTH, HAVE A PLATFORM, UM, 70 FEET ABOVE GRADE, IF WE JUST REVERSED IT, HOW DOES THAT TECHNICALLY, UM, WORK? I MEAN, ARE WE ABLE, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO, UM, UH, I'M MORE HA IF YOU'RE ASKING ME CAN I WORK OUT A ELEVATED PLATFORM IN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH, I'M, I'M ENTERING AN ENVIRONMENTAL PHASE.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO, UH, WORK ON THAT PARTICULAR CONCEPT.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME, I'M, I'M MORE THAN
[04:25:01]
HAPPY TO DO THAT.ON THIS CURRENT PROPOSAL BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, IS IT CORRECT THAT YOU STILL HAVE TO TRANSFER TO GO TO THE DFW AIRPORT? YOU STILL HAVE TO GET ON ANOTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION? YEAH.
AND WHAT'S THE DISTANCE? THE FOURTH? OUR FOURTH, OUR FOURTH RAIL LINE TO DFW AIRPORT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PLANNED TO THE SOUTH.
SO WE WOULD, UH, MAKE IT, UH, CO-TERMINUS WITH THE HIGH, IF THERE'S A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION THERE, UH, WE WOULD MAKE IT CO-TERMINUS WITH THE HIGH SPEEDED REST STATION.
I, I, I THINK WHAT WE'RE HEARING AROUND THIS HORSESHOE IS THAT THERE IS WILLINGNESS TO, TO WORK THROUGH THIS, UM, BUT IT HAS TO BE WHAT'S RIGHT FOR DALLAS.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS AND WHAT, WHAT'S REQUIRED FROM DALLAS.
IS THERE A RESOLUTION? IS THERE A VOTE? WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD? IS THAT QUESTION FOR ME, PLEASE? UH, I WOULD LOVE TO, UH, GET THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, UH, TO, UH, UH, ENTERTAIN A MEETING WITH US TO EXPLORE WITH WHOEVER WISHES TO BE IN THAT MEETING, SOME OF THE CONCEPTS THAT WE'VE, UH, DESCRIBED, UH, HERE AND SEE IF THERE'S CONSENSUS THAT CAN BE REACHED TO MAKE THIS LESS ONEROUS ON YOU AS ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UH, WE WILL REPORT TO THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL, THE LONG AWAITED LETTER FROM THE FEDERAL TRANS ADMINISTRATION ENTERING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PHASE.
UM, WE WILL COME BEFORE YOU AT ANY TIME.
WE WILL RESPOND TO ANY QUESTION AT ANY TIME AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND MY HOPE OVER THE NEXT YEAR, UH, IS TO BRING CONSENSUS ON, UH, HOW I CAN DEVELOP A WIN-WIN ITEM BETWEEN HIGHSPEED RAIL, THE CONVENTION CENTER, UNION STATION, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, UH, WITHOUT HURTING AT ALL, OR MAKING GO BACKWARDS DALLAS TO HOUSTON HIGH SPEED RAIL.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO PROCEED.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE HARDER FOR ME 'CAUSE IT MEANS I'M DEALING WITH A STATION THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO ME.
IT'S NOT MY STATION, IT WAS ASSIGNED TO ME.
I'LL TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND TRY TO DEVELOP A WIN-WIN STRATEGY, UH, UM, MOVING FORWARD.
SO I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD KEEP ASKING HARD QUESTIONS.
I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD GET THE DIRECTION OF THE IMPACTS, UH, YOU'VE REQUESTED, UH, FROM YOUR PARTICULAR CITY STAFF.
SO IT IS NOT BEING ASSOCIATED WITH ME OF BEING BIASED.
UM, WE'LL ANSWER EVERY PARTICULAR QUESTION AND I WOULD STAY, I WOULD REQUEST WE STAY IN TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION TO MOVE FORWARD TO, TO, I BELIEVE, UH, THIS IS OUR, THIS IS OUR GENERATION'S DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
AND JUST KEEP AN OPEN MIND AS YOU SEE HOW ALL THESE PIECES FIT TOGETHER.
AND, UH, YOU MAY BE MAKING, YOU MAY BE BUILDING A CONVENTION CENTER THAT'S NEVER BEEN THIS GREAT.
YOU MAY BE REDOING A UNION STATION THAT'S NEVER BEEN THIS GREAT.
YOU MAY BE BUILDING A HIGH SPEED REAL STATION THAT'S NEVER BEEN THIS GREAT, AND YOU MAY BE DOING IN A CITY THAT'S NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND IS REALLY GREAT.
SO, UH, LOTS OF NEW INFORMATION, UH, BE PATIENT AS WE EXPLORE ALL OF YOUR PARTICULAR QUESTIONS.
AND, UM, I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT SOMETHING CAN BE WORKED OUT, BUT WE'RE GONNA START WITH HOPEFULLY A DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THAT IS WILLING TO MEET WITH US.
WE'VE MET WITH THEM SIX, SEVEN TIMES.
I TOLD THEM THERE WERE NO BAD QUESTIONS OR BAD OPTIONS, GIVE US EVERYTHING THEY HAD.
THAT WORK HAS JUST RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED.
SO WE WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM TO SEE IF SOME WIN-WIN PROPOSITION CAN BE MADE.
AND IS THAT CONSENSUS THAT YOU SPEAK OF THROUGH A RESOLUTION OR LOOKING FOR, I'M NOT SEEKING, UH, ANY ACTION OF THE PARTICULAR COUNCIL AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD? I'M NOT, I DON'T NEED ANYTHING FOR THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
I'M SIMPLY TRYING TO DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY AND FIND OUT WHAT ALL THE CONSEQUENCES ARE TO ANSWER THE PARK, ACCESS TO THE PARK QUESTION THE QUESTIONS YOU'VE ANSWERED.
WHAT DOES IT COST? WHAT IS THE RIDERSHIP? UH, WHAT IS THE RIDERSHIP IMPLICATIONS AS A STANDALONE PROJECT? WHAT'S THE RIDERSHIP IMPLICATIONS? UH, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THE MAYOR HAS ASKED ME, WHAT ARE THE LOST OPPORTUNITY COSTS WITH AND WITHOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL? AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT DALLAS? I WISH TO JUST BE ABLE TO, UH, GET THOSE PARTICULAR ANSWERS AND, AND MOVE FORWARD AND DO THAT IN, UM, FOUR, FOUR DECADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE WORKING IN THIS CITY.
CONTINUE TO DO THAT, LIKE WE DID IT FOR EVERY OTHER PROJECT WE'VE EVER WORKED ON.
THANK YOU, UH, ROSA, UM, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER TO HAPPEN AND OPEN UP DURING, AROUND THE SAME TIME? AND SO WITH THAT, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS, UH, BUT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT STALLING AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING, UH,
[04:30:01]
CONTINUOUSLY AT THE SAME, AND THAT'LL HAVE TO BE YOUR LAST SURE.SO, AT LEAST SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT, AT LEAST SOME OF THE RESTAURANT, RETAIL HOTEL, UH, PACKAGES NEED TO BE COMPLETED AS WE COMPLETE THE HOTEL.
AND I THINK WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS OF THAT NATURE WITH OUR, WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, AND I THINK SOME OF THEM HAVE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY GOTTEN ON BOARD AND STARTED DEVELOPING THEIR PLANS TO, TO MATCH THAT TIMELINE.
AND SO I THINK US COMPLETING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY TO HELP MOVE THIS FORWARD AND KIND OF INFORM SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS IS, IS IMPORTANT SO THAT WE CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY BE, UM, IMPASSE TO SOME OF THAT DEVELOPMENT AT THIS POINT.
CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
WHAT, UM, MR. MORENO SAID, UM, WHAT I, AND I APPRECIATE YOU KIND OF SUMMARIZING WHAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY.
WHAT I FEEL LIKE I'VE HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IS WE HAVE REALLY STRONG SUPPORT FOR DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
UM, A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, BUT SOME SUPPORT FOR THAT.
UM, AND THEN A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH THE STATION CONNECTION AT EBJ.
I WANTED TO ASK, UH, FIRST OF ALL, MR. BIER, I WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
AND I REALIZED ABOUT AN HOUR AGO FROM STAFF THAT YOU ARE LITERALLY WORLD FAMOUS FOR BEING A TRAIN EXPERT.
AND SO WE'RE VERY BLESSED AND HONORED TO HAVE YOU TODAY.
UM, WHEN, AND I WANTED TO ASK, BASED ON YOUR EXPERTISE WORLDWIDE, IF YOU'RE GOING INTO A CITY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ASKED TO ANALYZE A WHOLE SITUATION FOR TRANSIT, HOW DO YOU, HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND US AS A COUNCIL WALK INTO THIS SITU SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE SO MANY COMPETING PRIORITIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PEDESTRIANS, CARS, UH, TRAINS, HOW, HOW SHOULD WE LOOK AT THIS? SURE.
WELL, THANK YOU, UH, CHAIRMAN.
MY LAST JOB WAS COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT FOR LONDON.
THE ONLY REASON I MENTIONED THAT WAS BECAUSE, UH, TRANSPORT FOR LONDON IS AN INTEGRATED TRANSPORT AUTHORITY THAT OVERSEES EVERYTHING WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS AT NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT, YOU HAD SUBWAYS, BUSES AND PARA TRANS.
UM, YOU HAD TO LIAISE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER ASPECTS.
BUT THE, THE, THE JOY OF TFL WAS, IT OVERSAW EVERYTHING.
SO FOR YOU AS CITY COUNCILORS, YOU HAD THE BENEFIT HAD YOU BEEN IN LONDON OF HAVING ONE PERSON ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WHOLE LOT, WHICH WAS ME AS THE COMMISSIONER.
AND, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS, UM, THE REASON I CAN MAKE THAT POINT IS BECAUSE IT ENABLES YOU TO LOOK HOLISTICALLY AT ALL OF THE, UM, CHOICES THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO SO CONSISTENT WITH SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED I A SECOND PLATFORM, WE'VE GOT A TECHNICAL ISSUE THAT YOU DO SO CONSIST, UH, THAT YOU DO.
SO, UM, MAKING SURE THERE AREN'T ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE LOOK LIKE, A POSITIVE, UM, DECISION.
SO I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE MEMBERS OVER HERE MADE THE, MADE THE POINT, I THINK IT WAS YOU SIR, WHO MADE THE POINT THAT IN, IN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT NEW, UM, INDUSTRIES OR NEW, UH, UM, TENANTS OR, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS OWNERS, YOU DON'T INADVERTENTLY CREATE A DISCONNECT OR A DISADVANTAGE FOR EXISTING ONES.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY ADVICE TO YOU, THAT IN ANY, IN ANY PROJECT THAT YOU LOOK AT, UM, NOT JUST THE TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE IN ISOLATION, BUT WHAT ARE THE, THE BENEFITS AND DISBENEFITS THAT, UM, CAN ACCRUE TO, UM, TO NOT THINKING THAT THROUGH PROPERLY.
SO WHAT I THINK IS REALLY COMPELLING HERE IS THAT, UM, THREE APPARENTLY ISOLATE, I'M SORRY, THREE APPARENTLY SEPARATE PROJECTS, NAMELY DALLAS TO HOUSTON, DALLAS TO FORT WORTH, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, YES, YOU HAVE TO THINK THROUGH AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, BUT IF, IF YOU SEE THEM ACTUALLY IN TOTALITY, THERE'S A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO CREATE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL.
SO THAT'S, UM, THAT'S WHY THE TFL EXAMPLE IS A GOOD ONE.
WE LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE ASPECT AND EVERY KNOCK ON IN, IN TERMS OF, UH, THE DIRECT USERS OF A FACILITY, IN THIS CASE, THE PEOPLE RIDING THE TRAIN, BUT ALSO WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS ON THE SURROUNDING, UH, BUSINESSES? UH, WHAT ABOUT PEDESTRIANS? WHAT ABOUT EVEN CAR OWNERS? UM, YOU LOOKED AT ALL ASPECTS AS PART OF THAT OVERALL ASSESSMENT AND, AND WE HAD A MODEL AT TFL TO DO THAT.
THANK YOU CHAIRMAN SCHULTZ, RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING STEPPED OUT A WHILE BACK.
UM, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR FORTITUDE AND YOUR PATIENCE, ESPECIALLY YOU, MR. BYFORD.
AND IN FACT, MY COLLEAGUES SAID, UH, ASKED VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE, YOUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE IF FOR LACK OF THAT COORDINATED SINGLE ENTITY, HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT DOING THAT.
[04:35:01]
FROM OUR LOCAL PROFESSIONALS AND EVEN YOUR INSIGHT ON HOW WE COULD LOOK AT THIS HOLISTICALLY INSTEAD OF ALWAYS SEPARATE REPORTS FROM EVERYBODY.WELL, I'M USUALLY THE ONE THAT COMES WHEN IT WAS D TWO, WHEN IT WAS, UH, 3 45 WHEN IT WAS, UH, CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY EARLIER.
UH, THE MORE SYSTEM THINKING YOU PUT INTO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, I THINK IT'S BETTER TO ADD MORE ORNAMENTS ON THE TREE THAN TAKE ORNAMENTS OFF.
UM, I, I TRY TO TEAR DOWN SILOS ACROSS EVERYTHING THAT I POSSIBLY CAN DO.
SO THE MORE YOU CAN PUT UNION STATION, THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE IMPACT TO EXISTING BUSINESS OWNERS, THE IMPACT TO TOURISM, THE IMPACT TO YOUR TAX BASE, THE IMPACT TO YOUR TAX BASE 18 MILES AWAY, THE MORE ORNAMENTS YOU CAN PUT ON THE TREE, I BELIEVE THE BETTER PRODUCT YOU WILL HAVE AND YOU WILL DO THE HOMEWORK TO NOT HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WITH REGARD TO THE DECISION.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE SAYING NCT COG WOULD TAKE ON INCLUDING THE ECONOMIC, THE BUSINESS, ALL OF IT, BECAUSE, WELL, I'M SUGGESTING AT LEAST FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU NEED TO GET THAT FROM YOUR OWN CITY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE ACCUSING ME, I FORGET WHAT SOME OF THE ENGLISH WORDS WERE USED EARLIER TODAY OF, OF SOMEHOW, UH, POPULARIZING THOSE.
BUT, BUT THE TRANSPORTATION LINKAGES, YEAH.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING IN OUR SWIM LANE AND COUNCIL MEMBER, IF I COULD JUST ADD THAT, UH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, THAT THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT, UH, ASPECTS AND INITIATIVES THAT ARE BEING BUILT AROUND AND THEY'RE BEING CONSIDERED AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER BECAUSE WE, WE ARE CONSIDERING ALL OF THESE AS AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM.
UM, AND AGAIN, JUST EVEN THE EXPANSION PIECES OF HOW WE'RE DESIGNING FUTURE PROJECTS.
I MEAN, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE HERE WE'RE, UM, ROSA MENTIONED THE INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS TO INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN AND, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, E EVERYBODY.
LIKE WE GO AND WE MEET AT, UH, THE CONVENTION CENTER LIKE WE, AND IT'S, IT'S MULTI-DEPARTMENTAL, IT'S EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, AND SO, UH, WE, WE ARE LOOKING AT IT, UH, FROM A SYSTEM.
UH, IT, IT'S NOT ONE PIECE HERE IN ONE PIECE THERE.
IT'S LIKE, OKAY, IF WE PLAN THIS, IF WE PLAN THE STREETCAR EXPANSION, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONNECTING EVERYTHING.
UH, IF WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ELEVATOR WALKWAY, UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING'S CONNECTED.
AND, UH, SO WE, WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AS A WHOLE.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AS A WHOLE BEYOND JUST THIS TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU'VE HEARD QUITE A BIT ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE CHALLENGE HERE IS CHANGE AND HOW WE PROTECT EXISTING ASSETS WHILE WE EMBRACE THE FUTURE.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE AND THE EXERCISE THAT WE NEED IS TO DECIDE OUR OWN HIGHEST PRIORITIES AND WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO GIVE UP AND WHAT WE MUST HAVE.
THOSE THREE ASPECTS OF IT THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT EXERCISE YET AS A COUNCIL.
AND SO THAT MAY BE PART OF THIS WORK.
WE KNOW THAT IN SOME OF THE OTHER CITY EXAMPLES, THAT THE DENSITY AND THE LACK OF CARS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF THE RAIL.
AND SO WE ARE IN THAT PLACE BECAUSE WE'RE RETROFITTING AND A LOT OF THESE PLACES, JAPAN AND OTHERS THAT WERE MENTIONED ALREADY HAD THOSE SYSTEMS. SO WHAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UH, TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL IS WHAT YOU'VE HEARD AND WHAT YOU RECOMMEND US DO FOR THE NEXT STEPS AFTER YOU'VE MET WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE FOLKS THAT ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, REUNION AND SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, FOLKS THAT HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT THE IMPACT.
LOOK, I DON'T WANNA, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
I DON'T WANNA BE REMEMBERED AS ONE WHO LOST THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANNA BE A ROBERT MOSES, I DON'T WANNA TAKE, YOU KNOW, DAMAGE WHAT'S GOOD NOW FOR THE SAKE OF THE FUTURE.
SO, UH, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE I THINK FOR YOU ALL.
PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, MR. BYFORD, IF ANY INSIGHT THAT YOU'D GIVE US IN NAVIGATING THIS CHALLENGE IN A NON HOLISTIC SYSTEM, I WOULD BE AN EXTRAORDINARY HELP TO US.
UM, MA'AM, COUNCIL MEMBER, I'D BE VERY HAPPY TO DO THAT.
AND IT'S FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION ROBERT MOSES.
I'M PLOWING MY WAY THROUGH THE POWER BROKER AT THE MOMENT, SO I KNOW WHAT I'VE SEEN, WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE AND I'VE SEEN WHAT BAD LOOKS LIKE.
SO, UH, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR FORTITUDE IN THIS AND YOUR PATIENCE WITH US.
CHAIRMAN MENDELSSOHN, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR, UH, ACTUALLY I'M GONNA GO TO MS. BLACKMAN FOR THREE MINUTES.
SO, UM, MICHAEL, BACK TO CLARIFY, YOU'RE IN YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY RIGHT NOW FOR A YEAR, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO MEET WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, SPECIFICALLY I THINK THE DEVELOPER DEVELOP GROUP, THE DEVELOPER GROUP.
SO IF OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION THERE IS A DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY FOR THAT'S GONNA AFFECT YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY, HOW DO YOU PLAN TO NAVIGATE THAT?
[04:40:01]
AND OR IS IT JUST TO CHECK THE BOX AND SAY, I MET WITH THEM AND WE'RE STILL GONNA GO WITH THIS? NO, I THINK THAT THAT'S A, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.I AM NOT GONNA DO ANY HARM TO HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON.
SO BY DEFINITION, THE STATION IS WHERE THE STATION IS.
YOU CHANGE THE LOCATION, THE ELEVATION, THE ORIENTATION OF THAT PARTICULAR STATION, AMTRAK CANNOT PERCEIVE TO IMPLEMENTATION.
SO I'M NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN WHEN I SAY THAT I AM NOT TOUCHING THAT PARTICULAR STATION.
'CAUSE BY DEFINITION I'M HURTING HIS ABILITY TO DELIVER THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.
SO GIVEN THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION, GIVEN THAT PARTICULAR DECISION, I HAVE TO OPERATE IN A CAN-DO SPIRIT TO LOOK AT ALL PARTICULAR OPTIONS AND WORK WITH ALL OF YOU ON WHY AM I INSISTING THAT THE ONE SEAT RIDE IS THE BEST STRATEGY TO MOVE FORWARD? AND HOW DO I MAKE SURE I AM NOT HURTING ANY OF THE EXISTING USERS, DEVELOPERS THAT EXIST TODAY BY INTRODUCING A CONCEPT THAT ISN'T CREATING VALUE ADDED FOR THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO GO DO, OR THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING MY WHOLE LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA CONTINUE TO DO ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
I'M GONNA DO NO HARM TO FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON, AND I AM GOING TO OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH TO LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS.
AND THEN I'M GONNA WORK WITH ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN TRYING TO DEVELOP A SILO BUSTING WIN-WIN STRATEGY.
EVEN IF IT'S AN IDEA I DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW WHERE SOMEONE ELSE, OFTEN I FIND SOMEONE TAKES YOUR IDEA AND MAKES IT INTO A BETTER IDEA.
HEY, CAN YOU PUT A PEDESTRIAN CAP ON TOP OF THE WHOLE RAIL LINE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO WORK ON.
97% OF THE ROUTE BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH IS UNCHANGED.
YOU'RE YOU'RE WORKING ON A DRIVER AND A SEVEN IRON OF MY 32 MILE ROUTE.
SO THE ENGINEERS WILL ALL WORK ON THE OTHER 98% OF THE ALIGNMENT AND BRING THAT TO 30% DESIGN AS I CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THESE REMAINING ISSUES.
UM, BECAUSE YOU, YOU WILL HAVE REGULAR PRESENTATIONS, HAVE IT BE THE CONVENTION CENTER, HAVE IT BE UNION STATION, HAVE IT BE THE STREETCAR WHERE I'M ABLE TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THE SYSTEM INTEGRATION.
YOU'LL HAVE THE BENEFIT TO SEE IF WE'RE ADDING OR SUBTRACTING THIS LITERALLY LAST DRIVER IN SEVEN, SEVEN IRON, UH, TO, TO THE DALLAS STATION.
I HOPE THAT HELPED IT, IT DOES ARTICULATE IT AND IT, AND, BUT YOU DO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO THE CITY, RIGHT? I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU SEE THIS AS A REGIONAL OPTION OR RE OR A REGIONAL OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE HERE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT, WHAT'S THE BEST FOR OUR CITY.
AND SO I HOPE YOU DO UNDERSTAND THAT.
NO, I BELIEVE ME, I, THAT WE CAN'T, IT'S NOT A SOPHIE'S CHOICE.
WE CAN'T SACRIFICE ONE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANOTHER.
WHEN I, AND WE ARE THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, SO THAT'S THE PERSPECTIVE WE COME FROM.
BUT WHEN I SAY WIN-WIN, I'M, I REMAIN OPTIMISTIC.
I WILL GET A OPTION THAT YOU WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF EXISTING INTERESTS WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF FUTURE CONVENTION CENTER DECISIONS.
I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT THAT CAN STILL BE DONE.
WELL, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING THAT OPTIMISM.
UM, WE WERE TOLD WE COULDN'T DO CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY.
WE WERE TOLD WE COULDN'T DO LVJ.
WE WERE TOLD WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, UM, LVJ EAST, I'VE BEEN TOLD MY WHOLE CAREER IT CAN'T BE DONE.
SO WE NEED TO TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING AND THEN YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AROUND HERE.
UM, SO ANYWAY, ON, ON HOW, OKAY, SO WITH THE TRE, JUST BEING NORTH OF, I GUESS OF THE, THE ALIGNMENT IS ARE WE GONNA CANNIBALIZE THAT LINE WITH AN OPENING OF THIS ONE OR YOU WE SEE THEM WORKING TOGETHER.
WE'VE, WE'VE SIMULATE THERE ARE, THERE AREN'T, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WISHING TO GO THE WHOLE 65 MINUTES.
SO BY INTRODUCING A 20 MINUTE TRAVEL TIME, UM, SOME MAY STAY AT A LOWER PRICE AND STAY ON THE TRE, BUT WE HAVE NOT LOST FIVE YEARS AGO, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME OR WE HURTING THE TRE LINE.
WE ARE NOT HURTING THE TRE LINE BY BUILDING THIS PARTICULAR OPERATION.
THOSE PEOPLE WISH TO GET ON AND OFF AT ALL THE INTERMEDIATE STATIONS.
AND THEN, UM, AMTRAK, I JUST GOT MY EMAIL FOR THE AMTRAK VACATION.
SO ANYWAY, LIKE I SAID, I DO USE A, SO MY QUESTION THOUGH IS DO YOU SEE THE LINE BETWEEN DALLAS AND SAN ANTONIO EVENTUALLY GOING AWAY BECAUSE YOU COULD ROUTE EVERYTHING TO HOUSTON AT A QUICKER AND TO GET EV TO GET THAT EAST WEST CONNECTION THAT'S DOWN AT THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR SI OF OUR STATE IS DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD GO, WOULD IF, IF WE DON'T BUILD, DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD GO AWAY TO PROBABLY TOO EARLY TO SAY? I MEAN, POSSIBLY WHAT, WHAT I SHOULD HAVE SAID IN MY, UM, PRESENTATION
[04:45:01]
EARLIER, SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST MENTION THIS BRIEFLY, IS, UH, AMTRAK'S NOT JUST LOOKING AT DALLAS TO HOUSTON FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE, YOU KNOW, WE, OUR JOB AS AMERICA'S RAILROAD NATIONAL, UH, PROVIDER IS TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE RIDING THE RAILS ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY.OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT THE TEXAS EAGLE, BUT WE, WE WANT TO PROVIDE WAY MORE SERVICE BETWEEN ALL OF THE MAIN CITIES IN, UH, TEXAS.
SO WE'VE GOT OTHER APPLICATIONS IN TO THE CORRIDOR IT PROGRAM TO EXPLORE JUST THAT.
UM, AND THAT MAY BE AN OUTCOME OF OUR, OUR WORK BIT EARLY TO SAY WE'RE WE ARE EVALUATING HOW WE CAN, UM, PROVIDE MUCH BETTER RAIL SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FOR THAT EAST WEST TO GET ME TO ALPINE.
SO, UH, TO HEAD OUT TO BIG BEND, I, WE'VE DONE IT FROM, WE'VE FLEW INTO EL PASO AND THEN TAKEN THE TRAIN OVER AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT EASY, BUT IT'S EASIER.
BUT IF THE HOUSTON CONNECTION IS PERFECT.
SO ANYWAY, I WAS PUTTING IN A PLUG TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONNECT ALL OF TEXAS.
UH, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ON OUR TO-DO LIST.
I MEAN, I SAID EARLIER WE'VE GOT AN AMBITION OF DOUBLING OUR RIDERSHIP BY 2040.
UM, WE'D LIKE TO DO BETTER THAN THAT.
SO ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, ROUTES, NOT, NOT JUST FOR HIGH SPEED SERVICE, BUT UM, UPGRADING EXISTING ROUTES.
WE JUST UPGRADED THE SPEED FROM ST.
LOUIS TO, UM, CHICAGO FROM 90 TO 110 MILES AN HOUR.
SO THERE'S, THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT TREATMENTS THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO DIFFERENT ROUTES DEPENDING ON, DEPENDING ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THAT RIGHT ROUTE AND THE, AND THE, UM, POTENTIAL RIDERSHIP.
UM, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.
MR. MILLER, I, UM, BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNCIL PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING DATA-DRIVEN IN MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
AND ONE PIECE OF DATA THAT WE ARE MISSING HERE TODAY THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD IN THE PAST FOUR HOURS OF DISCUSSION EVEN REFERRED TO IS THE BUSINESS CASE FOR THE DFW LINK.
NOW, UM, THAT WOULD ENTAIL, UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS A DOCUMENT THAT STUDIES THE RIDERSHIP THAT WOULD INCREASE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HIGH SPEED RAIL LINK ON THE I 30 CORRIDOR.
NOW, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR JUST A COMPARISON BETWEEN THOSE PROJECTED RIDERSHIP FIGURES AND THE CURRENT ONES ON THE TRE, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE HIGH SPEED RAIL LINK ON I 30 AND AN ENHANCED TRE LINK THAT WOULD HAVE AN EXPRESS TRAIN STOPPING AT ONE MIDPOINT BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
AND THAT HAS A 125 MILE AN HOUR CAPABILITY.
CAN YOU PREPARE THAT IN ADDITION TO MY EARLIER REQUEST FOR THE GRADIENT STUDY LINKING THE HIGH SPEED RAIL TO THE HIGH-SPEED STATION? I, I WILL BE HAPPY TO DO SO.
UH, I THINK IT'S PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE AN EXPRESS TRAIN AT THAT SPEED ON THE TRE QUARTER.
WE'LL GET TO THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.
SO I WILL, I WILL REVIEW THE GEOMETRICS OF THAT PARTICULAR REQUEST AND, AND, UH, BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET BACK TO YOU.
NOW, WOULD YOU, UM, SAY IT'S A REASONABLE ASSUMPTION THAT A MAJORITY OF THE RIDERSHIP GOING FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON, UH, WOULD COME FROM DALLAS TRAVELERS AS COMPARED WITH FORT WORTH AND ARLINGTON TRAVELERS JUST BECAUSE OF THE DISPARATE POPULATION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? IF THERE WAS NO TRAIN BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON, NO.
IF THERE IS A TRAIN BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON, WOULDN'T MOST OF THE RIDERSHIP COME FROM DALLAS AS COMPARED WITH FORT WORTH AND ARLINGTON? YEAH, I, I WOULDNT NECESSARILY, BASED ON THE POPULATION.
I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
IS MOST OF THE RIDERSHIP BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH? NO, DALLAS AND HOUSTON.
WOULD COME FROM DALLAS AS OPPOSED TO FROM FORT WORTH? THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION YOU WOULD HAVE TO ASK THE OKAY.
SO, UM, THE MODELING SHOWS THAT THE MAJORITY WOULD GO FROM WOULD BE DALLAS RESIDENTS OR IN SORT OF GREATER DALLAS AREA, BUT THERE, THERE WOULD BE SOME PEOPLE WHO, BECAUSE THEY PARTICULARLY WANT TO GO TO HOUSTON, WOULD UM, MAKE, AGAIN, IT'S BACK TO MY POINT EARLIER ABOUT JOURNEY TIME.
WOULD, UM, UH, CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE TO GO INTO DALLAS IN ORDER TO GET THAT TRAIN IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AN OVERALL TIME SAVING AS OPPOSED TO DRIVING OKAY.
WELL, COLLEAGUES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHAT THIS ONE SEAT RIDE REALLY MEANS AND WHO IT BENEFITS.
[04:50:01]
DOES IT BENEFIT DALLAS? I SUBMIT IT DOES NOT, NO MATTER HOW DALLAS RESIDENTS OR TRAVELERS GET TO THIS HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION, THEY WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM A ONE STREET, ONE SEAT RIDE SYSTEM.THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT ARE COMING FROM FORT WORTH AND ARLINGTON POINTS WEST.
SO BEFORE WE TIE OURSELVES IN KNOTS AND ACCEPT A SYSTEM THAT WE THINK IS NOT DESIRABLE FOR DALLAS, I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS ONE STREET ONE SEAT RIDE.
NOW FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO QUOTE A FEW PROVISIONS FROM THE 2017 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT OF TXDOT AND THE FEDERAL RAIL ADMINISTRATION, WHICH CONCLUDED THE RESULTS FROM THE ANALYSIS OF THE THREE STUDY CORRIDORS.
SHOW THAT THE I 30 CORRIDOR POSSESSES CONSIDERABLE OBSTACLES TO IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING HAVING THE GREATEST ENGINEERING CHALLENGES, THE HIGHEST DESIGN IN CONSTRUCTION, COMPLEXITY AND CONSTRUCTION RISKS, AND THE HIGHEST CAPITAL COST FOR THESE REASONS, THE I 30 CORRIDOR BETTER READ A LITTLE FASTER, DROPPED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION AND DID NOT PROCEED INTO STEP TWO.
MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES FOR TO ALLOW, UH, MR. RIDLEY.
HE HE HAS, I CAN FINISH IN THE LAST MINUTE.
UM, YOU GO AHEAD, ROLL INTO YOUR NEXT ROUND FOR OF A MINUTE.
GIVE HIM, WILL YOU GIVE HIM A MINUTE AND THAT'LL BE IT.
CONTINUING QUOTING, BOTH THE TRE AND HYBRID CORRIDORS ARE VIABLE AT THE 90 MILE AN HOUR AND 125 MILE AN HOUR.
THE TRE CORRIDOR OFFERS THE BEST FINANCIAL VIABILITY WITH A LOWER CAPITAL COSTS.
MOST OF THE TRE CORRIDOR CONSISTS OF LONG STRETCHES OF TANGENT TRACK CONNECTED BY A FEW ISOLATED CURVES, MAKING IT POSSIBLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CURVES FOR 90 MILE AN HOUR, 125 OR 125 PLUS MILE AN HOUR MAXIMUM SPEED ALIGNMENTS TO STAY WITHIN OR CLOSELY PARALLEL TO THE EXISTING CORRIDOR RIGHT OF WAY A 125 MILE AN HOUR DIESEL TRAIN OPERATING ON THE TRE ALIGNMENT WOULD ONLY ADD 30 SECONDS TO THE TRAVEL TIME ASSOCIATED WITH A 220 MILE HIGH SPEED RAIL SERVICE.
A TRE CORRIDOR DIESEL SERVICE.
RUNNING AT 1 25 MILES AN HOUR WOULD COST FIVE AND A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS.
220 MILE AN HOUR HIGH SPEED SERVICE WOULD COST 11 BILLION.
THOUGHT YOU COULD READ FASTER THAN THAT.
CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU'RE OUT TIME.
UH, CHAIRWOMAN STEWART, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
UM, MR. MORRIS, I CAN TESTIFY TO YOUR PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY.
I WALKED THROUGH LBJS WITH YOU OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, AND I KNOW YOU DON'T GIVE UP AND I KNOW YOU CONTINUE TO LISTEN.
THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A FUN NIGHT THAT EVENING, WASN'T IT?
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ECONOMIC STUDY.
I KNOW I KEEP COMING BACK TO THAT AS WELL AS EVERYONE.
UM, BUT IF THAT STUDY SHOULD SHOW THAT THERE IS AN ADVERSE IMPACT, EITHER TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, TO DOWNTOWN, TO THE CEDARS, TO ANY OF IT, UM, FOR WHATEVER THE REASONS, BUT WE SEE SOME ADVERSE IMPACT, WOULD YOU BE, UM, WILLING TO LOOK AT AN ALTERNATE ALIGNMENT? ABSOLUTELY.
I'M NOT, I I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO SHOW, BUT, BUT IF THERE'S AN ADVERSE IMPACT TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, IF THERE'S AN IMPACT TO THE CITY, IF THERE'S AN ADVERSE IMPACT TO CURRENT DEVELOPERS, IF THERE'S AN ADVERSE IMPACT, UH, I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION.
SO ADVERSE IMPACT TRIGGERS NEW PROBLEM, UH, SOLVING THAT PROBLEM FOR THAT PROBLEM.
NOW, I'M NOT GONNA TRIGGER, I'M NOW GONNA TEAR DOWN THE DALLAS STATION YES.
AND UNDERMINE ANDY'S INITIATIVE YES.
AS A WAY TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.
BUT I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO, UH, TO, UH, TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT THAT MAY BE.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE IN AGREEMENT.
WE, WE DON'T WANT TO, TO, UM, DISTURB IN ANY WAY THE, THE DALLAS TO HOUSTON, UH, PLANS, ROUTE, ALIGNMENT, ALL OF THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK AS HAS BEEN WELL STATED AROUND THIS HORSESHOE, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE CITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD MANY, UM, PRESENTATIONS ON THE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THEY HAVE, IT'S BEEN SO, UM, REWARDING TO LISTEN TO ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF THAT, RIGHT.
WITH DECK PARKS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS SO SUCCESSFUL.
AND I ALSO LOOK AT OUR SKYLINE, AND I KNOW WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE OMNI AND WE HAVE OUR BRIDGES.
AND AGAIN, SO MANY PIECES HAVE
[04:55:01]
COME TOGETHER FOR A REALLY BEAUTIFUL SKYLINE.AND SO THERE THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE, WE NEED TO PROTECT.
AND, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I THINK YOU'RE HEARING.
UM, AND, AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, I THINK I'VE BEEN IN 20 MEETINGS ON THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I'VE BEEN ASKED MY OPINION ON HOW I CAN HELP THEM.
I GIVE THEM MY TWO, TWO PARTICULAR 2 CENTS.
UM, I'M UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUE THE CONVENTION CENTER HAS EVER HAD WITH REGARD TO WHATEVER WE'RE DOING ON HIGH SPEED RAIL.
THAT WOULD BE NEW INFORMATION TO ME.
'CAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN SHARED TO ME.
SO I DO NOT THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND AS A RESULT OF HIGH SPEED RAIL, THERE IS SOME NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE CONVENTION CENTER ONLY.
'CAUSE I WOULD'VE HEARD IT IN THE LAST 20 MEETINGS I'VE BEEN IN ON THE CONVENTION CENTER.
WELL, WE'LL, WE'LL DIG, FIND OUT INTO IT OUT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN UNCOVER.
AND IF THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S, THAT'S ALL GOOD NEWS.
CHAIRMAN MENDELSON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD MY TIME AS WELL.
WE'LL, WE'LL EXHAUST FOR A MINUTE, THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU AND THEN YOU CAN DIRECT A QUESTION TOWARDS HER AND THEN WE'LL DO IT THAT WAY.
DOES THE CITY OWN THE LAND WHERE THE SEVENTH STORY STATION IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR IN THE CEDARS? NO, THAT'S NOT A CITY DEVELOPMENT.
WHO OWNS THAT? AND WHO ARE THE ADJACENT LANDOWNERS? I BELIEVE IT'S MATTHEW SOUTHWEST, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO THE ADJACENT, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND, AND LOOK AT THAT AND PROVIDE YOU THAT AND YEAH, SURE.
THE, THE COUNCIL MEMBER, THE CITY, THE, SORRY, THE STATION SITE IS, UH, MATTHEWS, UH, IS THE OWNER OF THAT SITE TOTALLY SURROUNDING IT? WELL, CERTAINLY THE STATION ENVELOPE.
UH, POSSIBLY A LITTLE BIT ON THE, ON THE PERIPHERY, BUT CERTAINLY THE STATION SITE.
IN FACT, I THINK THERE IS AN, AN AREA AROUND IT AS WELL, BECAUSE, UM, THE, UM, THE, UH, THE, THE INTENTION WOULD BE TO DEVELOP THE LAND AROUND THE STATION.
I BET THERE IS, IS THERE A REPAIR FACILITY BEING PLANNED? AND IF SO, WHERE WOULD THAT BE LOCATED? MAINTENANCE, YEAH, THE MAINTENANCE FACILITY.
UH, I'D HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
I JUST NEED TO LOOK AT THE PLAN IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU THAT ANSWER.
SO I THINK I READ HENSLEY FIELD SOMEWHERE.
YEAH, IT IS JUST THE NAME OF IT, UM, ESCAPES ME.
BUT THERE IS A, A MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT EITHER N ONE, AT, UM, THE DALLAS END AND ONE AT THE HOUSTON END.
BUT I, TO GIVE YOU THE SPECIFIC LOCATION, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PLAN.
ARE YOU ASKING BETWEEN DALLAS AND, UH, DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, OR BETWEEN DALLAS AND HOUSTON? IS THERE ANY MAINTENANCE FACILITY PLANNED IN DALLAS? OF COURSE, THERE'S A MAINTENANCE FACILITY PLANNED AT DALLAS.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET IS DO WE HAVE TO BUILD OUR OWN MAINTENANCE FACILITY? 'CAUSE WE HAVE INDEPENDENT UTILITY, OR WILL WE BE ABLE TO BRING A PARTNER WITH A SEAMLESS TRAIN AND THEY ALREADY HAVE A MAINTENANCE FACILITY AND THERE WOULD NO, THERE'D BE NO REASON TO BUILD A SECOND MAINTENANCE FACILITY WHEN THE OPERATOR ALREADY RUNS TRAINS TO HOUSTON.
SO I BELIEVE I READ HENSLEY FIELD IN SOMETHING, UM, IN A DOCUMENT.
HOW WOULD A PEDESTRIAN SKYWAY PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHEN YOU ARE REMOVING PEOPLE FROM THE STREET WITH THE SHOPS AND THE RESTAURANTS FOR OVER A MILE? SO THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE I ASKED YOU TO TAKE A SUITCASE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT ANYTHING IN IT.
AND, UH, UM, HAVE, UH, GUS PUT AN ORANGE CONE DOWN WHERE THE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION IS AND WALK ON THE STREET BETWEEN THAT PARTICULAR HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION.
AND GO TO AN ENTRANCE OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND GO TO UNION STATION.
AND THEN LOOK AT A PARTICULAR PLAN THAT HAS YOU TAKE AN ESCALATOR TO THE FIFTH FLOOR OF THE HIGH-SPEED RAIL STATION AND SENDS YOU TO THOSE PARTICULAR LOCATIONS IN AIR CONDITIONED SPACE.
AND, AND IMAGINE THAT PARTICULAR CONNECTION VERSUS THE ONE YOU'D BE USING WITH YOUR SUITCASE, UH, UH, GOING ACROSS THE EXISTING, UH, GROUND LEVEL.
I WOULD NEVER DO ANY OF THOSE.
THE NEXT QUESTION ABOUT THE SKYWALKS IS WHO'S PAYING FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING, THE ELEVATORS, THE PEOPLE MOVERS, AND TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS WHEN THAT HAPPENS? WELL, UH, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THIS FAR TO THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL, BUT MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD ABSORB THAT AS THE COST OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL, UH, INVESTMENT.
IF IN FACT, UH, THERE'S INTEREST THAT THIS PARTICULAR HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION AND THE SEAMLESS CONNECTION TO UNION STATION WOULD ALSO PAY DIVIDENDS TO DIRECT ACCESS INTO THE CONVENTION CENTER, DIRECT ACCESS INTO CONVENTION CENTER HOTELS, SEAMLESS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN GROUND AMTRAK TO HIGH SPEED RAIL.
IF THOSE PARTICULAR CONNECTIONS ARE OF INTEREST TO THE PARTICULAR CITY, UH, I WOULD SUGGEST TO THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
[05:00:01]
COUNCIL TO ADD THAT AS A COST OF THE HIGH SPEED RAIL INVESTMENT.ITS CAPITAL COST, ITS OPERATING COST, ITS MANAGEMENT OF HOMELESS PERSONS.
UH, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF ALL THE COMMAS YOU HAD IN THAT PARTICULAR PHRASE.
LIGHTING, AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU WOULD COMMIT, BECAUSE WE DO THIS VERY QUARTERLY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER WEST OFTEN OBJECTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE STREETCAR, AND I SAY, WOW, HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE PUTTING OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND TO TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH HELPING US GET THE TIGER GRANT FOR? SO WE GOT IT BUILT, BUT WE'RE STUCK MAINTAINING IT.
I'VE GOT FOUR ALERTS JUST YESTERDAY AND TODAY FOR MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS. THAT'S, THAT'S YOUR TIME FOR, FOR NOW.
UM, CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA LET ME GO FOR THREE.
UH, MR. MORRISS, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOUR TIME TODAY.
WE, WE'VE PROVIDED, UH, A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE ANSWERS.
I I DO IMAGINE THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO STUDY AND RESEARCH THOSE.
UM, AT OUR LAST RTC MEETING, THERE WERE SOME OTHER DALLAS PROJECTS THAT WERE TIED WITH THIS.
UM, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS BACK, HOW ARE THOSE OTHER PROJECTS GONNA BE TIED UP IF WE'RE STILL DOING RESEARCH FOR SIX MONTHS A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD? AS YOU KNOW, UH, SOME OF THOSE WERE TIED UP FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THANKSGIVING SQUARE WAS AN IDEA THAT HADN'T COME TO YOU.
SO WHEN YOU, UH, HEAR WHATEVER THE THANKSGIVING SQUARE PROPOSAL IS, AND IF YOU HEAR THAT, THAT PARTICULAR PROPOSAL AS, AS SUGGESTED BY THANKSGIVING SQUARE, IF THAT'S OF INTEREST TO YOU, ONCE YOU SIGN OFF ON THAT PARTICULAR PROPOSAL, THEN THAT PROJECT PROCEEDS THE RTCS ALREADY APPROVED IT.
SO THERE'S NOTHING HAS TO GO BACK TO THE RTC.
YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL PROJECTS I CAN'T KEEP UP, AND I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY HERE, UH, ON WHAT PROJECTS ARE FUNDED OR NOT FUNDED IN THE PROPOSED BOND PROGRAM.
SO YOU HAVE A COUPLE PROJECTS THAT, UH, WERE ASKED OF US AS PART OF THE BOND PROGRAM.
SO THERE'S A BOND PROGRAM COMMITMENT.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU ARE IN THE BOND PROGRAM.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T KEEP UP WITH THAT.
UM, ONCE WE CONFIRM YOUR VOTERS HAVE APPROVED YOUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT FOR THOSE BOND PROGRAM PROJECTS, THOSE PROJECTS PROCEED BECAUSE IT'S YOUR FINANCIAL, UH, COMMITMENT.
UH, THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL HAS ALREADY APPROVED ALL THOSE PARTICULAR PROJECTS.
UM, I BELIEVE THEY CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD AS PART OF THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS.
I JUST ASK YOU TO OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH TO TRY TO, UM, THINK OF WIN-WIN SOLUTIONS AND, UH, NOT MAKE IT HARDER THAN IT REALLY IS.
AND I ALSO ASK YOU TO ASK YOUR DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPER FRIENDS TO, TO ASK THEM, YOU'RE ASKING US TO DEVELOP WIN-WIN SOLUTIONS.
I ASK YOUR, I ASK YOU TO ASK YOUR DEVELOPER FRIENDS TO TAKE A CLEAN LOOK AT SOME OF THESE PARTICULAR IDEAS AND SEE IF THEY CAN, UH, HELP, UH, PROPOSE A WIN-WIN SOLUTION TO THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.
WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER, BUT THE, THE RTC, AS YOU KNOW, HAS APPROVED ALL THOSE PARTICULAR PROJECTS.
SO NOTHING HAS TO GO BACK TO, TO THE RTC FOR APPROVAL.
BUT EVERY PARTICULAR ONE OF THOSE IS CONTINGENT ON SOME ACTION THAT WE'RE WAITING, WE'RE WAITING FROM YOU TO DECIDE.
THANKSGIVING SQUARE CAME IN, I THINK TO ME IN DECEMBER.
YOU HADN'T BEEN BRIEF, YOU GUYS HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED ON IT.
YOU MAY, YOU HAVE NO, MAY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AT THANKSGIVING SQUARE, ONCE YOU SIGN OFF ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, WE WE'RE PROCEEDING WITH THANKSGIVING SQUARE.
DALLAS HAS BEEN AWARDED BEST SKYLINE, UH, MULTIPLE TIMES.
UH, WE HAVE READING ARENA, WHICH IS AN ICONIC BUILDING HERE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
THE LAST THING I WANNA SEE IS A 70 STORY, UH, RAIL THAT IS BISECTING OUR CITY LINE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BUILD FULL OF, OF GRAFFITI AND HOMELESSNESS AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
AND SO, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EXPLORE ALL OPPORTUNITIES AND YES, WE ARE LOOKING, UH, FOR THIS TO BE A WIN-WIN.
UH, AND WE WILL SEEK ALL PARTNERS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
MS. BLACKMAN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
UM, IN REAL QUICK, MICHAEL, UM, I I I TAKE IT, YOU KNOW, SINCE YOU'RE IN THIS ENVIRONMENTAL PHASE AND YOU'RE STUDYING THE ALIGNMENT AND, AND THE, AND THE VARIOUS THINGS, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT IMPLICATIONS? IF THIS ALIGNMENT IS APPROVED, WHAT FU ON FUTURE AND CURRENT DEVELOPMENT AND DO YOU PLAN TO, IF YOU DO, IF YOU HAVE, DO YOU HAVE THAT IN A, IS IT IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT WE RECEIVED Y YESTERDAY? YEAH, IF YOU, IF YOU GO TO THE LAST, I, I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN YOUR DEVELOPER AND US UHHUH.
UH, WE, WE HOPE YOUR DEVELOPER GETS MORE EXPERIENCE WITH
[05:05:01]
REAL HIGH SPEED RAIL STATIONS TO SEE THE DENSITY THAT'S AROUND HIGH SPEED RAIL STATIONS.WE BELIEVE, IN MY OPINION, THE DENSITIES ARE GREATER AROUND HIGH SPEED RAIL STATIONS IN AREAS THAT HAVE HIGH SPEED RAIL STATIONS THAN YOUR CURRENT DEVELOPER IS IMAGINING AROUND THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.
NOW, YOUR DEVELOPER MAY BE ASSUMING THEY'LL NEVER BE A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ASSUMPTION IS, BUT YES, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE DEVELOPMENT DENSITY, UH, WITH REGARD TO THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY WITH A HIGH SPEED RAIL STATION.
AND, UH, WE THINK IT, UH, BACK TO THE, UM, THE, THE REQUEST THE MAYOR MADE OF ME LAST SUMMER, UH, I BELIEVE HIGHSPEED RAIL HAS MUCH GREATER DENSITY OF, UH, BUILDINGS, UH, THAN NOT HAVING HIGH SPEED RAIL, UH, WITH REGARD TO THOSE PARTICULAR LOCATIONS.
BUT YOU NEED TO HEAR THAT FROM, FROM THEM.
UM, I DON'T THINK THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLANS RIGHT NOW ASSUME A HIGHSPEED RAIL STATION WILL REALLY OCCUR, AND THEREFORE THE DENSITY OF BUILDINGS ON THEIR SITE ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE DENSITIES YOU SEE IN SAN FRANCISCO IN THE PICTURE I SHOWED YOU.
UH, OR IN THE DENSITY OF HIGH SPEED RAIL THAT YOU SEE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
SO YOU, BUT YOU'RE TALKING AROUND A STATION, NOT NECESSARILY ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, RAIL LINES, THERE'S TENDS NOT TO BE, IF IT'S THE EXTENT, THE, THE EXTENT OF A LINE, IT'S MORE AROUND THE STATIONS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE WAY, THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE 30 MILES.
WELL, I'M LOOKING AT DALLAS SPECIFICALLY, BUT IF YOU WANNA THROW IN ALL 30 MILES, THAT'S FINE.
WELL REMEMBER 90% OF THE DISTANCE, I'M ON PUBLIC SECTOR RIGHT OF WAY.
SO I HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT OKAY.
OTHER THAN WHAT'S ON THE FRONT OF YOURS.
SO I GUESS IT WOULD BE DALLAS THEN.
UH, AND YES, I'M WORKING WITH YOUR CITY ON, WHEN WE LEAVE THE INTERSTATE 30 QUARTER AND COME INTO WEST DALLAS, I'M WORKING WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN YOUR CITY WITH REGARD TO SOME LAND SWAPS AND TRADES THAT MAY BE ACTUALLY, UH, LEADING TO INCREASE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WEST DALLAS.
SO YES, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WE THINK IT'S POSITIVE AND NOT NEGATIVE.
SO YOU DON'T THINK THAT THE ALIGNMENT THAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORTH HURTS ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS AREA? I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE, AND I'M WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF WITH REGARD TO LAND.
I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO, UH, UM, LAND DEALS PUBLICLY.
BUT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO SWAP LAND AND DO THINGS THAT IF HIGH SPEED RAIL WERE TO OCCUR WITH THESE PARTICULAR LAND SWAPS, YOU WILL GET MORE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT THAN WITHOUT.
YOU, YOU OWN A MAJOR PARKING LOT FOR YOUR, UH, UH, VEHICLES.
WE CROSSED THAT PARTICULAR LOT.
YOU WISH TO DEVELOP IT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES IN THE FUTURE.
WE'RE NOW AVOIDING THAT PARTICULAR LOT TO NOT HURT YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE.
CHAIRMAN BEZEL, DO YOU RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE? THANK YOU.
I'D, UH, LIKE TO, UM, ASK MS. MENDELSON TO CONTINUE QUESTIONING.
UM, ON FEBRUARY 27TH, 2020, IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER, THERE IS A ITEM PUBLISHED BY THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, AND IT'S RESCINDING THE NOTICE OF INTENT THAT WAS ISSUED SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2014.
AND IT SAYS THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE PROJECT SCOPE CHANGE PROPOSED BY THE STATE SPONSOR.
SO I'M WONDERING WHO IS THE STATE SPONSOR FIRST AND SECOND, WHY WAS, UM, THE ALIGNMENT CHANGED AND WHY DID THEY DO THIS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT, UH, SECTION THAT WAS FOR? WAS IT DALLAS TO HOUSTON? WAS IT IT IS DALLAS TO HOUSTON? YES.
OH, I, I WOULD'VE TO SEE WHAT YOU'RE READING FROM, TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION.
IT LITERALLY SAYS FRA IS RESCINDING THE NOI FOR TWO EIS DUE TO PROJECT SCOPE CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE STATE SPONSOR.
FIRST FRA IS RESCINDING THE NOI FOR THE EIS EVALUATING.
THE DALLAS TO FORT WORTH COURT EXPRESS PASSENGER SERVICE BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
FRA ISSUED THE NOI ON SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2014.
WHEN, WHEN YOU IT HELPED ME WHEN YOU SAID STATE SPONSOR.
WHO IS THE STATE SPONSOR THOUGH? I'M SORRY? WHO IS THE STATE SPONSOR? THE STATE OF TEXAS, PROBABLY TDOT IS MY GUESS.
T SO TDOT NO LONGER IS INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT? NO.
STATE OF TEXAS HAS BEEN INDICATED EARLIER IN THIS PARTICULAR MEETING IS, UH, DISCONNECTED FROM HIGH SPEED RAIL IMPLEMENTATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THERE'S, THERE'S A SERIES OF ISSUES BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN TDOT THAT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT ENDS UP PERMITTING OR NOT PERMITTING TDOT TO BE INVOLVED IN HIGH SPEED RAIL.
UM, SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, TDOT WAS IN THE HIGH SPEED RAIL BUSINESS UNTIL THEY WOKE UP ONE DAY AND THEY'RE NOT IN THE HIGH SPEEDED RAIL BUSINESS.
SO TDOT, THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION RESCINDED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN RIDLEY IS READING FROM, WITH REGARD TO TDOT'S POSITION.
THAT THEY, THEY THEORETICALLY CLAIM, UH, THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF 125 MILE AN HOUR TRAIN ON THE TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS.
[05:10:01]
HAVE NO IDEA WHO WOULD BUILD THAT.UH, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT DARTON, THE TRINITY RAILWAY EXPRESS OR ATTORNEY METRO.
UM, BUT THAT'S THE, I BELIEVE WHEN WE PULL THAT FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE, IT'S REFERRING TO THE SAME STUDY THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN RIDLEY IS REFERRING TO.
SO NOW THE FRA IS ALSO NOT INVOLVED.
FRA? WELL, THE FRA IS CERTAINLY INVOLVED IN OURS BECAUSE IT JUST AWARDED US QUARTER IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM TO BUILD HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
SO BOTH THE FEDERAL TRANS ADMINISTRATION THINKS IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
'CAUSE WE'RE NOW IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PHASE AND THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION THINKS IT'S A GREAT I IDEA.
'CAUSE WE'RE NOW ON THE PATH FOR FEDERAL FUNDS BEHIND, HOPEFULLY BEHIND AMTRAK IN, IN BUILDING, UH, TO DALLAS, FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON.
SO BOTH FEDERAL AGENCIES COULDN'T BE MORE SUPPORTIVE OF DALLAS TO FORT WORTH THAN THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION.
SO I'D LIKE ROSA, IF YOU COULD GIVE US THE ACTUAL STREET NAMES OF WHERE THE STATION IS IN THE CEDARS.
THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ANSWER OF CEDARS ALL THE TIME.
IF YOU COULD HOLD ON ONE SECOND, MADAM SECRETARY.
UH, I HAVE WHAT, NINE MINUTES OF OF TIME MYSELF.
I'LL ASK HER THREE MINUTES WORTH OF QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU MINUTES VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA MAKE A STATEMENT, WHICH I THINK, YOU KNOW, WAS REPORTED ON PRETTY HEAVILY.
I FIND IT COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS THAT THERE WAS AN ITEM BROUGHT TO THE RTC TO WITHHOLD A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OF FUNDING FOR DALLAS PROJECTS UNTIL WE AGREE TO THIS PROJECT.
AND THOSE ARE NOT PROJECTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE HIGH SPEED RAIL.
I THINK IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT THAT WAS DONE.
AND, UM, I'M, I'M ACTUALLY QUITE UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT.
SO YOU THINK I SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH PROJECTS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION WITHOUT THE CITY OF DALLAS CONSIDERATION? IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN A PROJECT AT THANKSGIVING SQUARE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF LANES AROUND THANKSGIVING SQUARE WITHOUT MY BENEFIT OF KNOWING WHAT THE CITY OF DALLAS'S POSITION IS ON THAT PARTICULAR POSITION, I FIND THAT ALSO OFFENSIVE.
UM, YOU'RE HOLDING UP A PROJECT IN COLLIN COUNTY AT FRANKFURT ROAD THAT IS 20 MILES AWAY FROM HIGH SPEEDED RAIL.
I'M HOLDING, YOU'RE HOLDING, HOLDING UP PROJECTS, HOLDING THAT PT POINT OF ORDER.
MR. MAYOR, STATE YOUR POINT OF ORDER.
HO HOLD HOLD ON THE ITEM, THE, THIS, THE COUNCIL MEMBER IS NOT GERMANE TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO DO IS RE REMEMBER THIS IS A BRIEFING MEETING AND THESE ARE, UM, FOLKS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TO GIVE US, UH, ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.
YEAH, JUST GIMME ONE SECOND TO RUN MY MEETING IF YOU DON'T MIND.
WE DON'T DEBATE, WE DON'T ARGUE.
Y'ALL ARE INVITED GUESTS, YOU ANSWER QUESTIONS, YOU ASK QUESTIONS ANYBODY HAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT SHOULD GO TO A DIFFERENT MEETING THAN THIS ONE.
SO MADAM COUNCILWOMAN, IF YOU JUST TELL ME THAT YOUR CITY OF DALLAS HAS APPROVED THE LOCAL MATCH ON THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT, THE RTC HAS ALREADY APPROVED THAT PROJECT, AND THAT PROJECT CAN GO TO CONSTRUCTION.
I'M WAITING ON THE APPROVAL OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL ON THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THAT PROJECT.
WELL, I NEED TO, I NEED, I NEED TO SEE THAT.
SO THE NEXT ITEM, UM, THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP IS I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM THIS REPORT, WHICH I WILL SEND TO YOU TODAY, WHICH IS THE REPORT FOR THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION.
THEY HAVE THREE PARAGRAPHS OF THEIR SUMMARY OF EVALUATION RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND I'M JUST GONNA READ YOU ONE SENTENCE FROM EACH OF THE PARAGRAPHS SO THAT YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT IT IS.
THE FIRST ONE SAYS THAT THE I 30 CORRIDOR POSSESSES CONSIDERABLE OBSTACLES TO IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING HAVING THE GREATEST ENGINEERING CHALLENGES, THE HIGHEST DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COMPLEXITY AND CONSTRUCTION RISK, AND THE HIGHEST CAPITAL COST FOR THESE REASONS.
THE I 30 QUARTER WAS DROPPED FROM FUTURE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
THE SECOND PARAGRAPH SAYS, TRE AND HYBRID QUARTERS ARE VIABLE AT THE 90 MILE PER HOUR AND 125 MILE PER HOUR.
OPERATING SCENARIOS OPERATING IN EITHER QUARTER AT 220 MILES IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE VIABLE.
THE THIRD PARAGRAPH, THE ONE SENTENCE IS THIS, THE TRE CORRIDOR OFFERS THE BEST FINANCIAL VIABILITY WITH THE LOWER CAPITAL COSTS.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I AM SHOCKED TO HAVE FOUND THIS DOCUMENT THAT WE WERE NOT BRIEFED AT RTC ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WITH I 30.
WE RELY ON STAFF FOR ENGINEERING LINES THERE.
AND I THINK THAT IF MY COLLEAGUES AT RTC HAD HEARD THIS INFORMATION, THEY MAY NOT HAVE AGREED WITH THE I 30 ALIGNMENT.
[05:15:01]
WAS NEVER GIVEN PROS AND CONS.AND NOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION, I THINK THIS GROUP NEEDS TO REALLY DECIDE, ARE WE JUST GONNA GO ALONG WITH WHAT YOU WANT? AND MAYBE EVEN WHAT CERTAINLY THE ARLINGTON MAYOR WANTS, ARE WE GONNA JUST GO ALONG BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET OUR A HUNDRED MILLION OF PROJECTS RELEASED AND WE WANNA MAKE NICE, BUT IN DOING SO, WE'RE DESTROYING OUR DOWNTOWN.
WE'RE DESTROYING THIS HUGE INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN VOTE FOR.
BUT IF WE'RE BUILDING IT, I WANT IT TO BE GREAT.
AND THEN WE GET AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF $5 BILLION TO INVEST IN, IN, IN THE HUNT AREA.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE CAN, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.
UM, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
MAYOR, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
I SIMPLY WANTED TO JUST WRAP UP BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I MADE MY STATEMENTS EARLIER AND I DO WANNA GO ON THE RECORD AS SAYING, I DO APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE AND I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY MENTALLY YOU'RE, YOU'RE KIND OF LEAVING US A LITTLE BIT.
BUT PLEASE KNOW FROM MY VEIN, UH, I HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO WORK OUT ANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.
I SIMPLY BELIEVE THAT, UH, HOUSTON TO, I MEAN DALLAS TO HOUSTON'S GREAT.
AND, AND IF WE CAN WORK OUT WHETHER IT'S FORT WORTH, ARLINGTON TO MAKE A CONNECTION, I JUST THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX TO MOVE PEOPLE.
SO WHATEVER I CAN DO TO HELP, UH, MOVE THIS ALONG, E ESPECIALLY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND, AND WHATEVER YOU CAN DO.
AND I'LL BE ASKING OF COURSE, MORE QUESTIONS.
WE HAD A VERY LENGTHY MEETING ON YESTERDAY.
UH, BUT AS I STATED FOR THE RECORD, I KNOW I STARTED THE JOURNEY JUST IN LOOKING AT THIS PART, THE FIRST PART OF THIS WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH THE HOUSTON, DALLAS AND HOUSTON IN 2016.
SO I'M NOT THE, UH, EXPERT ON IT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I AM A CHAMPION OF ADDING ANOTHER TOOL FOR MODALITY, UH, IN THIS PARTICULAR REGION.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND, AND MR. MORRIS, UH, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE, UH, ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR TRANSPORTATION.
'CAUSE YOU'VE DONE QUITE A BIT FOR THE SOUTHERN SECTOR.
AND I CAN'T, UH, GO TODAY WITHOUT SAYING THAT YOU HAVE DONE, YOU HAVE PROVEN TO US, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, THAT YOU ARE DEFINITELY ON BOARD FOR MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A COMMITMENT FOR MO FOR MODALITY AND DIFFERENT MOBILE OPTIONS.
BUT YOU, YOU AND TRANSPORTATION IN GENERAL.
SO I JUST WANNA PUT THAT ON THE RECORD.
SO THANK YOU ALL, ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TODAY.
I KNOW THAT THEY ARE RELEVANT TO WHERE THEY ARE, BUT WHERE I AM TODAY IS I BELIEVE WE CAN GET IT WORKED OUT AND I HOPE IT DOES GET WORKED OUT JUST FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS GREAT CITY OF DALLAS.
AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, OF COURSE, TIME'S TWO 30.
WE'RE GONNA STAY AT RECESS UNTIL 3:00 PM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF OUR, UM, EXPERTS HERE FOR BEING HERE.
AND WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ITEMS A AND B.
AND THE CITY MANAGER AND I HAVE ALREADY TALKED AND WE BELIEVE IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THAT ITEM D CAN BE BRIEFED AT A LATER DATE.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, THEN WE WILL NOT TAKE UP ITEM D TODAY.
SO WE'LL COME BACK AT THREE O'CLOCK, ENJOY YOUR LUNCH, AND WE'LL DO ITEMS A AND B WHEN WE GET BACK.
WE'LL STAY AT RECESS UNTIL THREE O'CLOCK.
ARE WE LIVE YET? ARE WE, UH, WE'RE GOOD.
TIME'S 3:19 PM WE'RE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION, MADAM SECRETARY.
[A. 24-469 I-345 Connects-Schematic/Environmental Phase Attachments: Presentation]
ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO TAKE US THROUGH THE REST OF OUR BRIEFING AGENDA FOR TODAY.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THIS, IN THIS BRIEFING.
OUR NEXT BRIEFING, WE HAVE SEASON CLEMMENS WITH TDOT, WHO'S THE TDOT DISTRICT ENGINEER.
HE'LL BE PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON TDOT'S, CONTINUED PLANNING, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND WORK WITH MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF I 3 45.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MS. CLEMENCE AND I ALSO WILL ACKNOWLEDGE WE'VE GOT, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ROBERT PEREZ, AND DIRECTOR GU AND CARLY THIS SEASON, OR VERY GOOD.
I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO TURN THAT ON AND PULL IT UP CLOSE TO YOU.
YOU GOT IT? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? VERY GOOD.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND JUMP TO THE, THE NEXT SLIDE.
JUST A REMINDER OF OUR PROJECT LIMITS, INTERSTATE 3 45.
I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE IT IS, BUT, UM, THE ELEVATED FREEWAY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF DOWNTOWN, OUR PROJECT DOES INCLUDE, UM, TIE-INS AT INTERSTATE 30 AS WELL AS WOODALL AND US 75.
A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT.
I THINK MOST OF YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR, BUT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THIS CORRIDOR FOR A GOOD, GOOD, UH, TIME PERIOD.
UM, IN 2012, WE LOOKED AT THE STRUCTURE, UM, AND WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UH, OPTIONS,
[05:20:01]
IF YOU WOULD.BUT, UH, THE MAIN FOCUS IN 2012 WAS HOW DO WE REHAB THE EXISTING BRIDGE BRIDGES IN ORDER TO GET MORE LIFE OUT OF IT? UH, THEN WE, WE GO INTO 2014 IN WHICH WE CONDUCTED OUR CITY MAP STUDY.
UM, CITY MAP WAS THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE.
IT REALLY LOOKED AT, UM, ALL DOWNTOWN QUARTERS.
IT WAS NOT JUST 3 45 FOCUSED, IT WAS IN INTERSTATE 30, THE CANYON, UM, WHAT WE CALL THE EAST CORRIDOR INTERSTATE 30, UM, TO THE EAST TOWARDS FAIR PARK INCLUDED SOUTHERN GATEWAY.
IT INCLUDED LOIS SIMMONS AND REALLY LOOKED AT, UM, WHAT ALL WE CAN DO, UM, WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE CORRIDORS.
AND, UM, A LITTLE BIT, UM, DIFFERENT THAN WHAT T TYPICALLY LOOKS AT, BUT WE WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON, ON FOUR GOALS.
AND THAT WAS MOBILITY, CONNECTIVITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH CITY MEP.
UM, THEN FROM CITY MEP, UM, AGAIN, CITY MEP WAS ART OF THE POSSIBLE.
WE GO INTO OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT IS SPECIFIC TO INTERSTATE 3 45, UM, AND REALLY LOOKING AT THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT ART OF THE POSSIBLE.
SO WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS? WHAT HAPPENS WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS? I BELIEVE MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR.
UM, TEX OUT RECOMMENDED WHAT WE CALL THAT WAS A REFINED HYBRID, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY REMOVING THE ELEVATED STRUCTURES, TAKING THE FREEWAY LANES BELOW GRADE AND HAVE THE CITY STREET GRID ON TOP OF THE FREEWAY LANES.
UM, WE DID GET CONDITIONAL APPROVAL BY, UM, THIS BODY.
UM, AND SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN THAT CONDITIONAL APPROVAL, WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT, UM, WE MET ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT CITY COUNCIL ASKED US TO WITH THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION.
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SORRY, AGAIN, CONDITIONALLY IMPROVED.
THE NEXT SLIDE BREAKS DOWN THAT CITY COUNCIL FROM, FROM MAY OF 2023.
UM, SECTION ONE REALLY LOOKED AT, UM, FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS.
HOW DO WE WORK WITH D TWO? ARE THERE FREAK WAY, CAPPING OPPORTUNITIES? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT CITY STREET GOOD STAYS INTACT? UM, WE DO HAVE SURPLUS RIGHT OF WAY AVAILABLE WITH THE PROJECT.
UM, AND SO WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT SURPLUS RIGHT OF WAY? AS WELL AS MAKING SURE WE'RE IN LINE WITH CONNECT DALLAS? SECTION TWO WAS REALLY LOOKING AT, UM, THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS A A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLANS, UM, IN POLICIES ALREADY IN PLACE.
ARE WE IN LINE WITH THOSE PLANS? AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE TAKEN A DEEPER DIVE ON THAT.
WE'RE HERE BRIEFING YOU, UM, BASED ON SECTION THREE.
WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS.
SECTION FOUR IS A LITTLE BIT OF A REPEAT OF SECTION ONE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
UM, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO FUTURE CAPPING.
SECTION FIVE WAS TRUCK REROUTING.
UM, AND THEN SECTION SIX IS, UM, CITY STAFF EXPLORING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK, UM, AT THE TXDOT ANALYSIS.
UM, SECTION SEVEN WAS MEETING MULTIMODAL USERS.
UM, AND THEN SECTION EIGHT, IT WAS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
SO WHAT WE DID WITH THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IS WE ACTUALLY FORMED SUBCOMMITTEES.
UM, A LOT OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HEARD FROM COUNCIL BEFORE WAS, WE NEED MORE DEPARTMENTS FROM THE CITY INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
UM, IT CAN'T JUST BE THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A TRANSPORTATION PROJECT.
AND SO WE'VE BROUGHT IN OTHER, UM, CITY DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
AND SO WITH THAT, WE FORMED THREE SUBCOMMITTEES.
UM, WE'RE ENGINEERS, SO ARE NOT REAL, UM, CREATIVE NAMES, BUT THE FIRST ONE WAS RESTORATION OF SURFACE STREET GRID.
SECOND WAS SURPLUS RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, AND THE THIRD IS CONNECT DALLAS.
SO WITH THE SURFACE STREET GRID, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE, UH, WE HAD MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN, UM, THAT SUBCOMMITTEE.
IT WAS NOT JUST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IT WAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING PLANNING, AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
AGAIN, TRANSPORTATION WAS PART OF THAT AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS.
AND SO, UM, REALLY LOOKING AT, UM, HOW DO WE KEEP THE CITY STREET GRID GOING? UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST BENEFITS OF THE, THE CURRENT ALIGNMENT TODAY IS THE CITY STREET GRID IS INTACT AS IT GOES UNDERNEATH THE FREEWAY, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALIGNED WITH THE, THE COMPLETE STREETS MANUAL.
UM, AND SO WE'VE MET MULTIPLE TIMES.
IF YOU WANNA GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'VE ACTUALLY MET 20 TIMES SINCE AUGUST.
UM, IT TOOK US A LITTLE WHILE TO FORM THE COMMITTEES, BUT MEMBERS OF EACH OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN IN EACH ONE OF THESE ME MEETINGS.
WE LOOKED AT THE CROSS SECTION FOR EACH ONE OF THE CITY STREET GR CD STREETS THAT CROSSED 3 45.
WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.
UM, AGAIN, NOT JUST BASED ON TRANSPORTATION, BUT OTHER, UM, DEPARTMENTS.
UH, WE LOOKED AT MULTIMODAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
UM, ANOTHER, THERE WILL BE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT STREETCAR.
UH, ONE OF THE, THE GOOD BENEFITS THAT WE'VE FOUND, UM, THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS NO MATTER WHERE STREETCAR GOES, AS IT CROSSES INTERSTATE 3 45 STRUCTURALLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE WHEREVER THE CITY CHOOSES TO PUT IT.
I THINK THAT IT'S STILL IN FLUX ON WHERE, EXACTLY WHAT CITY STREET, GR, CITY STREET, IT WILL CROSS 3 45, BUT STRUCTURALLY WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT WE CAN BUILD THE BRIDGES
[05:25:01]
TO, UM, ACCOMMODATE, UH, STREETCAR IN THE FUTURE.WE'LL GO ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, SURPLUS RIGHT WAY.
UM, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
IT WAS PART OF THIS, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS, ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM PLANNING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT, THAT EXCESS RIGHT OF WAY THAT IS FREED UP BY, UM, BY THE PROJECT.
UM, WE HAD 8.7 ACRES, UH, WITH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT WE BELIEVE ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH CONSTRUCTION, WE'LL BE DEEMED SURPLUS.
UM, THERE'S ANOTHER 9.7 ACRES OF, OF CAPPING OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, YOU'LL SEE AT OUR PUBLIC MEETING HERE LATER THIS MONTH, UM, JUST BASED ON SOME OF THE REFINEMENTS WE'VE MADE WITH CITY STAFF, UH, THAT SURPLUS HAS GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT WHAT WE REALLY HEARD FROM CITY STAFF WAS, YES, THERE'S A LOT OF SURPLUS, BUT A LOT OF THAT'S NOT REALLY USABLE.
SO IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE, UH, COMBINED WITH THE, THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.
IF WE WANNA GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO WE'VE HAD NINE CELL SESSIONS.
UM, WITH THIS, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE ALONE, UH, WE THINK THIS ONE'S ABOUT WRAPPED UP JUST BECAUSE THE CITY STREET GRID IS ALMOST FINAL.
UM, THERE'S NOT A LOT MORE DISCUSSION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AS FAR AS THE SURPLUS RIGHT OF WAY, BUT, UM, THE CITY'S BEEN PROVIDED EXHIBITS FOR EVERY, UM, SURPLUS PROPERTY, UH, THAT WE SEE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AND, AND THEY CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON WHAT DO YOU DO, UH, WITH THAT SURPLUS RIGHT OF WAY IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THE LAST COMMITTEE IS, IS CONNECT DALLAS.
UM, REALLY MAKING SURE OUR, OUR SCHEMATIC WORKS WITH, WITH THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING THE MULTIMODAL, THE STREETCAR, UM, PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLE, AGAIN, MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
UH, WERE INVOLVED IN THIS, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING PLANNING NUMBER AND DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
WE'VE HAD SIX SESSIONS WITH THIS, UH, COMMITTEE.
UH, A BIG FOCUS WAS MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT JUST WORKING ON INTERSTATE 3 45 DOWNTOWN.
WE'VE GOT OUR I 30 CANYON PROJECT THAT WE'RE HOPING WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
UM, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON, UM, A REMAKE OF INTERSTATE 30 TO THE EAST.
WE CALL IT THE EAST CORRIDOR PROJECT AROUND FAIR PARK.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THIS WORKS, UM, IN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE, THE STAKEHOLDERS.
SO WE'VE MET WITH, UM, D PELLUM, UH, BAYLOR HOSPITAL, DDI, WE'RE NOT DONE WORKING WITH THEM.
THEY, THEY STILL HAVE SOME REQUESTS FROM US AND WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THAT ACCESS.
UM, REALLY A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THEM IS WE, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE SURE WE CAN GET TO EACH ONE OF THOSE DESTINATIONS.
AND SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT.
BUT, UM, WE THINK THIS HAS BEEN A POSITIVE STEP IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE.
SO REGARD, THIS REALLY COVERS SECTION ONE OF THE COUNCIL, UM, UH, RESOLUTION.
UH, WE DON'T REALLY SEE FORM IN A SUBCOMMITTEE TO DISCUSS D TWO.
UM, OUR PLANS STILL ACCOMMODATE THE FUTURE OF D TWO, UM, SHOULD IT, IT PROGRESS, UM, IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE DON'T REALLY THINK THERE'S A NEED FOR THAT.
AND AGAIN, STREETCAR, WE CAN MAKE STREETCAR WORK NO MATTER WHERE IT LANDS, UM, ON WHAT CITY STREET.
UH, WE WILL START, UH, SUBCOMMITTEE HERE PRETTY SOON TO LOOK AT FREEWAY CAPPING OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT DO YOU DO, UM, WITH THOSE COMP CAPPING OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER THAT'S BUILDINGS ON TOP OF THE INTERSTATE OR THOSE PUBLIC PARKS.
UM, HOW DO WE KEEP CARPENTER PARK WHOLE? AND SO THAT WILL BE OUR NEXT STEP AS FAR AS SUBCOMMITTEES.
WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO ON TOP OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES, UM, WHAT WE HEARD FROM COUNCIL LAST TIME IS, AGAIN, YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF PLANS.
DOES THE 3 45 PROJECT WORK WITH THE, THE EXISTING CITY PLANS THAT COUNCIL HAS ALREADY ADOPTED? AND SO WITH THAT, UM, WE MEET MONTHLY, UH, WITH DR. PEREZ AS, AS WELL AS GUS.
BUT, UM, WE'VE BROUGHT IN THE HEADS OF, OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
THEY SIT ON THIS MONTHLY MEETING.
AND, UH, IF YOU WANNA GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN BRIEFINGS FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE, UM, OF THE PLANS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.
AND I KNOW IN THE RESOLUTION THERE WERE SPECIFIC PLANS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED, BUT, UM, WHAT WE LEARNED IS THE CITY HAS A LOT MORE PLANS.
AND SO, UM, WE'VE GONE THROUGH EACH ONE OF THEM, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, OUR PLAN FOR INTERSTATE 3 45 REALLY FITS IN WITH YOUR CAP PLAN, WITH YOUR RACIAL EQUITY PLAN, ECONOMIC, UM, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, YOUR STREET MANUAL NEXT SLIDE, AS WELL AS ALL OF THESE PLANS ON THIS SLIDE.
AND SO, UM, WE'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK.
AGAIN, THE CITY STAFF REALLY HELPED EDUCATE US, UM, TO, TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THOSE METRICS WITH, UH, THE CITY PLANS, WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THOSE CITY PLANS.
UM, AND WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT OUR PROJECT WILL FIT IN LINE WITH THOSE PLANS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF.
BUT THAT HAS BEEN THE MAIN POINT OF THOSE MONTHLY MEETINGS IS ONE, UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT THE CITY HAS ALREADY IN THE WORKS AS WELL AS JUST THE HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENTS, UM, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATING AND REALLY WORKING
[05:30:01]
TOGETHER ON THE PROJECT.WE CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UH, THE NEXT POINT, UH, WITHIN THE RESOLUTION IS WE'RE HERE EVERY SIX MONTHS.
I THINK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE IN DECEMBER, BUT WE GOT DELAYED JUST BECAUSE, UM, I THINK THAT IS THE BOND DISCUSSION.
BUT, UM, WE ARE PLANNING TO BE BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH WILL LINE UP, WE'LL SHOW YOU IN THE SCHEDULE.
WE PLAN ON GOING TO A PUBLIC HEARING IN SEPTEMBER, SO THAT SHOULD LINE UP VERY WELL.
UM, WITH THAT NEXT SLIDE, UH, RESOLUTION.
SECTION FIVE WAS TRUCK REROUTING.
WE REALLY LOOKED AT TRUCK REROUTING, UM, WITH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
WE DID A VERY DETAILED ORIGIN DESTINATION STUDY AND REALLY FOUND, UM, TRAFFIC USING INTERSTATE 3 45 ARE ORIGINATING.
THE MAJORITY OF IT IS ORIGINATING WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS AND IS DESTINED TO WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND SO, UM, WE DON'T THINK ANYTHING HAS CHANGED WITH THAT, THAT ORIGIN DESTINATION STUDY TEX O AS A WHOLE, WE HAVE A, A FREIGHT MOBILITY PLAN, UM, THAT WAS ADOPTED IN 2018.
IT IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED AND SO WE ARE IN TUNE WITH, UM, THOSE UPDATES.
AND SHOULD WE SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENING ALONG 3 45, OBVIOUSLY, UM, WE WOULD BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION, UM, AND MAKE MODIFICATIONS IF WE NEEDED TO.
BUT, UM, REALLY WE DON'T SEE, UM, TRUCK REROUTING HAPPENING JUST BECAUSE THOSE TRUCKS THAT ARE USING IT TODAY ARE REALLY DESTINED WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, THE NEXT SLIDE WAS, UH, IS ADDRESSING, UM, THE REQUEST FROM COUNCIL FOR CITY STAFF TO, UH, LOOK AT AN FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO, UM, TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT AT THE TXDOT STUDY.
PER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA WEIGH IN, BUT I BELIEVE YOU GUYS HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER GRANT REQUESTS RIGHT NOW.
UH, ROBERT PETTIS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
UM, YOU'LL SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE THAT, UM, WE HAD LOOKED AT POTENTIALLY, UH, SUBMITTING A GRANT APPLICATION, UH, FOR RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES.
UM, BUT WE DIDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE WANTED, WE DIDN'T WANT TO COMPETE WITH THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, UH, GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR DECK PARKS OVER, SO CLY, WARREN'S, UH, SOUTHERN GATEWAY AND THE THREE FINGERS HERE OVER I 30.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, I DO ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT EVEN IF WE DID SUBMIT THIS GRANT, UH, THE CHALLENGE WOULD BE GAINING TX DOTS APPROVAL TO ACTUALLY, UH, LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE USE OF I 3 45.
WE CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO JUST LOOKING AT THE TIMELINE, UM, REALLY WE'VE BEEN COORDINATING WITH THE CITY FOR SINCE THE, THE MAY RESOLUTION.
UM, WE HAVE OFFICIALLY STARTED OUR SCHEMATIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHASE.
UM, AND SO WE ANTICIPATE THIS BEING CLEARED AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
UM, THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW IN JUST A SECOND.
WE DO HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS PLANNED FOR MARCH 19TH AND MARCH 21ST.
SO IN A COUPLE WEEKS, HOPEFULLY YOU ALL HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
UM, THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS WENT OUT, UM, TO THE PUBLIC LAST WEEK.
AND, AND THEN JUST A REMINDER TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, UH, I BELIEVE MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, UH, WE'LL GET FEEDBACK AT THAT MEETING.
WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS, UM, JUST BASED ON THE, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
UM, AND THEN WE TOO PLAN TO GO TO, UM, OUR OFFICIAL ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEARING IN THE FALL.
RIGHT NOW THAT'S SCHEDULED TENTATIVELY FOR SEPTEMBER.
AND OUR GOAL IS TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY CLEAR, SPRING OF, OF 2015 AND ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE.
UM, THE GOOD NEWS WITH THIS PROJECT IS WE DO NOT NEED ANY NEW RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, WE FIT ALL WITHIN, UM, THE EXISTING STATE RIGHT OF WAY THAT'S OUT THERE TODAY.
UM, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE ALLOWS US TO GO INTO THE DETAILED DESIGN AND THEN WE COULD GO TO CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED.
UH, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER FOR OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS, UM, HERE IN A COUPLE WEEKS.
MARCH 19TH AND MARCH, MARCH 21ST.
UM, THERE'S IN-PERSON OPTIONS.
UH, WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION, UM, AND THEN REALLY JUST, UM, UH, ANSWERING QUESTIONS AT TABLES AND EXHIBITS, UM, OF THE PUBLIC.
BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO A VIRTUAL OPTION IN CASE, UM, FOLKS CANNOT MAKE IT TO THE IN-PERSON MEETINGS, AS WELL AS THE PRESENTATION WILL BE, UM, TAPED AND THEN PUT ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL.
BUT THAT IS THE UPDATE FOR INTERSTATE 3 45.
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
CHAIRMAN WEST, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES WE'RE ON ITEM A FOR THE PUBLIC.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.
I HAD ASKED FOR THESE BRIEFING MATERIALS BACK IN DECEMBER WHEN I THINK THIS WAS ORIGINALLY GONNA GET BRIEFED, AND I RECEIVED A VERY SIMILAR VERSION TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
UM, BUT THESE WERE NOT POSTED UNTIL MONDAY, I BELIEVE, UM, FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO WHY, WHY DID WE WAIT SO LONG? I'M GUESS I SHOULD LOOK AT YOU GUYS FOR THIS.
I, I WAS WORKING ON IT THIS WEEKEND, SO I WAS TRYING TO UPDATE A FEW SLIDES, UM, JUST BASED ON RECENT CONVERSATIONS.
UM, AND SO I DID NOT GET IT TO CITY STAFF UNTIL MONDAY.
UM, ALRIGHT, SO IT WAS IN MAY OF 2023,
[05:35:01]
UH, COUNSEL, UM, UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SUPPORT THE HYBRID MODEL, UM, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WOULD HAVE CHECK-INS, WHICH WE'RE DOING.UM, THAT YOU, THAT T DOT STAFF WOULD WORK WITH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IT'S, IT'S, YOU'VE DONE THAT VERY WELL.
AND I WANNA COME BACK TO THAT AND THAT WE WOULD SEEK ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES FOR BOTH AN ALTERNATIVE DESIGN AND POSSIBLY REMOVAL, WHICH YOU DID TOUCH ON.
UM, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO READ THAT, BUT IF THE, WE'VE GOT THE TRANSCRIPT IF WE NEED IT.
UM, SO I WANTED TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY IF AFTER THE QUESTIONS TODAY AND AFTER THIS BRIEFING, IF ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, WANTED TO CHANGE THEIR SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION, UM, WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCEDURAL MECHANISM FOR THAT, IF NOT TODAY, THEN AT A LATER DATE? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
UNDER YOUR RULES OF PROCEDURE, BECAUSE THIS RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED IN MAY OF 2023, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SUSPEND YOUR RULES TO, UM, CONSIDER A RECONSIDERATION.
SO IT WOULD BE THREE STEP PROCESS, SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, AND THEN BRINGING THE BO THE ITEM BACK TO COUNSEL FOR CONSIDERATION AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S THE ONLY OPTION.
IS THERE, IS THERE ANOTHER OPTION LIKE WHERE WE COULD BRING UP A NEW RESOLUTION OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES? WELL, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE, THE RESOLUTION THAT'S IN EFFECT.
UM, YOU COULD, UM, BECAUSE OF RULE 6.1 AND 6.2 OF HOW ITEMS COME BACK TO COUNCIL BASED ON POLICY, UM, IT COULD BE THROUGH THE MAYOR PLACE SEEING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
A COMMITTEE COULD CONSIDER, UH, AMENDMENT OR REPEAL AND ASK THAT THE MAYOR PLACE THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
LET'S SEE, WHAT ARE THE OTHER WAYS? FIVE SIGNATURE MEMO WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY TO BRING THE ITEM DOWN.
ADD THE, THE, YOUR ASSISTANT OVER HERE.
SO THERE'S THE TWO MAJOR WAYS THEN WOULD BE THROUGH RECONSIDERATION OR WE WAIT ANOTHER SIX MONTHS, OR WE WAIT TILL MAY AND THEN WE WOULD AFTER THE, THE YEAR, AND THEN WE COULD DO A REPEAL OR IT HAVE TO GO THROUGH COMMITTEE.
YOU COULD CONSIDER AMENDING THE RESOLUTION OR REPEALING IT AND AT COMMITTEE AND THEN ASKING THE MAYOR TO PUT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
I JUST WANTED TO GET ALL THAT OUT THERE SO THAT NOW I CAN FOCUS ON MY QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE WHAT I EXPECTED TO HAPPEN HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
SO SINCE MAY, 2023, WHAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES, UM, HAVE WE SOUGHT FOR A, A, AN ALTERNATIVE DESIGN BEYOND WHAT TDOT AND MR. MORRIS HAVE SHOWN US? SO, UH, AGAIN, SIR, GOING BACK TO THE PRESENTATION, WE, WE DID CONSIDER THIS AS PART OF THE RECONNECTED COMMUNITIES, UH, GRANT APPLICATION.
UM, AND I, I STATED WHY WE DIDN'T PURSUE THAT.
UM, THAT TO DATE HAS BEEN THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE THAT WE LOOKED AT AS FEDERAL GRANTS, BUT THAT WAS THE SAME, UM, PILOT PROGRAM THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IN MAY, 2023 AND YOU DISMISSED IT AT THAT TIME.
HAVE WE, HAS STAFF SOUGHT ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, FUNDING SOURCES? NO, SIR.
UM, AND I WOULD ASSUME THERE'S BEEN NO ADDITIONAL SEEKING OF FUNDING SOURCES FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR ANY REMOVAL IF TEXTILE WON'T PAY FOR THAT, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.
SO I KNOW AT LEAST ONE OTHER DESIGN STUDY DOES EXIST THAT'S OUT THERE.
HAS STAFF AT ANY POINT LOOKED AT THE TOOL DESIGN STUDY FOR THE 3 45 CORRIDOR? I THINK THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY COMMISSIONED BY LIKE, UH, A PRIVATE GROUP, UH,
SO IF THAT'S THE ONE, I MEAN, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I REVIEWED IT MYSELF, BUT, UM, I MEAN, IT HAS BEEN A WHILE.
UM, HAVE WE CONDUCTED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR THE 3 45 CORRIDOR? UM, UNDER THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE PLANS WE LOOKED AT AS PART OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WE LOOKED AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS FOR EACH ALTERNATIVE.
SO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN WHAT CAPACITY OF, OF WE WORKED WITH CITY STAFF ON LAND USES FUTURE LAND USES AND LOOKED TO SEE, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I READ THE STUDY, BUT, UM, LOOKED AT FUTURE TAX REVENUE AS WELL AS PROPERTY VALUES.
UM, WHERE CAN WE GET A COPY OF THAT STUDY THAT'S ALL POSTED ONLINE AS PART OF OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY EVALUATION? WE CAN SEND YOU THE DIRECT LINK TO IT.
AND THAT'S BASED ON THE, THE ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS
[05:40:01]
THAT T DOT PRODUCED, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.WE HAD FIVE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE LOOKED AT, AND THAT WAS ALL PART OF THE ANALYSIS THAT LED US TO THE CONCLUSION WE CAME TO.
AND THAT CONSIDERED THE, UM, TAX REVENUE FROM NOW IN INTO THE FAR FUTURE FOR THE LAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT UNDER EACH ALTERNATIVE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, IT DID.
UM, UH, DR. PEREZ ON, IN THIS, UH, SLIDE 19, YOU REFERENCED THAT, UM, TDOT IS NOT GOING TO APPROVE ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVE USE OF I 3 45.
WHO DID YOU SPEAK WITH AT TXDOT THAT RELAYED THAT INFORMATION TO YOU? UM, THAT, THAT WOULD BE MS. CL, SIR.
WHO AT TDOT MADE THAT DECISION? I DID.
UM, DID WE SPEAK TO ANYBODY IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND IN THE STATE ADMINISTRATION? NOT, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, SIR.
I'D LIKE TO ASK, UM, ON THE DIFFERENT POLICY EVALUATIONS, IF WE COULD HAVE HOUSING AND PLANNING ON URBAN DESIGN COME UP PLEASE.
ARE YOU SPEAKING FOR BOTH? AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER? UH, WEST, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL PROVIDE THE CITY COUNCIL IN A MEMO.
WE WILL PROVIDE THEM THE STUDY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDY THAT, UH, TDOT HAS CONDUCTED.
SO I JUST DON'T WANT THE CITY COUNCIL TO GO LOOK FOR THAT INFORMATION.
WE SHOULD BE THE ONES PROVIDING IT FOR YOU.
UM, WE, UH, IT, IT APPEARS HERE ON SLIDE 16 THAT THE DALLAS HOUSING POLICY 20 20, 20 33 WAS EVALUATED.
UM, AND ALONG WITH THIS DESIGN THAT'S PROPOSED, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE PROPOSED DESIGN IS THE BEST DESIGN TO FURTHER OUR HOUSING POLICY GOALS? UH, THANK YOU THORAX AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UH, HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
THE BRIEFING THAT I PROVIDED ON NOVEMBER 14TH WAS AN OVERVIEW OF OUR RECENTLY ADOPTED DALLAS HOUSING POLICY.
IN RECENT, UM, PRESENTATIONS I HAVE PRESENTED ON THE EQUITY STRATEGY TARGET AREAS.
THIS 3 45 AND 30 ARE WITHIN TARGET AREA ONE.
SO THERE'S ALIGNMENT WHENEVER A MAJOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECT IS HAPPENING THAT WITHIN ONE OF OUR TARGET AREAS WE CAN LOOK AT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS IS LOOKING FOR MIXED INCOME, MIXED USE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THIS, UH, THIS GENERAL AREA SO THAT WE COULD ENSURE THAT THERE, WHEREVER THERE CAN BE NEW DEVELOPMENT AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE PROJECT, WE CAN HAVE, UM, AFFORDABLE UNITS AS PART OF THAT.
WOULD AN ALTERNATIVE THAT PROVIDED FOR MORE LAND AND MORE DEVELOPABLE OPPORTUNITIES BETTER COMPLY WITH OUR HOUSING POLICY? IF WE COULD PUT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON IT? UM, YEAH, WE, WE, WE LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THERE CAN BE MORE DEVELOPABLE LAND, YES.
UH, THE AREAS WHERE RIGHT AROUND THIS AREA WOULD BE BEST SUITED IF THEY WERE A MIXED USE INCOME OR A MIXED USE AND MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT, NOT JUST A HOUSING APARTMENT COMPLEX OR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN ISOLATION.
UH, GIVEN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CONNECTION FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN DEEP A BACK TO THE CITY, UH, THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR MORE WALKABILITY AND CONNECTIONS.
AND SO THE AREA REALLY HAS SOME REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS.
AND, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR PLANNING STAFF CAN SPEAK MORE TO THE CONNECTION PIECES, BEEN PLANNING AS WELL.
WERE YOU ASKED IN ANY OF THESE MEETINGS WITH TDOT, WHICH PLAN YOU BELIEVE AS AN EXPERT IN HOUSING WOULD BEST FURTHER OUR GOALS OF HOUSING? AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ALTERNATE THREE ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS.
UM, I'LL MOVE ON TO PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN.
UM, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THERE WERE 20 MEETINGS WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT, IF I READ THAT RIGHT.
UM, FROM A PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN PERSPECTIVE, UM, WHICH PLAN WOULD YOU OPINE, UM, IS, WOULD BE BEST FOR FURTHERING PLACEMAKING AND A CONNECTED CITY? AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS ROUND.
UH, ARTURO DE CASTILLO PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN.
UM, YES, WE, WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, UH, WORKING CLOSELY WITH TRANSPORTATION FOR A NUMBER OF, OF YEARS NOW.
UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE, UH, THE HYBRID VERSION IS THE ONE THAT GIVES US THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO HELP RESTORE THE GRID AND HELP, UH, GET SOME DEVELOPABLE SURPLUS LAND, UH,
[05:45:01]
TO MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS A LOT BETTER THAN THEY ARE CURRENTLY.CHAIRWOMAN SCHULTZ, DO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES ON ITEM A? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, I'M GONNA JUMP AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
UH, ON, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU ALL ON THE, ON THE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
I, I WANNA TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THIS.
I THINK YOU'RE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB WITH OUR STAFF AND REALLY DIGGING INTO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE MYRIAD PLANS WE HAVE HERE IN DALLAS.
UM, UM, I WANNA UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A SORT OF A, IT FEELS TO ME LIKE IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A BOX CHECK THAN AN, YOU KNOW, HAVING THEM AS PART OF THE TEAM AND THAT KIND OF THING, THE WAY YOU ARE WITH THE PROFESSIONALS.
SO, LOOKING AT THESE MEETINGS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AREN'T BOTH OF THESE IN-PERSON MEETINGS DURING SPRING BREAK? LIKE HOW DO WE REALLY GET THAT, GET THE INTEREST AND GET THE INVOLVEMENT IN THE, WITH THE PUBLIC? WE, WE CAN DEFINITELY HOLD MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
UH, IF THIS IS DURING DSDS SPRING BREAK, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT.
I THINK WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE WEEK BEFORE.
BUT, OH, I'M NOT TRYING TO IMP IMPLY ANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MAL INTENT IN ANY WAY.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR ENGAGEMENT IS AUTHENTIC.
AND SO OFTENTIMES, UH, AS MR. MORRIS WELL EXPERIENCED, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST WAY TO REALLY, UH, ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I'M WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE OPEN TO HAVING, UM, MORE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS OR MORE, UH, CREATIVE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE.
MAYBE THAT COULD BE SUGGESTED BY SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE AREA MOST IMPACTED ON SOME OF A TEAM OR SOMETHING WITH THAT.
WE WILL HOST ANY MEETING THAT, THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE US TO.
UM, WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE PUBLIC ENGAGED, WHOEVER WE NEED TO MEET WITH, WE DEFINITELY WILL.
SO I, I MAYBE MY CO MY COLLEAGUES WHO REALLY KNOW THIS AREA AND THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO WOULD WANNA BE ENGAGED, I THINK THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW, UM, THE, CAN WE REVISIT THE TRUCKS A LITTLE BIT? YES.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS THAT IT WAS JUST SORT OF NO, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S HARD.
AND I WANNA UNDERSTAND THE DATA BEHIND YOUR, THE UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE TRUCK TRAFFIC.
SO WE DID A, A VERY DETAILED ORIGIN DESTINATION, UM, STUDY.
UM, WE USE WHAT IT'S CALLED STREETLIGHT DATA.
UM, AND SO IT, IT, IT TAKES BLUETOOTH READERS AS WELL AS OTHER METRICS AND REALLY EVALUATES WHERE ARE PEOPLE ORIGINATING AND WHERE ARE THEY DESTINED.
AND SO WE LOOKED WELL BEYOND THE 6 35 LOOP.
UM, AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS, UM, THAT THE REALLY 75 TO 80% IS DESTINED OR ORIGINATING WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO DESTINED WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND SO, UH, I APOLOGIZE FOR MAKING IT SEEM LIKE WE DIDN'T TAKE AN IN DEPTH, DEFINITELY NOT CHECKING A BOX.
THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT AS PART OF OUR FEASIBILITY STUDY.
UM, WE, IT WAS A TREMENDOUS MODELING EFFORT AND JUST MAKING SURE, UM, THAT WE ALSO VALIDATED THAT INFORMATION.
AND SO, UM, THERE'S A MEANS THAT THEY VALIDATE, UM, THE BLUETOOTH DATA SO THAT WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THAT DATA.
AND SO, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT DURING THE, THE SELECTION OF THE HYBRID MODEL.
AND SO ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO STILL, TO, IF THE TRUCKS ARE ALL GOING, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE 6 35, THE LOOP, I MEAN, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN OF OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND ACTUALLY KEEP, MAKE THAT A NON TRUCK ROUTE? RIGHT.
AND SO ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND, OUR INTERSTATE IS ALREADY SIGNED THAT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ARE, ARE INSTRUCTED TO GO AROUND DOWNTOWN.
AND SO, UM, THAT'S ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT GIVES US CONFIDENCE THAT THEY ARE DESTINED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, WE ARE CHANGING THE INGRESS AND EGRESS TO THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WITH THE PROJECT.
THERE'S NOT GONNA BE AS MANY EXITS, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE AS MANY ENTRANCE RAMPS.
UM, AND SO IF THEY'RE TRYING TO LEAVE THE FREEWAY AND THEN MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH DOWNTOWN, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE MORE DIFFICULT TO DO.
UM, JUST BASED ON OUR CURRENT GEOMETRIC DESIGN.
NO, I DON'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET CUT INTO DOWNTOWN.
WHAT I MEAN IS WE'RE 3 45, I MEAN, I DRIVE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, RIGHT? AND SO IF THERE'S, AND I KNOW THAT THIS'LL BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT, BUT YOU KNOW, HAVING TRUCKS ON THE ROAD DURING, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESS HOURS, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING ON 75 AND ON 3 45.
AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I'VE SEEN IN OTHER CITIES SOMETIMES WHERE TRUCKS ARE NOT ALLOWED DURING CERTAIN HOURS, OR THEY HAVE TO TAKE 6 35, YOU KNOW, GO AROUND IF THEY WANNA BE HERE DURING RUSH HOUR, WHATEVER.
SO REALLY LIKE OVERSIZED PERMITS, UM, THAT IT, YOU CAN PASS A LOCAL ORDINANCE TO KEEP OVERSIZED PERMITS OFF OF THE ROADWAY, UM, DURING PEAK HOURS.
CITY OF DALLAS AND DALLAS COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE,
[05:50:01]
UM, THAT RESTRICTION RIGHT NOW.AND SO THAT IS AN OPTION THAT, THAT THE COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER.
IT'S A TOOL I HADN'T THOUGHT OF.
COULD WE VISIT FOR ONE SECOND ON THE SIX PRINCIPLES? I THINK IT'S ON SLIDE.
WHERE WAS IT? IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING, RIGHT? HERE IT IS.
SO YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME, BUT COULD YOU JUST BRIEFLY GO OVER HOW YOU'RE INCORPORATING THOSE SIX PRINCIPLES? WE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING ALREADY, BUT I DON'T THINK WE TALKED MUCH ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OR THE EQUITY, OR THE INNOVATION.
I THINK WE'RE ON A DIFFERENT SLIDE.
IT'S UNDER RESOLUTION SECTION ONE UNDER THE SUBCOMMITTEE FORMATION.
UM, AS FAR AS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, UM, A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS ACTUALLY ALREADY INCORPORATE, UM, THE LATEST, MOST ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY, UM, ELEMENTS, IF YOU WOULD.
UM, MOST OF THE CONCRETE THAT WE POUR ON ANY OF OUR PROJECTS, UM, ALL OF OUR COMPANIES HAVE ACTUALLY TRANSITIONED TO, UH, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CEMENT, UM, THAT IS MEETING THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
AND SO THAT'S ALREADY INHERENTLY, UM, BEING DONE ON EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PROJECTS.
UH, WE ALSO ENCOURAGE, UM, OUR CONTRACTORS TO, TO RECYCLE MATERIAL.
ON 6 35, WE ARE REMOVING A LOT OF CONCRETE WITH, WITH THE PROJECT ON 6 35, ALL OF THAT CONCRETE IS ACTUALLY BEING RECYCLED AND BEING USED AS BASE IN, IN THE ROADWAY.
AND SO, UM, A LOT OF IT IS ALREADY INHERENTLY BEING DONE WITH OUR CONTRACTORS BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST COST EFFICIENT WAY, UM, TO DO BUSINESS, IF YOU WILL.
AND SO, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, ASPECTS AND WHAT OTHER ELEMENTS THAT WE CAN DO, UM, TO BE IN LINE WITH THAT.
BUT A LOT OF IT IS ALREADY INHERENTLY IN, IN THE INDUSTRY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
I MAY ADD ALSO, SINCE THE CITY OF DALLAS OPERATES ALL THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN AND AROUND THAT AREA, AND IT IS ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH OUR, UH, OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IS THE UPGRADE OF ALL THESE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
AND WE'RE HAVING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY SO THAT WE CAN MINIMIZE THE, UM, CONGESTION AND THEN IMPROVE THE AIR QUALITY AND SO ON.
SO, UM, ALL THAT FEEDS INTO WHAT, UM, THIS PROJECT IS DOING AND WHAT WE'RE DOING COLLECTIVELY.
YOU WANT ME TO KEEP GOING ON THE ECONOMIC VITALITY? WE'RE REALLY WORKING WITH, UM, THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, MAKING SURE.
YEAH, I HEARD THAT THAT SURPLUS RIGHT AWAY.
YEAH, EQUITY AND INNOVATION, YOU ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE OTHER TWO.
UM, AS FAR AS EQUITY, REALLY KEEPING THAT FREEWAY CONNECTION, UM, WHAT WE FOUND IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY IS WE'VE GOT TO KEEP THAT FREEWAY TO FREEWAY MOVEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT CUTTING OFF, UM, TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR, FOR VARIOUS FOLKS, AS WELL AS ONCE WE IDENTIFY FUNDING ON THE PROJECT, MORE THAN LIKELY WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL BE USING FEDERAL DOLLARS, AND SO WE'LL BE REQUIRED, UM, TO MEET DBE REQUIREMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
UM, TEX'S OFFICE CIVIL RIGHTS WILL WEIGH IN ON WHAT THAT GOAL WILL BE.
AND SO, UM, THAT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS, IF YOU WILL, ON INNOVATION.
UH, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING, UM, THESE CORRIDORS ARE ADVANCING EVERY DAY.
UM, JUST THE ITS ELEMENTS WITHIN, THAT'S AN INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WITHIN, UM, THE CAMERAS.
WE CONNECT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS ALREADY, WE'LL ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE THAT CONNECTION.
UM, AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE FREEWAY RECONSTRUCTION.
I GUESS WHAT I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR IS IN THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ADMIRABLE IN TERMS OF ALL YOUR PRACTICES DURING CONSTRUCTION.
I'M LOOKING AT THESE PRINCIPLES ALSO AFTER CONSTRUCTION.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN MEXICO CITY WHERE THE HIGHWAYS ARE WRAPPED WITH, YOU KNOW, LIVING THINGS TO ABSORB SOME OF THE POLLUTION, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF INNOVATION FOR AFTER IT'S BUILT, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPACT THESE SIX POLICIES.
SO MAYBE FOR YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT NOW, BUT MAYBE ONE OF THE TASK FORCE MEETINGS, YOU COULD ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT POST CONSTRUCTION INCORPORATION OF THESE PRINCIPLES AND HOW DO WE PLAN ON DOING THAT? WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.
UM, AND THEN THE, I GUESS THE LAST COUPLE, WELL, I DO HAVE A LITTLE TIME.
THE, UM, CAN YOU TALK, I REMEMBER, UM, SPENDING TIME TALKING ABOUT THE CAPPING AND THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT AND PAY FOR ALL OF THAT.
SO IF YOU COULD YOU JUST ADDRESS WHAT OUR PLANS ARE FOR THAT? SO BASED UPON THE, UM, BASED UPON THE, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, TIMELINE FOR CONSTRUCTION, UH, WE ARE SOMEWHERE IN THE FIVE TO SIX YEAR RANGE BEFORE WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY IDENTIFY FUNDING.
UM, SEASON WOULD TELL ME TO GET THE MONEY FASTER.
UM, BUT, UM, BUT WE, WE KNOW THAT, I MEAN, UM, IF, IF YOU TALK TO, UH, MR. MORRIS, I THINK THAT, UH, HE BELIEVES THAT WE, AND I BELIEVE IT
[05:55:01]
TOO, THAT WE PUT TOGETHER A PRETTY GOOD STRATEGY AS FAR AS, UH, SEEKING, UH, OUTSIDE FUNDING, UH, TO, UM, TO POTENTIALLY FUND THE, THESE CAPS.UH, AND SO, UH, WE'LL PROBABLY BE SEEKING THE SAME PROCESS, UH, OF SEEKING FEDERAL DOLLARS AND OR PARTNERS.
UM, PART OF THE, UM, PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS, UH, TO INCLUDE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PORTION, UM, IT, IT, IT ASSUMES US WORKING WITH THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS TO PURCHASE SOME OF THE SURPLUS RIGHT OF WAY THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE FOR PARKS OR SOMETHING, OR SOMETHING THAT'S IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO SOME OF THOSE, UH, PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND SO IT'S GONNA BE A COMBINATION OF, OF FEDERAL AND OR PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS, UH, IN ORDER TO, UM, TO DO THE DECKING.
AND SO, DO WE HAVE A COMMITTEE? AT WHAT POINT WILL THERE BE A, A COMMITTEE THAT'S FORMED TO REALLY WORK WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, ON THAT CAPPING AND CONNECTIVITY AND THE, AND THE BUILD OUT AFTERWARDS? WHERE, WHERE DOES THAT FIT IN THAT TIMELINE? I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S OUR NEXT STEP, THAT'S OUR NEXT SUBCOMMITTEE.
UM, REALLY HAVE TO KNOW WHERE THE CITY STREETS ARE GONNA BE.
AND NOW THAT WE FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THERE'S LESS REVISIONS, UM, GOING FORWARD NOW THAT WE CAN REALLY START ENGAGING, UM, THE STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS THE, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
AND FINALLY, UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE, THE FUTURE OF ROSS AVENUE.
SO COULD YOU EX COULD YOU SHARE IF THERE'S ANY IMPACT ON THAT FROM THIS? SO WE WILL RECONSTRUCT ROSS AVENUE.
UH, KEEP IN MIND, UH, THE FREEWAY GOES OVER ROSS TODAY.
IT WILL GO UNDER, UM, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT THE COMPLETE STREETS NETWORK THAT, UM, THE CITY HAS HAS ASKED FOR, UM, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF WE'VE GOT BI BICYCLE LANES.
WE, WE'VE GONE BACK AND FORTH ON WHERE THE BIKE LANES GO, BUT, UM, ESSENTIALLY WHATEVER THE CITY SUGGESTED WE WILL BE INCORPORATING.
YEAH, IT WILL, IT WILL INTEGRATE INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING ON ROSS AVENUE.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE SHARED USE PATH THAT IS PROGRESSING AND IT SHOULD BE HOPEFULLY, UH, UNDER CONTRACT TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO COMPLETELY, UH, UM, HA TAKE CARE OF, UH, OF ROSS AVENUE.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT, AND ALL THAT WILL INTEGRATE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE, IN THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT.
MS. BLACKMAN, YOU COGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND, UM, I WANNA COME BACK AND LOOK AT THE TRUCK REROUTING SEGMENT.
SO YOU SAID THAT IT WAS ORIGINATED IN DALLAS TO A DESTINATION IN DALLAS, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND SO WE ARE, WELL, LAND WISE, 340 SQUARE MILES WITH WATER, YOU KNOW, ALMOST THREE 90 SQUARE MILES.
THAT'S A HUGE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
SO IF YOU PICKED UP SOMETHING IN THE INLAND PORT AND YOU NEEDED TO GO TO, TO FAR NORTH DALLAS, THEN YOU WOULD STILL COME THROUGH DOWNTOWN AND THAT WOULD BE COUNTED AS A, IN, IN CITY DESTINATION, UH, ORIGINATION AND DESTINATION, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, YES.
BUT THAT'S A LOT OF MILES TO TRAVEL.
SO I GUESS I'M, I'M THINKING JUST BECAUSE IT'S ORIGINATING IN DE AND IT'S DESTIN AND IT'S DESTINED IN DALLAS, I DON'T THINK THAT'S, I THINK YOU NEED TO, I MEAN, WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING AT THE MILES TRAVELED? I, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT IT COMING THROUGH DOWNTOWN, EVEN IF THEY'RE ORIGINATING IN DESTIN IN THE CITY OF DALLAS, I THINK WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT WHERE WAS THE TRAFFIC, WHO'S USING 3 45, WHERE WERE THEY COMING FROM AND WHERE WERE THEY GOING AS FAR AS REGULATING WHO USES THE ROADWAYS? THAT'S NOT SOMETHING TXDOT IMPLEMENTS.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA NEED POLICIES IN PLACE.
AND GUS, YOU WANNA, SO ON THE, UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF DALLAS DOES NOT HAVE A FREIGHT PLAN.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UH, OUR, UM, PARTNERING AGENCY AT THE NORTH CENTRAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO KICK OFF THAT, UH, ITEM SO THAT BASICALLY WE CAN INTEGRATE IT INTO THE REGIONAL FREIGHT PLAN AND, AND THEN, WHICH INTEGRATES INTO THE STATEWIDE PLAN.
AND THAT SHOULD ADDRESS BASICALLY ON SEVERAL ITEMS, WHICH INCLUDE THE TRUCK ROUTING WITHIN THE CITY OF DALLAS MM-HMM.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN TRYING TO GET THAT ONE OFF THE GROUND.
SO THIS ISN'T, SO WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT, UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN DECIDED THAT THAT TRUCKS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COME THROUGH OR ALLOWED TO COME THROUGH.
SO I WANT TO SEPARATE THE TWO, TWO THINGS.
ONE IS, IF THE QUESTION IS ABOUT REROUTING THE TRUCK TRAFFIC THAT IS POTENTIALLY IS ON 3 45 TO OTHER STATE FREEWAYS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, SEASON IS, IS HANDLING AS FAR AS THE CITY OF DALLAS
[06:00:01]
IS CONCERNED.SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TRUCKS THAT HAVE COMING IN OR COMING IN ON USING, SAY I 45 OR 3 45 WITH A DESTINATION INSIDE THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND THAT IS WHERE, WHERE BASICALLY WE'RE SAYING, OKAY, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA REROUTE YOU HERE, OR WE NEED TO STAY, NEED YOU TO STAY ON THE FREEWAY TO THE NEXT EXIT OR SOMETHING.
SO THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BASICALLY LOOK AT TO INTEGRATE INTO WHAT THE, UH, UH, REGIONAL FREIGHT PLAN, UH, IS.
AND THEN CERTAINLY THE STATE, THE STATE FRAME PLAN.
AND SO OUR CITY, AND SO WHAT WE DECIDE WILL BE PUT FORTH INTO A BROADER ONE.
HOW DO YOU ENFORCE IT? SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE, UH, DESIGNATED TRUCK ROUTES.
AND I KNOW YOU CAN'T REALLY DO THAT.
I MEAN, THERE IS SOME COMPLICATIONS THERE UNLESS IT'S HAZMAT.
BUT, BUT I JUST FEEL WHEN YOU GO 3 35 AND WOODALL ROGERS AND THIS WHOLE CENTER CORE, YOU HAVE TONS OF OF FREIGHT COMING THROUGH.
AND I THINK IT CAN BECOME, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE A CAR DRIVER, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HARD.
AND I GUESS YOU'RE GONNA BE RE DEFINING THAT WHOLE STRETCH, BUT NAVIGATING THROUGH THAT IS PRETTY TRICKY.
AND THIS, THIS BRINGS UP THE IMPORTANCE OF FORWARD DALLAS, THE LAND ZONING AND THE LAND USE, AND WHERE, UH, DISTRIBUTION CENTERS VERSUS WAREHOUSES ARE LOCATED.
AND, AND THAT CREATES, NOW CREATES THE, THE, UM, THE ORIGIN AND DESTINATION.
SO THIS IS A, THIS IS WHY, UH, I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO KIND OF, AND I'M WORKING ON IT TO KICK OFF THIS, UH, PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A GOOD PROCESS IN PLACE WITH CLEAR DESIGNATIONS AND CRITERIA AND SO ON.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I NOTICED THE, UH, SLIDE SEVEN AND EIGHT TALK ABOUT THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESTORATION OF THE STREET GRID.
AND I, I BELIEVE IT WAS WIDELY UNDERSTOOD IN, UM, UPTOWN, WHICH IS PART OF MY DISTRICT, THAT THE 3 45 IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE LIMITED TO I 30 TO WHITTLE ROGERS.
AND YET I HAVE COME UPON A DIAGRAM FROM THE AUGUST, 2022 FINAL FEASIBILITY REPORT OF TXDOT AT PAGE 29, A DIAGRAM THAT SHOWS THERE ARE TWO CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE I 33 45 IMPROVEMENTS, ALLEN STREET AND CLARK STREET IN STATE THOMAS.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT THE INTENT WAS OF BRINGING TRAFFIC INTO THOSE VERY URBAN, VERY NARROW STREETS.
AND IF THAT IS STILL THE PLAN, I DON'T HAVE THAT DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF ME, SO IT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SPEAK TO IT, BUT MORE THAN LIKELY THAT WAS A REQUEST FROM CITY STAFF.
UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY GO BACK AND, AND RE-LOOK AT IT.
UH, I DON'T HAVE THE DOC AUGUST DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF ME.
GUS, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ONE JUST WEST OF 3 45? YES.
THAT CROSSES, UH, WOODALL CROSSES WOODALL AND GOES INTO UPTOWN.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING WITH, UH, C AND ONE OF THE THINGS I INFORMED STAFF AND THOSE, UH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THIS WAS A COM, COM COMBINED REQUEST FROM PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN AND OUR CHIEF PLANNER.
AND I SAID, WE GOTTA TALK TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE WE, UH, EVEN CONSIDER THAT AND FORMALLY NOTIFY TXDOT ABOUT IT.
AND THEN WE'LL STILL NEED TO TALK TO ANY, I MEAN TO, TO THE STOCK STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS ITEM.
WELL, I, I JUST WANNA ALERT YOU TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY SENSITIVE ISSUE IN UPTOWN.
UM, THERE IS NO CONNECTION RIGHT NOW ON THOSE STREETS WITH 3 45.
AND TO, UH, INTRODUCE THE CONCEPT OF BRINGING TRAFFIC, UH, HEAVY LOADS OF TRAFFIC FROM THAT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY INTO UPTOWN AT THOSE LOCATIONS IS GOING TO CAUSE SOME REAL UPSET.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO BE KEPT ABREAST OF ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT SO THAT I CAN KEEP MY CONSTITUENTS INFORMED ON THAT ISSUE.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND THIS COMMENT, BECAUSE I HAD VERY SIMILAR POSITION ON THIS ISSUE, AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY I ASKED STAFF THAT WE GOTTA TALK TO THESE STAKEHOLDERS BEFORE WE MAKE THAT FORMAL REQUEST TO TEXT STOP.
WELL, AND, AND KEEP IN MIND WITH THE PUBLIC MEETING, WE'RE HOPING TO GET
[06:05:01]
THAT FEEDBACK.WE'RE GETTING YOUR FEEDBACK TODAY.
UM, SO WE CAN DEFINITELY ADDRESS THAT.
BUT THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THAT'S A CONCERN FROM THEM.
AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHY THOSE CONNECTIONS ARE NEEDED.
AGAIN, IT, IT WAS A REQUEST FROM CITY STAFF, BUT WE CAN GO BACK INTO THE MEETING MINUTES AND LOOK INTO IT.
THAT'S THE AUGUST, 2022 FINAL FEASIBILITY REPORT AT PAGE 29.
I MEAN, THE, I LEARNED ABOUT IT IN, WHEN WE STARTED THOSE MEETINGS, SO WAY PAST THAT, AUGUST, 2022.
SO I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT TIMELINE, BUT I KNOW OF THE LATEST DISCUSSIONS THAT MM-HMM.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, THANK YOU.
ALSO, UH, SEASON ON SLIDE 20 OF THE PROJECT TIMELINE, THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION ON THIS DIAGRAM, AT LEAST IN SPRING OF 2025, IS THE ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN A PRACTICAL SENSE? ARE YOU HAVING TO DO A COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT UNDER NEPA? UH, WE ARE FOLLOWING NEPA GUIDELINES.
THIS WILL BE, THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NEPA.
UH, WE ARE PURSUING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, AND SO WE WILL, UM, OUR HOPE IS WE RECEIVE A FONZI, WHICH IS A FINDING OF NO SIGNI SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THROUGH AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN THAT SPRING TIMEFRAME.
SO YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NOW? YES, SIR.
AND, UH, WHAT, IN GENERAL, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THAT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT? WHAT KIND OF ISSUES? SO WE, WE LOOK AT WATER RESOURCES, WE LOOK AT HISTORIC IMPACTS, WE LOOK AT COMMUNITY IMPACTS, UM, ARCHEOLOGICAL IMPACTS.
UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF, OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT WE LOOK AT WITHIN THAT ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT.
ALL OF THAT WILL BE PRESENTED, UM, IN THOSE, THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS COMING UP.
AND THEN WHO HAS TO APPROVE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT? SO TEX O HAS BEEN GRANTED, UM, AUTHORITY TO REVIEW, AND ESSENTIALLY WE CALL IT NEVA ASSIGNMENT.
SO FEDERAL HIGHWAYS HAS GRANTED US THE APPROVAL.
UM, WE SEND IT DOWN TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DIVISION DOWN IN AUSTIN.
UM, AND ULTIMATELY THEY APPROVE THE DOCUMENT.
SO TEXT DATA APPROVES ITS OWN DOCUMENT AFTER COORDINATION WITH FEDERAL HIGHWAYS.
FEDERAL HIGHWAYS FREQUENTLY AUDITS US.
UM, AND THAT IS AUTHORITY THAT FEDERAL HIGHWAYS HAS GRANTED US.
CHAIRMAN MORENO, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
UH, THANK Y'ALL FOR THE BRIEFING.
IT'S, UH, QUITE PACKED TODAY WITH A LOT OF IMPACTFUL PROJECTS, NOT ONLY IN DISTRICT TWO, BUT PROJECTS THAT IMPACT THE ENTIRE CITY, UM, FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
DR. PEREZ, UM, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WEREN'T EXPLORED THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR AN INDEPENDENT STUDY THAT WHERE WE COULD DIP INTO FUNDS? SO I KNOW THAT, UH, WE COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT, UH, THE NEXT ROUND OF RAISE GRANTS, UM, WHICH WOULD, UH, COME UP, UM, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
UM, THERE'S ALSO, UH, POTENTIAL FOR RECONNECTING COMMUNITIES, UH, GRANT, UH, WHICH I BELIEVE, UH, UH, CAME OUT, UM, LATE LAST YEAR.
SO IT WOULD BE, UH, IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHERE WE COULD CONSIDER THAT.
UM, AND, UH, I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING BUDGETED RIGHT NOW THAT WE COULD CONSIDER AS FAR AS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THIS.
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MUCH THAT STUDY WOULD COST? SO, I THINK, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE INDEPENDENT STUDY THAT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER IN THIS MEETING, UH, COST SOMEWHERE AROUND $700,000.
AND SO, UM, PROBABLY IN THAT, IN THAT VICINITY, MAYBE A MILLION DOLLARS TODAY, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO USE, UH, TIFF DOLLARS FROM AN ADJACENT, UM, TIFF? SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, ROBIN BENTLEY OR KEVIN SPATH OR HERE I SEE ROBIN COMING UP, SIR.
ROBIN BENTLEY, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
YES, THERE IS FUNDING IN THE DEEP ELT, AND IT'S, IF IT'S THE COUNCIL'S DESIRE, WE CAN LOOK AT FUNDING A STUDY, UM, FROM THE TIF DOLLARS.
THE, UM, WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS A HYBRID OPTION THAT CALLS FOR A TRENCH.
WHAT IS THE COST, THE CURRENT COST FOR CAPPING AND DECKING, AND WHAT WERE THE PROJECTED, UH, COSTS WHEN WE FIRST GOT BRIEFED OR WHEN WE, UH, APPROVED THE RESOLUTION?
[06:10:02]
SO I DON'T THINK WE EVER PROVIDED, UM, COSTS FOR THE CAPPING.UH, I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT, AT WHAT WE DISCUSSED BEFORE.
WE HAVE NOT DEVELOPED ESTIMATES FOR THE CURRENT CAPPING, UM, JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAPPING IS, UM, QUITE YET.
THAT'S REALLY THE NEXT STEP AS, AS WE DISCUSSED, WE'RE GONNA FORM THAT NEXT SUBCOMMITTEE, UM, IN EACH ONE OF THE CAPS, WE CAN DEVELOP COST ESTIMATES FOR THOSE.
UM, YOU GUYS ARE ALSO WORKING ON I 30 AND CAPPING AND DECKING THERE.
ON THE MAP ON HERE, IT REFERENCES, UM, THAT SEGMENT.
HOW MUCH HAS BEEN, UM, SECURED THUS FAR FOR, FOR THAT PORTION FOR INTERSTATE 30? UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A NUMBER OF CAPS THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS HAS ASKED US TO LOOK AT.
UM, THERE IS, UH, CAPPING OPPORTUNITY THERE AT NEAR LAMAR AND BOHAM GENE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
ROSA AND HER TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED FUNDING.
UM, WE, WE WERE PROVIDED THROUGH AN A FA AN AGREEMENT, UM, THAT COUNCIL APPROVED FOR THE DESIGN ELEMENTS.
AND SO T'S CURRENTLY DESIGNING THAT CAP THERE AT LAMAR AND HAM JEAN.
UM, WE ARE WORKING ON AN ESTIMATE FOR THAT, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS, UM, CONVENTION CENTER FUNDS, UM, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT CAPPING OPPORTUNITY.
UM, THEN THERE IS THE OTHER CAPPING OPPORTUNITY ALONG INTERSTATE 30 NEAR, UM, OLD CITY PARK.
UM, WE ARE, WE, NCT COG PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN OF THE, UM, ABUTMENT FOUNDATION.
SO THE EXTERIOR FOUNDATIONS FOR THE CAP.
UM, OUR ESTIMATE IS ABOUT $50 MILLION JUST FOR THE EXTERIOR FOUNDATIONS THAT WAS SUBMITTED AS A GRANT, UM, BY NCT COG.
WE ARE VERY OPTIMISTIC ON THAT GRANT, UM, AND EXPECT TO HEAR, UM, FORMALLY ANY DAY.
AND, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
WHAT, WHAT I DO WANNA SEE, UM, T DOT COME TO THE TABLE AND WORK THROUGH OUR PARKS TRAIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, AS SOME OF THESE ARE BEING, UM, SHOWN AS POTENTIAL GREEN SPACES AND AND PARKS.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MS. STEWART'S, UH, COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S MOVING, UM, THROUGH AND AND FORWARD, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, TRANSPORTATION AND, AND PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, CAN WE DISCUSS, I, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE ITEMS WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, HIGH SPEED RAIL AND RE ELIMINATING VEHICLES AND CARS CONGESTION FROM, UM, OUR FREEWAYS.
AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE CRASH DATA ON, ON THESE HIGHWAYS.
IF WE CAN HAVE, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMEONE FROM DPD OR DID Y'ALL GO WORK WITH ANYONE FROM PUBLIC SAFETY? UH, WHEN IT CAME TO EVALUATING, UM, CRASH DATA, UH, WE HAVE NOT WORKED WITH DTVD ON, ON THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT.
WE WORK ON IT WITH THEM QUITE FREQUENTLY ON OTHER CRASH DATA.
UM, AND I WANT TO GO BACK TO PLANNING URBAN, UM, DESIGN.
UM, EARLIER AGAIN, WE, WE WERE DISCUSSING ABOUT PLACE MAKING AND THE BEST AND HIGHEST USE FOR OUR, UH, SURPLUS LAND AND AVAILABLE LAND TO BE ABLE TO BE DEVELOPED.
HAS YOUR DEPARTMENT EVALUATED WHICH OPTION MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO MEET OUR, UH, POLICIES THAT WE HAVE, UH, HAVE MOVED FORWARD? OF THE, OF THE THREE THAT WERE PRESENTED, DO YOU HAVE A, UH, AN OPINION ON WHICH PLAN MEETS OUR OR EXCEEDS OUR GOALS? UM, ARTUR DE CASTILLO PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN, UH, THE ONLY OPTION WE'VE BEEN STUDYING IS THE ONE ON THE, THE HYBRID OPTION IN TERMS OF SURPLUS LAND AND, AND ITS USABILITY.
YOU RECOGNIZE FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND THIS IS MORE JUST A POINT TO, TO STAFF.
I THINK, UH, IN, IN LOOKING AT THE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, THERE'S A WORD THAT COMES UP ONE TIME IN THE STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, BUT THREE TIMES IN THIS MUCH MORE BRIEF DECK.
AND SINCE WE'RE SO, UM, HOT OFF OF A DISCUSSION AROUND THE BISHOP ARTS STREETCAR AND UNDERSTANDING THE CONTRACT THAT WAS JUST APPROVED AND THAT THAT WAS $1.8 MILLION FOR THE OPERATION OF THAT, THAT THE CITY FUNDS, AND I KNOW THE CITY OWNS IT.
UM, BUT AS I LOOK AT THAT IN RELATION TO THE DISCUSSION AND THIS PROJECT, JUST KEEPING IN MIND THE, THE COST THAT GO WITH THAT AND THAT WE'RE HAVING SOME DISCUSSION AROUND THAT.
I DUNNO WHICH WAY THAT MIGHT ULTIMATELY GO, BUT, UH, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A RAIL SYSTEM VERSUS A TROLLEY BUS OR SOMETHING, I, I JUST THINK WE OUGHT TO KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN WITH REGARD TO EXPENSE
[06:15:01]
AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT, THOUGH IT'S TRANSIT SEEMS TO LIVE WITH THE CITY.AND, UM, TO JUST BE MINDFUL OF THIS SINCE WE'RE KIND OF EARLY IN THIS PART OF THE DISCUSSION AND WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE IS HOW MUCH INTO THE FUTURE WE WOULD OWN ALL OF THIS O AND M AROUND THAT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
CHAIRMAN WEST, DO YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES? THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AL GODFREY FOR FORWARDING ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS.
SO IT'S, UH, WITH COVER PAGE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
THERE'S BASICALLY FIVE PAGES IN THERE.
UM, AND THERE'S ABOUT TWO AND A HALF WITH MAPS.
UM, SO WHO DID THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS? WAS THIS ALSO TXDOT? TXDOT, UH, YES.
BUT THAT WAS WITH COORDINATION WITH CITY STAFF.
SO TDOT UM, SUPPLIED THE PLANS.
TDO KIND OF KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO, AND TDOT ALSO DID THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS.
WHY DIDN'T WE DO ANY KIND OF INDEPENDENT STUDIES AT THE CITY LEVEL? SO, UH, GOING BACK TO SEASON'S COMMENTS OR, UM, WE DID HAVE CITY STAFF INVOLVED IN THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS.
SO I, I MEAN, IT WASN'T, WHILE TEXTILE WAS PART OF THE, OF THE PROJECT TEAM, CITY STAFF WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL.
UM, WE, UM, DO WE HAVE BRITTA AND OR CHECK HERE, HERE AT DR.
EREK? I WANNA TALK ABOUT CRASH DATA FOR A MINUTE.
SO WE, YOU, YOU, YOU MET WITH A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY, WHICH I COMMEND YOU FOR DOING.
DID YOU MEET WITH DPD IN ANY OF YOUR MEETINGS? NO, WE DID NOT.
CAN WE PULL UP THE SLIDE, UM, THAT I ASKED YOU TO PULL UP BRETA? I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PULL IT UP, BUT IF SOMEBODY IS AVAILABLE TO PULL UP SLIDE EIGHT, MAYBE NOT FROM ITEM D, AND I UNDERSTAND NOT TO COMMENT ON THAT ITEM, BUT THE, IT, THE TRAFFIC DATA IS RELEVANT TO I 3 45.
IT'S GONNA BE THE, THE VISION ZERO.
I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY HARD TO SEE, BUT, UM, BRITA, WOULD YOU CLARIFY, UM, WHAT OUR TOTAL, UM, NUMBER OF FATAL CRASHES ARE IN THE CITY OF DALLAS AS AN AVERAGE OVER FIVE YEARS, UM, FOR DALLAS ROADS VERSUS TDOT ROADS? YES, I CAN DO THAT, SIR.
MY NAME IS BRITTA ANDER CHECK.
I SERVE AS THE CHIEF DATA OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UM, SO WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS GRAPHIC ON THIS SCREEN IS THAT FOR THAT FIVE YEAR TOTAL, 54% OF FATAL CRASHES WERE OCCURRING ON TDOT ROADS.
UM, SO I HAVE A CONCERN THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE DPD AND THEIR OPINION AT THE TABLE ON THESE TWO DESIGNS.
UM, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW PUBLIC SAFETY'S SUCH A PRIORITY HERE, BUT YET WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT RECONSTRUCTING A HIGHWAY VERSUS PUTTING IN A STREET GRID, WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING TO DPD.
WHY WEREN'T THEY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE? WE CAN DEFINITELY TALK WITH THEM, BUT KEEP IN MIND AS WE RECONSTRUCT THIS FREEWAY, IT WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO CURRENT DESIGN STANDARDS.
UH, THE CURRENT FREEWAY WAS BUILT IN THE SEVENTIES.
UH, IT IS NOT UP TO CURRENT DESIGN STANDARDS.
WE FULLY ANTA ANTICIPATE, UM, RECONSTRUCTING THE FREEWAY WILL IMPROVE, UM, THE CRASHES THAT WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE TODAY.
UM, WE REVIEW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE FATAL CRASH CRASHES THAT HAPPEN ON OUR SYSTEM.
UM, WE GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE POLICE REPORT AND LOOK TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE MODIFICATIONS, UM, TO THE SYSTEM, UM, AND THEN REALLY LOOK AT THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
AND SO, UM, FULLY ANTICIPATE THE RECONSTRUCTION WILL IMPROVE THE SAFETY ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
CAN I ADD ONE THING? SINCE THIS IS PART OF DIVISION ZERO, THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, UH, INCLUDES ALL REPORTS FROM ALL AGENCIES.
SO SOMETIMES, UM, INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAYS ARE BEING HANDLED BY THE DALLAS SHERIFF DEPARTMENT OR D-P-S-D-P-S OR OTHERS.
SO IT'S NOT ONLY DPD, SO THEREFORE, UM, OTHERS, I MEAN, THIS DATA REPORTS WHAT OTHER AGENCIES ALSO ARE REPORTING.
[06:20:01]
SO THERE IS A LOT MORE DISCUSSION THAT I'M SURE TECH DOT DOES, UH, COORDINATION WITH ALL THE OTHERS IN ADDITION TO DPD.AND, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD TO, SINCE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE VISION ZERO, IF YOU WANNA GO TO SLIDE 13, YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, BEHAVIORS THAT CONTRIBUTE, UH, TO THOSE FATALITIES.
UM, SO YEAH, SO THE FIRST ONE IS SPEED RELATED.
UM, THEN IT'S IMPROPER MOVEMENTS, THEN IT'S OTHER FACTORS, THEN IT'S FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY, THEN IT'S RAN RED LIGHT, UM, FAILED TO YIELD WHILE TURNING LEFT.
SO, UH, DON'T JUST LOOK AT THE DATA, UM, ON WHAT FACILITY IT'S ON.
ALSO LOOK AT THE BEHAVIORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO, TO THAT DATA.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO HAVE DPD AT THE TABLE IN THIS DESIGN.
UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, DOESN'T MATTER IF, IF, UH, TXDOT WANTS TO BUILD THIS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE TRAIN'S ALREADY MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
I MEAN, DOES IT MATTER WHAT CITY POLICIES WE HAVE IN PLACE? IF, IF THE MOVING CARS IS A PRIORITY, THEN WHY ARE YOU EVEN GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS? SO WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.
I THINK IF WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WE LOOKED AT ALL ALTERNATIVES, UM, AND THE IMPACTS OF ALL THOSE ALTERNATIVES TO ALL USERS, NOT JUST THE FREEWAY USERS, BUT ALSO THE PEDESTRIANS.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS FACILITY A LOT BETTER, A LOT MORE INVITING THAN WHAT EXISTS THERE TODAY.
WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS BY ANY MEANS.
AND KEEP IN MIND CHAIR THAT AS WE DESIGN THE CROSSOVERS FOR EXISTING STREETS, WE'RE ACTUALLY IMPROVING THEM.
UH, WE'RE WIDENING SIDEWALKS OR CREATING BUFFERS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTIMODAL TO INCLUDE BIKE LANES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIAL STREETCAR.
UM, SO THERE'S, UM, THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CROSSINGS THAT ARE EXISTING TODAY AS WELL.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION IS, YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST BRIEFING, WHICH WE SPENT MOST OF THE DAY ON, I HEARD DIRECTOR FLEMING TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT CONNECTIVITY IS, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT THE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE.
I HEARD MR. MORRIS TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW WE WANNA GET MORE CARS OFF THE HIGHWAY IN FAVOR OF TRAINS.
I HEARD YOU, DR. PEREZ, GET VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE STATION IN TOKYO AND HOW THE PLACEMAKING IS SO IMPORTANT AND CONNECTIVITY.
AND ON THIS, I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE'S JUST SAYING WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER TXDOT WANTS, WE'RE NOT GONNA PUSH BACK AT ALL FOR A BETTER PLAN.
AND, UM, I JUST FEEL LIKE THE CITY'S GIVEN UP ON THIS.
AND, UM, I HAD HOPED WHEN WE GOT TO THIS POINT TODAY THAT WE HAD AT LEAST LOOKED AT SOME OTHER STUDIES.
I TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT PUSHING HARDER ON THAT, BUT I CAN TELL THIS TO ME, JUST FEELS LIKE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS, BUT I, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M ONE VOTE.
WE'RE ALREADY MOVING THE MOVING DOWN THIS ROAD AND, UM, IT IS WHAT IT'S, THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN RIDLEY, YOU RECOGNIZE FOR THREE MINUTES.
UM, SLIDE 13 ADDRESSES RESOLUTION SECTION FOUR THAT THE CITY OF DALLAS'S SUPPORT FOR THE REFINED HYBRID OPTION IS CONDITIONED ON T INCORPORATING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FOR CAPPING AND DECKING INTO THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE REFINED HYBRID OPTION PROJECT.
AND THE BULLET POINT ABOVE THAT SAYS THAT FREEWAY CAPPING OPPORTUNITIES NEED TO BE REVIEWED AND SET PRIOR, UM, I'M SORRY, UH, THAT, UM, THE, THE COMMITTEE WILL WRAP UP, UM, THE DISCUSSION OF THE STREET GRID AND WILL THEN WORK ON CAPPING OPPORTUNITIES.
SO MY QUESTION IS, HAS TDOT AGREED TO PROVIDE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FOR CAPPING AND DECKING? UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CITY REQUESTS THAT OPPORTUNITY ON STRETCHES OF I 3 45? SO WE'VE AGREED TO LOOK AT IT.
AS WE DISCUSSED DURING THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, WE WILL NEED TO IDENTIFY FUNDING.
UM, TEXTILE WILL NOT FUND THE DESIGN FOR IT, JUST LIKE INTERSTATE 30 ON THE CANYON.
UH, THE CONVENTION CENTER'S FI PROVIDING US FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN OF THOSE CAPS AS WELL AS, UH, NCT COG, UH, THE RTC PROVIDED DESIGN FUNDING FOR THOSE CAPS.
AND SO, UH, KEEP IN MIND, WE'RE STILL AT THE SCHEMATIC LEVEL.
WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THE DETAILED STRUCTURAL DESIGN, SO WE'RE NOT TO THAT STEP.
ONCE WE GET TO THAT STEP, WE WILL NEED FUNDING, UM, TO FULLY DESIGN THOSE CAPS.
SO YOU'LL LOOK TO THE CITY TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDING.
WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT THE VARIOUS PARTNERS THAT HAVE COME TO THE TABLE ON ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS.
AND IF FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED, THEN WOULD TEXDOT CARRY OUT THAT ENGINEERING OR WOULD IT LOOK TO PRIVATE PARTIES TO DO THAT, OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL PARTIES TO DO THAT? SO WHAT WE'RE DOING ON INTERSTATE 30, THE CANYON, UM, NCD CO THROUGH RTC PROVIDED, UM, THE ENGINEERING DOLLARS, AND WE ARE DESIGNING
[06:25:01]
IT.OUR CONSULTANT IS DESIGNING IT.
SO DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT WOULD BE THE PROCEDURE IN THIS CASE TOO? THAT HAS BEEN, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE CITY, THE PREFERENCE BY THE CITY'S DATE.
THAT WOULD BE A VERY SIMILAR APPROACH THAT WE WILL BE TAKING.
AND THEN I'LL ADD TO IT IS THAT, AND TO SEASON'S POINT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO GET AND SET THOSE, UM, UH, BOUNDARIES, IF YOU WILL, OR LIMITS OF THESE, UH, OF THE STREET GRIDS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THESE CAP UH, DIMENSIONS.
BECAUSE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, ALSO, WE START, WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT WHAT THE LONG TERM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A POTENTIAL TUNNEL CONDITION.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF AVOID, UH, THE MECHANICAL, UH, UM, VENTILATION IF WE CAN.
UH, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY ON THIS ONE THAN WE DO AT ON I 30.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR, UM, THIS ITEM.
WONDERFUL PANEL OF EXPERTS AND CITY EMPLOYEES AND GOOD FRIENDS OF OURS.
[B. 24-548 Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Master Plan and Transportation Initiatives Update]
SO MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE ITEM B, WHICH IS THE K BAILEY HUTCHINSON CONVENTION CENTER, UH, MASTER PLAN UPDATE.AND SO TODAY, THE CONVENTION INVENT SERVICES STAFF AND OUR PARTNERS WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE MASTER PLAN, AND WE WILL INCLUDE, UH, CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEEDED REORIENTATION THAT REQUIRE, THAT'LL BE REQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE REQUESTS BY TEX TOT AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.
THE REORIENTATION WILL HELP US ENSURE THE TIMELY COMPLETION OF OUR, OF THE EXPANDED CENTER.
AND STAFF WILL ALSO DISCUSS REVENUE, PERFORMANCE, AND ENGAGEMENT AS THE PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTATION.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR FLEMING.
ROSA FLEMING, DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION AND EVENT SERVICES.
AND TODAY AS AS, UH, DEPUTY, UH, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, UH, FORTUNE SAID, WE'LL BE UPDATING ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER FOCUSING ON COMPONENT ONE, WHICH IS THE CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION, THE CONNECTION WITH SOUTH DALLAS AND THE DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING CENTER.
AND SO WITH ME TODAY, OUR GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, ANTHONY LOPEZ WITH OAKVIEW GROUP, WE HAVE, UM, VISIT DALLAS WITH US, CRAIG DAVIS.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF INSPIRE DALLAS, WHICH IS THE PM TEAM SELECTED FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
SO WE LAST BRIEFED COUNCIL FULLY LAST YEAR, UM, IN FEBRUARY OF 2023.
AND WE CAME JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, FEBRUARY 5TH, TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE WERE WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER HAVING SELECTED A, UH, A PM.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE REALLY DONE IS MOVED FROM, FROM CONCEPT TO IMPLEMENTATION.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL BE DOING TODAY, WE'LL GO QUICKLY THROUGH SOME SLIDES SO WE CAN LEAVE YOU TIME FOR QUESTIONS, BUT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT OUR REVENUE TO DATE, UM, SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION CONFLICTS THAT WE'VE RUN INTO THAT ARE HAVING US COME TO YOU TO TALK ABOUT A REORIENTATION.
IF WE COULD GO TO SLIDE THREE, PLEASE.
SO WE'VE DONE WELL, UM, FINANCIALLY ON OUR REVENUES.
ORIGINALLY, WE FORECASTED TO RECOVER FROM COVID IN 2025.
WE RECOVERED EARLY, SO WE SAW ABOUT $67 MILLION OF HOT IN 22, ABOUT 88 MILLION AS WE CLOSED UP 23.
AND WE'RE FORECASTING ABOUT 78.6 FOR, FOR THIS FIXED FISCAL YEAR.
IN TERMS OF THE PFZ, WE HAD FORECASTED ABOUT 15 MILLION A YEAR IN REVENUE THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE.
WE'VE BEEN OUTPERFORMING THAT AND WE'VE, UM, OUTSOURCED THAT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE A PFC OR A PROJECT FINANCING ZONE IS LIKE A COUSIN TO A TIFF, AND SO THEY'RE TRACKING THAT FOR US.
BUT WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 MILLION IN 2240 1 MILLION AS WE CLOSED UP FY 23, AND WE'RE FORECASTING ABOUT 44 MILLION FOR 2024.
UM, IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE FOR EVENT REVENUES, AND I'M GONNA LET ANTHONY, UH, LOPEZ WITH OAKVIEW GROUP, UM, ADD A FEW COMMENTS HERE, BUT WE'VE DONE REALLY WELL.
WE'VE OVERPERFORMED IN OUR EVENT RELATED REVENUE AND REALLY ENCLO AND STARTED ENCAPSULATING AND, AND STARTED TO PUT IN SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL CHANGES THAT WILL CARRY OVER TO THE NEW BUILDING.
SO I'M GONNA LET ANTHONY LOPEZ TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND.
[06:30:01]
YES, GOOD AFTERNOON.UM, I, I THINK THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT IS THAT WE, WE, WE'VE GOT BACK TO A VERY HEALTHY STATE AFTER COVID, UH, VERY FULLY RECOVERED WITHIN THE FACILITY.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE, UH, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE, UH, SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THAT, UH, WHILE THE RENTAL REVENUE WAS, UH, WAS PRETTY MUCH IN LINE WITH OUR BUDGETS, WE COMPLETELY OUTPERFORMED, UM, ON MOST OF THE ANCILLARY REVENUES SUCH AS FOOD AND BEVERAGE, UTILITIES, TECHNICAL SERVICES, TO THE POINT THAT WE OUTPERFORMED OUR, OUR EXPECTED BUDGET BY ABOUT, UH, SIX, $6.8 MILLION.
AND WE DID SOMETHING THAT'S VERY RARE FOR A CONVENTION CENTER OF OUR SIZE, WHICH IS WE ACTUALLY, UH, HAD A POSITIVE CASH FLOW LAST YEAR OF ABOUT $4.5 MILLION.
UH, SO IT WAS A, A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR US.
AND THAT THOSE NUMBERS INCLUDE ABOUT, UH, A A LITTLE BIT OVER HALF A MILLION, UH, DOLLARS THAT WERE, WE PUT BACK INTO THE, UH, TO THE HVAC SYSTEMS IN THE FACILITY DURING WHAT WE SAW AS A VERY GOOD YEAR IN PREPARATION FOR KNOWING THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME YEARS COMING UP WHEN THE BUILDING SHRINKS DOWN, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY GONNA HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT TOWARDS SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
SO, UH, WE GOT A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE CURVE THERE WITH THAT, FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, SEEING VERY GOOD PERFORMANCE AS WELL.
UH, WE'RE REALLY, RIGHT NOW WE'RE ABOUT 725,000, UH, DOLLARS OVERALL BETTER THAN WHAT WE PROJECTED FOR THE YEAR.
AND, UH, WE LOOK TO CONTINUE STRONG, STRONG PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND THE LAST, UM, THE LAST GRAPHIC ON THIS SLIDE IS REALLY OUR ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE.
IT'S PERFORMED REALLY WELL SINCE WE'VE COME OUT OF COVID, UM, ABOUT 17 MILLION IN 22, 18 MILLION IN 23 IN FORECASTING BY THE STATE TO BE A LITTLE OVER 18 MILLION THIS YEAR AS WELL.
SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, CRAIG DAVIS WITH VISIT DALLAS IS GONNA TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TERMS OF ACTIVITY AND HOW WE'VE PRE-BOOKED, UH, THE NEW CONCENT CONVENTION CENTER.
I'M, UH, THRILLED TO REPORT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SELL A CONVENTION CENTER THAT DOESN'T EXIST, HAS NOT BEEN DESIGNED BEYOND 20 29 41 TIMES WITH ANOTHER 92 OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE ON OUR LIST.
AND WE FULLY EXPECT THAT MANY OF THOSE WILL ACTUALLY CLOSE IN THE NEXT LITTLE WHILE, UH, WHILE OTHERS ARE GONNA WAIT FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE DEFINITION AS TO WHAT THE CONVENTION CENTER WILL LOOK LIKE.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT THIS CONVENTION CENTER IS, HAS THE ATTENTION OF OUR INDUSTRY.
UM, IT IS VERY EXCITING AND WE SEE SOME INCREDIBLE POSSIBILITIES WITH, WITH INCREASING WHAT WE CALL THE FUNNEL, WHICH IS THE 92 NEW OPPORTUNITIES EXPONENTIALLY AS SOON AS WE GET JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON TIMELINES AND WHAT THE COMMISSION CENTER WILL LOOK LIKE.
BUT EARLY RETURNS ARE REALLY WONDERFUL, BUT IT IS BOOKED STARTING 2029, SO I'M HOPING THAT WE DON'T DELAY ANY.
AND SO THAT'S OUR, THAT'S REALLY OUR FOCUS TODAY IS THE, THE MOVE FROM CONCEPT TO IMPLEMENTATION.
AND AS WE GET INTO, IF THERE'S ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, WE'LL HAVE INSPIRED DALLAS KIND OF DIG INTO THAT FOR YOU.
BUT REALLY OUR NEXT STEPS ARE TO ADVANCE TO DESIGN.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PLANS AND THE GOALS THAT WE TALKED TO ABOUT, BUT THINGS HAVE COME UP SINCE A YEAR AGO WHEN WE BRIEFED FULL COUNSEL.
AND SOME OF THOSE ARE JUST PARTNERSHIP THINGS WHERE, UH, TXDOT IS NEEDING SOME STAGING AREA FOR THEIR, UH, EQUIPMENT AND TO DO A SHOE FLY FOR UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AS THEY ADVANCE THE I 30 PROJECT.
AND SO AS THEY DO THAT, THERE ARE, THERE'S A SLIDE IN HERE.
WELL, WE'LL SHOW YOU GRAPHICALLY SOME OF THE LAND THAT THEY'LL NEED.
AND SO IT HAD US START WORKING WITH INSPIRE DALLAS RIGHT OUT THE GATE BECAUSE THE, THE REQUEST FROM TEXDOT CAME ABOUT PROBABLY THREE WEEKS AFTER YOU ALL APPROVE THEIR CONTRACT.
AND SO STARTED TO LOOK AT, OKAY, HOW DO WE STILL GET THE CONVENTION CENTER UP IN TIME AND STILL HAVE THE SAME FLOOR PLANS THAT WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IN TERMS OF SPACE USAGE? SO NEXT SLIDE.
SO ON THE, ON THE STREETSCAPE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND, AS WE SAY THAT WE'RE CHANGING THE ORIENTATION, WE'RE NOT GONNA CHANGE THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING IN TERMS OF HAVING THE SIGNATURE ENTRANCE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE YOU CAN LOOK THROUGH THE BUILDING AND REALLY SEE INTO SOUTH DALLAS, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE STREET SCAPES ARE STILL WALKABLE, THAT YOU CAN STILL ENJOY THE WALKABILITY AND THE GREEN SPACE THAT WE'LL BE DEVELOPING.
BUT IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS WHERE WE START TO LOOK SO INSPIRED, ALICE OVERLAID FOREST, THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT.
AND THEN IN YELLOW ARE THE AREAS THAT, UH, TXDOT HAS REQUESTED, UH, PERMIT USE, UM, AT VARIOUS STAGES IN OUR ORIGINAL DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE, RIGHT, CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE.
AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY GET A LITTLE BIT INTO THE BUILDING, PARTICULARLY
[06:35:01]
THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD SHOE FLY AREA, WHICH IS THE, THE LARGER KIND OF OBLONG THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.AND SO WE NEEDED TO RESPOND TO THAT AND BRING SOMETHING TO YOU WHERE WE SHOW THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO THAT WE'RE STILL BEING GOOD PARTNERS WITH TDOT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I 30 ADVANCES JUST AS OUR PROJECT.
AND SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING SURE, UM, ON THE NEXT SLIDE THAT WE HAVE DONE, WHAT WE SAID, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SAME BUILDING PROGRAM SUMMARY THAT WAS IN PROPOSITION A AND THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF INCREASING OUR EXHIBITION HALL JUST A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, WE DO WELL IN THAT AREA ALREADY.
UM, BALLROOM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INCREASING THAT, UM, MORE THAN DOUBLE AS WELL AS CREATING A LARGE BALLROOM AND MEETING SPACE, WHICH WAS KILLING US IN THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SPACE AVAILABLE IN THE EXISTING CONVENTION CENTER TO HOST SOME OF THOSE TECHNOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL TYPE CONVENTIONS THAT REQUIRED A LOT OF MEETING SPACE.
UM, IF YOU'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHAT WE'VE DONE THEN, AND WHAT INSPIRED ALICE AND, AND OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR PARTNER DEPARTMENTS, TRANSPORTATION, ET CETERA, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, IS MOVING THE BUILDING BACK A BIT.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE IN THIS SLIDE THAT WE WILL NEED TO MOVE IT BACK IN A WAY THAT WILL NEED APPROXIMATELY 248,000 SQUARE FEET OF PARKING LOT AREA FROM A CONTIGUOUS, UM, LANDOWNER.
IT'S, IT'S THE BACK PART OF THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS BUILDING, NOT THE BUILDING ITSELF, BUT THE, THE PARKING LOT.
AND TO MOVE THAT BACK WOULD GIVE US THE SAME COVERAGE.
IT WOULD SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS WITH TXDOT, IT WOULD SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS WITH, UH, UPRR AND ALLOW US TO GET THE BUILDING UP BY, BY 2029.
IT WOULD ALSO, UM, AND WE'LL BRING BACK THIS LATER, WE'LL BRING THIS BACK LATER, BUT IT MAY AND MORE THAN LIKELY WILL REDUCE SOME OF THE COSTS RELATED TO BUILDING OVER UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AND DOING SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT.
SO THERE'S KIND OF A, THERE'S A, UH, GIVE AND TAKE WITH THIS.
AND SO WE'LL BRING THAT BACK, UM, AS WE MOVE ON IN THE, IN THE DESIGN PHASE.
THE NEXT SLIDES ARE JUST WHAT THE OTHER FLOORS WILL LOOK LIKE, JUST KIND OF ORIENTATION.
UM, AND SO THOSE ARE SOME SIDE BYSIDE OF THE UPPER FLOORS.
UM, WE'LL GO TO THE LOGISTICS ONE, WHICH IS SLIDE 12.
AND THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE OVERBUILD AND THE REORIENTATION OF IT AND HOW IMPORTANT LOT E NOW BECOMES TO US.
THAT'S WHERE WE WILL HAVE OUR CENTRAL PLANT.
UM, THAT'S WHERE OUR MARSHALING WILL TAKE PLACE.
AND FOR THOSE, UM, JUST AS A REFRESHER, MARSHALING IS WHERE ALL THE LARGE TRUCKS PARK WHO DELIVER, UH, THE VARIOUS SETUPS AND, AND CLIENT BASED ITEMS TO THE BUILDING.
AND SO THEY'LL NEED TO PARK THERE.
IT'S ALSO THE LOCATION FOR, UM, ONE OF THE LOCATIONS WE'VE LOOKED AT FOR THE VERTI PORT AND ALSO FOR THE FIRE STATION.
SO AS YOU REMEMBER, UM, FROM PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS, WE WILL BE ADDING A FIRE STATION TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.
IT WILL REPLACE THE ONE THAT'S CURRENTLY ALONG CANTON, AND SO LOT E WILL BE, UH, THE STAGING AREA FOR THAT.
IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, WE HEARD, WE HEARD THEM AT THE COMMITTEE.
SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT CONNECTIONS TO SOUTH DALLAS AND SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER ITEMS. AND SO WE RESPONDED TO THAT AS WE CAME BACK.
SO WE'VE HAD OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH, UH, SEVERAL OF OUR PARTNERS.
WE LOOKED AT THE DECK PARK CONCEPT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP SPACE INTO DOWNTOWN TOWARDS THE CEDARS AND TOWARDS SOUTH DALLAS.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND WE'LL BRING BACK FOR YOU ONCE WE GET BACK PAST THE CONVENTION CENTER COMPONENT, WE'LL BRING BACK FOR YOU SOME, UH, A LOOK AT HOW WE'LL REALLY BE GETTING ACROSS I 30, WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.
WE'LL DO SOME ENGAGEMENT WITH COUNCIL AND WITH THE PUBLIC IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN POSED, NOT JUST BY CITY COUNCIL, BUT BY SOME CITIZENS WITHIN SOUTH DALLAS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTOOD THAT WE DID HEAR AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL CONNECTION, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE OTHER CONNECTIONS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE IN ORDER FOR US TO REALLY RECONNECT, UM, DALLAS TO SOUTH DALLAS AND SOUTHERN DALLAS.
AND SO NOT ONLY WILL WE BE WORKING ON, UM, LOOKING AND WORKING WITH TRANSPORTATION ON SOME CONNECTIVITY THAT GOES INTO SOUTH DALLAS, INTO THE FAIR PARK AREA,
[06:40:01]
BUT ALSO DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY.AND IF WE LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, ALSO SOME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, UH, INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOTEL ASSOCIATION OF NORTH TEXAS, VISIT DALLAS, SOME LOCAL AREA ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, AND OTHER COMPANIES.
AND ALONG WITH DALLAS COLLEGE, UM, PAUL QUINN COLLEGE, UNT DALLAS, AND SEVERAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND SO WE'LL BE OFFERING SOME COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS THIS SUMMER THAT GIVE A HOLISTIC VIEW AT THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.
AND THAT MEANS NOT JUST THE TYPICAL JOBS OF WORKING A FRONT DESK OR JANITORIAL, HOUSEKEEPING, FOOD SERVICE, BUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY FROM BUILDING AND BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP AND SELECTING A SITE FOR A HOTEL, FOR EXAMPLE, TO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ACTUALLY DO BILLING, ET CETERA, SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY AN INDUSTRY WHERE YOU CAN REALLY GROW AND BUILD, BUILD A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CAREER.
UH, THOSE INTERNSHIPS WERE APPROVED IN OUR BUDGET LAST, LAST CYCLE, AND WE WORKED WITH, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES ON THAT.
SO THEY'LL BE ABOUT 1950 AN HOUR.
AND FOR THE FIRST SUMMER, WE'LL BE OFFERING FOUR INTERNSHIPS.
WE'RE ALSO COLLABORATING WITH VARIOUS ADVOCACY GROUPS, INCLUDING THE REGIONAL BLACK CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION, AND OTHERS, SO THAT WE CAN ADVANCE SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES UNDER THE SECOND CHANCE ACT, UH, PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE ALSO LISTENED AND HEARD ABOUT BOOSTING TOURISM IN SOUTH DALLAS.
WE UNDERSTAND, UH, SOME OF THE, THE FAILINGS OF THE PAST THAT HAVE NOT NECESSARILY GROWN SOUTH DALLAS IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AS WE SHOULD.
AND SO WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOME WORKING WITH VISIT DALLAS AND WORKING WITH OTHER PARTNERS.
WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF OUR SOUTH DALLAS AND CULTURAL LANDMARKS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHERN SECTOR, AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY.
UM, WE'LL INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE DESIGN FEATURES IN OUR RFQ THAT WILL BE ISSUING FOR THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT DALLAS IS VISIBLE IN THE BUILDING.
I THINK AS WE STARTED OFF THIS PROCESS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TOLD CITY COUNCIL WAS THAT WHEN WE VISITED OTHER CITIES, YOU COULD SEE THE CITY IN THE BUILDING WITHOUT LEAVING THE BUILDING.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S TRUE FOR ALL OF DALLAS.
AND SO WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
AS YOU SEE FROM THE PM AWARDS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE RECENTLY.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAXIMIZE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE THAT AND CONTINUE OUR WORKSHOPS AND OUTREACH EVENTS, ET CETERA, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THAT THROUGH ALL OF OUR FUTURE PROCUREMENTS.
AND SO WITH THAT, ALL OF THAT LEADS INTO COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS WE TALKED TO INSPIRED ALICE ABOUT AS WE STARTED ON THIS CONTRACT WITH THEM.
AND SO WE STARTED IMMEDIATELY IN SEPTEMBER MEETING WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AND SOME OF THAT IS IN THE APPENDIX, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND AS WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THAT I THINK WE TESTED THIS WITH SOME OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
BUT IF YOU ON YOUR PHONE GO ON THE DALLAS CC MASTER PLAN.COM SITE, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE MADE THAT TRANSITION.
WE TRANSITIONED FROM, UM, THE IDEA OF PLANNING INTO ONE OF IMPLEMENTATION, AND WE ARE STILL OBVIOUSLY ACCEPTING FEEDBACK.
IT'S A LIVE SITE, AND SO WE CAN MAKE AMENDMENTS AS NECESSARY, ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND SOME OF THE SPOTLIGHTS ON ENHANCEMENTS AND CONNECTIVITY TO THE CEDARS SOUTH DALLAS AND THE SOUTHERN SECTOR AND OTHER PARTS OF DALLAS.
AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING MISSING, WE ARE OPEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADD THINGS TO THE SIDE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, THINGS THAT WILL BE ADDED AS WE CONTINUE ON OUR, UM, REORIENTATION PLANS, OUR TIMELINES, ET CETERA.
ALL OF THAT WILL BE ADDED TO THE SITE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WE DID NOT DELETE ALL OF THE INFORMATION RELATED TO MASTER PLANNING THAT HAS BEEN ARCHIVED, AND THERE IS AN ICON THERE THAT'LL LET YOU GO BACK TO ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
AND SO HERE IS THE UPDATED PROPOSED TIMELINE.
AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE STARTING, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH TODAY, WHEN WE SELECTED, UM, OUR UPM AND STARTED WORK FORWARD, OUR INTENTION AND OUR GOAL WITH THIS IS STILL TO OPEN THE CENTER BY
[06:45:01]
Q4 2028, GIVING OURSELVES A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM BECAUSE OUR FIRST CLIENTS COME IN AT THE END, FIRST QUARTER OF 2029.AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO GET THERE, AND THAT IS OUR INTENTION AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS NEXT SLIDE.
AND SO OUR STAFF RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS REALLY THAT, UH, ONCE WE'VE GONE THROUGH QUESTIONS THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH, DO SOME SITE SERVING AS REQUIRED AND AS WE DO, AND WORK WITH THE REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT TO SEE HOW WE ACCOMMODATE THAT REORIENTATION WITH THE GOAL OF BRINGING BACK TO YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS? WE, WE COME ON AND AS WE WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS, NEXT, UH, SLIDE.
AND SO NEXT STEPS OBVIOUSLY WILL BE TO FURTHER THE PROGRAMMING.
WE'LL GO FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW IN CONCEPT TO COMPLETING THE DRAFT FOR THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN AND PRE-CONSTRUCTION.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL NEED TO DROP INTO THOSE SOLICITATIONS IS THE NEW ORIENTATION SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNING TO AND WHAT THOSE SPECIFICATIONS ARE.
AND SO WITH THAT, WE ARE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, YOU'VE HEARD THE, UH, BRIEFING.
UH, I SEE WE ARE PREPARED TO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UH, IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG AND INTERESTING DAY, SO I KNOW THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HOLD ON, UM, AND STAY FOCUSED.
SO IF YOU WILL, WE'LL START OUT WITH OUR FIRST ROUND OF FIVE MINUTES.
MRS. UH, COUNCILWOMAN, JANIE CHUS, I BELIEVE YOU'RE AT FIRST IN THE QUEUE.
UM, I JUST WANNA THROW IN A COUPLE THINGS AND THEN ASK A COUPLE THINGS.
I THINK ON THE WORKFORCE PIECE, WE JUST HAD A BRIEFING IN THE WE COMMITTEE FOR AL THAT ALSO INCLUDED WORKFORCE DALLAS, THE MAYOR'S INITIATIVE.
SO THAT MAY BE ANOTHER STAKEHOLDER GROUP THAT YOU WANT TO BRING INTO YOUR, YOUR, UH, STABLE, UM, ON.
COULD YOU SHARE WHAT THE PLANS ARE FOR INCORP, FOR THE SORT OF REIMAGINATION OF BOTH PIONEER PLAZA, BUT ALSO HOW CITY HALL PLAZA'S GONNA PLAY INTO THIS? I KNOW IT'S NOT ON YOUR RADAR, BUT HOW YOU'RE WORKING WITH CITY STAFF ON INCORPORATING CITY HALL PLAZA? SO SINCE WE ARE STILL IN AN OPEN ACTIVE PROCUREMENT, REMEMBER WE PUT ALL COMPONENTS INTO ONE PROCUREMENT.
I'M GOING TO KEEP IT VERY LIGHT AND STICK EXACTLY TO THE, TO THE PLAN THAT'S ACTUALLY ON THE WEBSITE.
AND SO OBVIOUSLY REIMAGINING, UM, PIONEER PLAZA HAS A LOT TO DO WITH PUTTING BACK THE RIDER AND OTHER, UH, COMPONENTS THAT WE'VE TAKEN OUT OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE, UH, EROSION ISSUE THAT'S THERE, AS WELL AS SOME, UH, SEVERE GEOTECHNICAL THINGS THAT ARE UNDERNEATH THE, UH, TUNNELING SYSTEM THAT ARE UNDER THE POND, RIGHT? AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO CORRECT THOSE, BRING THOSE BACK, AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE, IN THE MASTER PLAN THAT'S ON SITE, THE GOAL IS TO BRING IT BACK TO LIFE AND MAKE IT MORE INTERACTIVE.
MAKE IT PART OF THE WALKABLE SPACE THAT'S PLANNED FOR THE ENTIRE AREA AND MAKE BETTER USE OF IT.
IT IS ALREADY AS IT IS ONE OF THE MOST VISITED SITES IN DALLAS.
UM, BUT WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT AND, AND MAKE A CONNECTION TO THE HISTORY OF DALLAS IS WHAT WE PUT INTO THE PLAN.
SO CONNECTING THE CEMETERY WITH THAT AND SOME OF THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.
WELL, I HOPE THAT IT'LL BECOME PART AND PARCEL OF OUR HISTORIC AND CULTURAL PLAN THAT'S GONNA BE PRESENTED TO US.
AND SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT OUR, OUR SORT OF RE OUR RE RESTRUCTURING OF THAT WHOLE DEPARTMENT, I THINK COULD BE A VERY GOOD PARTNER FOR YOU ON THAT.
AND THEN WHAT ABOUT, AND CITY HALL PLAZA I KNOW IS NOT EVEN IN YOUR SCOPE, BUT, SO I GUESS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR OUR STAFF, IS WHERE DOES THAT FIT INTO ALL OF THIS WORK? SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO TO ASK.
SO CITY HALL PLAZA IS PART OF THE CONVENTION CENTER PORTFOLIO.
WE PAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE, ET CETERA.
IT IS A ALSO PART OF BUILDING SERVICES, SO KIND OF ONE OF THOSE CROSSOVERS.
UM, BUT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT ACTUALLY GOES FROM, UH, WHAT'S PLANNED IN THE, IN THE MASTER PLAN ACTUALLY GOES FROM UNION STATION TO FARMER'S MARKET, THAT IS IN INCLUDED IN THE RE-IMAGINING OF IT.
PART OF THAT GOES IN WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE, OF THE 30 ACRES AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT AFTER TIME, MAKING SURE WE SAVE THINGS LIKE THE POLICE MEMORIAL, ET CETERA, ARE UNTOUCHED, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 30 ACRES AND THAT THERE'S CONTIGUOUS PLANNING FOR ALL OF THAT.
SO I JUST WANNA OFFER, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT BOTH OF THESE PLACES, YOU KNOW, ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT ON THAT BEFORE THE PLANS ARE SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED TO US? YOU KNOW, I'D LOVE TO BE INVOLVED WITH THOSE THINGS.
[06:50:01]
ON THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE WORK ITEMS FOR THE WE COMMITTEE.SO MAYBE IN TERMS OF FLESHING THAT OUT, ALSO AS YOU BUILD OUT THAT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE WORTH, UH, SPEAKING WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH US ON THAT COMMITTEE.
UM, ON THE, UM, TOURISM ASPECT, COULD YOU ELABORATE MORE ON THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AND THE DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT'LL ADD TO THE WHOLE CULTURE OF DALLAS' WELL-KNOWN ARCHITECTURE? SURE.
SO IF YOU WALK THROUGH THE BUILDING NOW, THERE'S ALREADY, UH, PARTICULARLY IN HALL F UH, THE F PORTION OF THE BUILDING.
AND I BELIEVE A LITTLE BIT IN E THERE IS, UH, DALLAS, KIND OF THE NATURE OF DALLAS, THE TRINITY, UH, THE TRINITY RIVER, TRINITY FOREST KIND OF CONCEPT IN THERE.
AND SO BRINGING THE REST OF DALLAS INTO THE BUILDING CONCEPT AS WE GO INTO DESIGN AND LOOKING AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN DALLAS WITHOUT SEEING, WITHOUT LEAVING THE BUILDING.
LIKE A DENVER, LIKE, UH, IF YOU GO TO, UM, PHILLY, IF YOU GO TO, UH, LA ET CETERA, YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE WITHOUT EVER LEAVING THE BUILDING.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR, KIND OF, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE BUILDING, NOT JUST THAT YOU DON'T JUST SEE SOUTH DALLAS, BUT YOU SEE NORTH DALLAS, YOU SEE OUR PARK SYSTEMS, YOU SEE OUR TRAIL SYSTEMS, ET CETERA.
SO INCORPORATING THOSE ELEMENTS INTO THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF THE BUILDING.
AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON WITH THAT.
I, THE OTHER, I THINK OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU HAVE HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE AN ARCHITECTURAL GEM UNTO ITSELF, AND WE HAVE SO MANY ICONIC BUILDINGS IN DALLAS THAT WHAT I'M ASKING REALLY ABOUT IS, IS THERE ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THIS AS AN ADDITION TO THAT ARCHITECTURE OVERALL AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THAT YET ANOTHER BUILDING AND GIVE OUR VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY SEE, YOU KNOW, REUNION OR THIS BUILDING OR SOME OF THE REALLY FAMOUS ONES IN DALLAS, BUT HAVE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE IN A PLACE OF MANY ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES? YES.
AND I THINK, I THINK, UM, AND I'LL GO BACK TO DENVER, DENVER'S A GREAT ONE WHERE THEY HAVE A LOT OF THAT IN THEIR BUILDING, A LITTLE BIT IN CHICAGO TOO, THROUGH THEIR ARTWORK.
SO I, I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD IS THE, UM, REMIND ME AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'RE REALLY WORKING HARD ON THIS, UH, BUT COULD YOU SHARE AGAIN, WHAT ARE WE DOING SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING FOR, IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY WITH THIS BUILDING? SURE.
SO AS WE GO INTO ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, ONE OF THE 14 DEPARTMENTS THAT WORKS WITH US IS OBVIOUSLY OUR OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
AND SO THEY'VE GIVEN US KIND OF A, A LIST, AND I DON'T, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME, BUT THINGS LIKE SUSTAINABLE ROOF, LIKE CAPTURING RAINWATER, ET CETERA, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT MAKE THE BUILDING MORE SUSTAINABLE.
UM, JUST BY NATURE OF, OF REDEVELOPING THE BUILDING AND REBUILDING IT, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES THAT ARE JUST NATURAL TO THE MARKET NOW.
ANYWAY, THEY'RE KIND OF STANDARD.
BUT, UM, THEY DID GIVE US, UH, QUITE A HEFTY LIST OF THINGS THAT WE COULD INCLUDE IN THE BUILDING.
SO AS WE DO OUR VISIONING EXERCISES, AS WE GO INTO THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN PHASE, AND WE'LL INCLUDE YOU ALL, WE WILL INCLUDE A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THAT.
UM, WE'LL START TO ADD THOSE FEATURES AND LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT WILL DEPEND ON COST, OBVIOUSLY, BUT SOME OF IT WILL LOOK, OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO BRING BACK TO YOU IS THE COST PLUS HOW TO, HOW DOES THAT HELP US REDUCE COST IN OTHER AREAS? SO YES, WE'VE GIVEN A LOT OF THOUGHT TO THAT.
AND I HOPE THAT AS THE, AS WE DO THE DEMOLITION THAT WE, THAT THERE'S AN ACTIVE PLAN FOR THAT EVERYTHING DOESN'T JUST GO INTO THE LANDFILL.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S, UH, ONCE WE GET PAST THIS, WE'LL GET, IT'LL FILL A LANDFILL
I KNOW IT WOULD PROBABLY FILL IT UP, BUT YES.
UH, AFTER WE GET DONE, UM, WITH THIS MEETING IMMEDIATELY INSPIRED, ALICE WILL START FINISHING UP THEIR, UM, PMP, WHICH IS THEIR, THEIR PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND THAT INCLUDES, UH, WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL THE PIECES OF THE BUILDING ONCE IT'S WHAT CAN WE REUSE, WHAT CAN BE USED IN OTHER AREAS, ET CETERA.
SO THEY'LL PROVIDE THAT TO US.
WE'LL OBVIOUSLY BRING BACK THAT TO BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION IS, UM, HOW DO WE PLAN TO STRENGTHEN OUR POSITION ON FOSTERING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH THIS IN ADDITION TO JUST CONVENTIONS? IS THERE A DEEPER YEAH.
SO WE WORK WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A LOT ALREADY.
UM, AND WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF OUR CLIENTS, AND I CAN'T NAME THEM 'CAUSE SOME OF THEM WE'RE IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
[06:55:01]
RIGHT NOW, BUT WE TRY TO SEE IF THEY CAN EITHER BECOME CORPORATE HUBS AN AFFILIATE HERE, OR LOOK AT, UH, BRINGING LONGER TERM BUSINESS HERE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.SO THAT'S PART OF THE MODEL THAT VISIT DALLAS, UM, AND US AT THE CITY, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY AND I THINK IT'S WORKING WELL.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD TO THAT ADD, CRAIG, MR. NO, I HAVE NOT MUCH MORE TO OFFER THAN THAT, BUT, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE, WE HAVE SO MUCH AIRLIFT OUTSIDE INTO VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD, IT MAKES US A NATURAL FOR TO BRING IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN INVOLVED WITH AND, AND WANT TO, UH, BRING INTO DALLAS.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT AS WE TRY, WE WORK REALLY HARD AS A CITY TO RECRUIT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO LIVE HERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY USE THIS, UH, SORT OF AS A TOUCH POINT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, MR. COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL RIDLEY AT THIS TIME FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MR. DAVIS, WITH REFERENCE TO SLIDE FIVE, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS IN SELLING A GHOST BUILDING
IT'S ALMOST AS HARD AS SELLING THE ONE THAT'S HERE NOW, SO I, UH,
WELL, MY QUESTION ABOUT THIS SLIDE IS, THE STATISTICS SOUND IMPRESSIVE, BUT I'D LIKE TO PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT YOU WOULD'VE EXPECTED WITH THE EXISTING BUILDING OVER A SIMILAR PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHETHER WE'RE CAPTURING NEW BUSINESS THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN WITH THE EXISTING BUILDING.
OR IS THIS THE SAME BUSINESS WE WOULD'VE GOTTEN ANYWAY? IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THE, THE TRUTH IS, IT'S A MIX.
UM, THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT ARE COMING HERE TO OUR BUILDING TODAY THAT WE WANT TO CAPTURE IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY, UH, CERTAIN ONES THAT HAVE, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BIG CONVENTIONS AND THEY, THEY'RE ONES THAT HAVE, HAVE A LOT OF SPEND.
UM, THIS CONVENTION CENTER IS GOING TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE IN THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE TWO CONVENTIONS IN AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE'RE, WE HAVE SAID THAT IN FROM THE GET GO THAT OUR PLAN IS TO DOUBLE THE BUSINESS THAT COMES INTO THE COMMISSION CENTER IN THE FUTURE.
WE ARE IN THE WINDOW FOR 20 28, 20 29, WHICH IS A LITTLE TOUGH BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JUST PART OF A BUILDING IN 28.
WE'LL BE OPENING UP NOW IN 2029.
SO THERE'S A FOUR YEAR PERIOD WHERE PEOPLE START MAKING THEIR, THEIR DECISIONS.
SO WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN, IN, UH, BOOKING THE CONVENTION CENTER FROM 2030 AND BEYOND, BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THAT ONE YEAR IS ENOUGH, UH, SPACE.
BUT, UM, I WOULD EXPECT AS WE GET MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER DESIGN, WHEN IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE START TO REALLY TURN MAJOR DIRT, UM, WE WILL SEE AN ONSET OF A LOT MORE BUSINESS.
AND WE ARE FISHING IN PONDS WE'VE NEVER FISHED BEFORE, SO WE'RE GOING AFTER HIGH END TYPES OF CONVENTIONS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD AND LAW IN FINANCE.
THAT ONES THAT, WE'RE NOT ATTRACTED TO DALLAS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CORRECT FACILITIES TO ACTUALLY HAVE THEM MEET AND BREAK OUT.
SO ARE ANY OF THE 41 THAT WE HAVE SIGNED ON CONVENTIONS THAT OUR CURRENT FACILITY JUST COULDN'T HANDLE? YES.
UH, WITH REFERENCE TO SLIDE 10, THE REORIENTATION OF THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING, UM, THE SECOND BULLET POINT TALKS ABOUT THE PATHWAY FOR CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE UNION STATION AND HIGH SPEED RAIL CAN BE ESTABLISHED.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR THINKING IS ABOUT THAT? OR ARE YOU IN A POSITION OF JUST SAYING WHATEVER THE COG WANTS, WHICH WE HEARD ABOUT FOR FIVE HOURS THIS MORNING? NO, IT'S NOT.
WHATEVER THE COG WANTS, IT'S WHAT WE DEVELOP AS A PARTNERSHIP.
AND SOME OF THAT CONNECTIVITY, IT'S A, IT'S A COMBINATION.
SOME OF THAT CONNECTIVITY IS WALKABILITY SOME, 'CAUSE SOME PEOPLE PREFER TO WALK, UM, AND SEE THE CITY.
SO THE OTHER IS, IF WE CAN ACCOMPLISH, UH, A PEOPLE MOVER RIGHT, WITH OR WITH OR WITHOUT HIGH SPEED RAIL, IF WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A PEOPLE MOVER, I THINK THAT HELPS SOME OF OUR CLIENTS.
UM, IF YOU LOOK RIGHT NOW, UM, AND I THINK WE, WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND I, I DON'T HAVE PICTURES TODAY, BUT I DID IN THE ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN, UM, DOCUMENTS, IS THAT THE DIFFICULTY OF WALKING FROM UNION STATION, WERE ACCESSING UNION STATION AND GETTING TO THE CON THE CONVENTION CENTER, IT'S JUST NOT WALKABLE IF YOU DON'T LIVE HERE.
UM, ALL OF THOSE SCENARIOS CREATE A PERCEPTION OF,
[07:00:01]
OF A LACK OF SAFETY.AND IF YOU'RE COMING FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION, THERE'S A LOT OF SIDEWALK ISSUES.
THERE'S, UH, OLD INFRASTRUCTURE WALKING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT INCLUDES STAIRWAYS THAT GO UP AND THEN DOWN AND THEN UP AGAIN.
AND SO SOMEONE WITH MOBILITY ISSUES, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET BACK AND FORTH.
SO ADDRESSING THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'D LIKE TO CORRECT IN THE PLAN.
AND SO AS WE WORK THROUGH SOME OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COG, AS WE WORK THROUGH WITH THE COUNCIL, UM, ABOUT HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THINGS THAT, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND ADDRESS.
SO IS YOUR INTEREST IN CONNECTIVITY, AT LEAST AT THE PEDESTRIAN LEVEL BETWEEN UNION STATION AND THE CONVENTION CENTER BASED UPON ANTICIPATED USE BY CONVENTIONS OF MEETING SPACES IN UNION STATION? OR IS IT IN ANTICIPATION OF CONVENTION GOERS TRAVELING TO DALLAS BY TRAIN AND ARRIVING AT UNION STATION AND WANTING TO GET FROM THERE TO THE CONVENTION CENTER? SO I'D LIKE TO SEE, UM, IDEALLY A MIX OF BOTH, EXCUSE ME, MR. MS.
SO IF WE CAN ACHIEVE AN AGREEMENT ON THE HIGH SPEED RAIL AND WE SEE PEOPLE COMING AND USING THAT AND COMING FROM HOUSTON, 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE IN TERMS OF THE STATE COMING TO OUR CONFERENCES, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT INCREASE IN THEIR ABILITY TO TRAVERSE THE CITY A LITTLE EASIER.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR CLIENTS SEEM TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON IS TRANSPORTATION IN DALLAS NOW.
AND I, IT IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO BE COMPETITIVE AT TIMES.
AND I CAN HAVE, UM, I CAN HAVE EITHER ANTHONY OR CRAIG SPEAK TO THAT A BIT, BUT ALSO THE WALKABILITY, YOU KNOW, EVEN OUR STAFF JUST WALKING BACK AND FORTH AND BEING ABLE TO USE THE BUILDING.
AND WE DO SELL THAT BUILDING AS WELL FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER THINGS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
IF IT'S NOT BEEN SOLD BY THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY ALREADY AND BOOKED, WE CAN USE THAT SPACE.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO CONVINCE CLIENTS THAT THEY CAN WALK FROM UNION STATION BACK TO THE CONVENTION CENTER TO JOIN UP FOR THEIR NEXT, UH, THING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEXT, UH, THE NEXT COMPONENT OF THE CONFERENCE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.
AND I THINK CARRYING SOME OF THAT WOULD MAKE, IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM.
SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE CRAIG TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION FOR CLIENTS.
WELL, THE, THE DREAM OBVIOUSLY IS TO HAVE A WONDERFUL CONVENTION CENTER WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA TO SUPPORT THAT OUR CUSTOMERS WANT ONE PLACE TO GO.
THEY DON'T WANT TO JUMP INTO BUSES AND BE BUSED TO OTHER PLACES.
THEY MAY WANT THAT, BUT THE, THE PROBABILITY IS IF WE HAD A CAMPUS THAT SUPPORTED, UH, THEIR ABILITY TO DO EVENING EVENTS AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM RIGHT IN HERE.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE EXPORTING A LOT OF THAT BUSINESS TO OTHER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE, UM, WE, WE HAVE ONLY ONE OR TWO REALLY BIG VENUES RIGHT NOW THAT SUPPORT IT.
SO WE, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO SEE GROUPS GO ALL THE WAY TO ARLINGTON TO TEXAS LIVE.
WE WANNA STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO HEAR ROSA, THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THIS AS AN ISSUE, THE WALKABILITY ISSUE TO TRANSPORTATION HUBS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL BECOME VERY IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THAT YOU'RE WORKING INDEPENDENTLY, ALTHOUGH CONSULTING WITH COG, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR OWN PLAN TO ACHIEVE WALKABILITY.
UH, THE SECOND, THIRD BULLET POINT IN THAT SAME SLIDE SAYS, CURRENT OVERBUILD OF UPRR AND DART RAIL IS PRESERVED WITH NO ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY NEEDED.
SO, UM, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? FIRST OF ALL, OVERBUILD, I THOUGHT YOU WERE SHIFTING THE BUILDING SO THAT THE BUILDING WOULDN'T BE OVER THE UP RAIL TRACKS.
SO CURRENTLY, AND I'LL, I'LL NEED, UM, CARLOS AGUILA WOULD INSPIRE DALLAS OR, OR JACK TO EXPLAIN SOME OF IT.
BUT I'LL, I'LL GIVE A BRIEF, UM, KIND OF BEGINNING TO IT.
SO WE ARE ALREADY BUILT OVER THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD LINE.
I BELIEVE WE'RE AT 23 FEET OR SO ABOVE IT.
IF WE MOVE THE BUILDING, WE DON'T, IF WE MOVE THIS ORIENTATION, WE DON'T HAVE TO THEN GO ANY HIGHER.
SO SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH, UH, UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD THAT COULD CAUSE A DELAY, A TEMPORARY STOPPAGE, ET CETERA, TO OUR CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE PUT TO A HALT.
WE COULD PUT THAT TO BED AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
AND SO I'M GONNA HAVE JACK TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
THE EXISTING CONDITION THERE ALREADY HAS AN EASEMENT OVER THE TRACKS.
AND SO IF WE LEAVE THAT, DON'T TOUCH IT AND CAN ACTUALLY USE THAT EXISTING STRUCTURE, IT SAVES
[07:05:01]
US FROM A TWO YEAR NEGOTIATION WITH UP OR WHATEVER THAT ENDS UP BEING.SO IT'S A, IT'S A GREAT THING.
IT'S OUR CONNECTION TO LOT E AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE'RE GONNA LOAD AND UNLOAD A LOT OF THE CONVENTION.
SO IF I'M, IF I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION WELL, MY QUESTION IS, IF THE PURPOSE IN SHIFTING THE BUILDING WAS TO AVOID OVERLAYING THE UP RAIL TRACKS, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE SOME OVERBUILD OVER THE TRACKS.
WHAT'S THE NET BENEFIT? OKAY, SO, SO BASICALLY THE, THE DESIGN RIGHT NOW IS SUCH THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH UP TDOT OR HIGH-SPEED RAIL.
UH, WE'RE NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THOSE AREAS.
THIS IS ALREADY AN EXISTING CONDITION.
AND ROSE IS POINTING OUT IS WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THOSE NEGOTIATIONS, THOSE NEGOTIATIONS CANNOT STOP THE PROGRESS OF, OF US GOING AHEAD AND BUILDING BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE AN EASEMENT.
WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY GOOD AND IT'S, AND IT'S A BUILT CONDITION.
SO WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO NEGOTIATE ANY ADDITIONAL EASEMENT WITH THEM IS WHAT ALREADY CHANGES.
SO WHEN WE DEMOLISH THAT PORTION OF THE BUILDING AND BUILD IT BACK, IT WILL BE IN THE SAME EASEMENT, ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE THE NEW BUILDING.
SO WE'RE GONNA EXPLORE THOSE TWO OPTIONS AND BRING THEM BACK TO YOU.
BRING, AND SO THAT WOULD CUT DOWN CONSIDERABLY ON THE NEGOTIATION TIME.
NOW WHAT YOU SAW ON THAT, ON THE, UH, OVERLAY WAS NOT WITHIN THAT EASEMENT.
SO THAT SHOE FLY THAT UP NEEDS TO BUILD.
UM, WHICH THAT, LET ME GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE REALLY QUICK.
WHAT IS THE SHOE FLY, BY THE WAY? IS THAT THE STAGING AREA THAT YOU DESCRIBED? NO, IT IS.
SORRY, YOU WANT ME TO JUMP IN? OH, MICHAEL MORRIS WANTS TO EXPLAIN IT.
SO MICHAEL MORRIS, COUNCIL GOVERNMENT STAFF APOLOGIZED FOR THE, UH, TERM, UH, WHEN THE INTERSTATE 30 BRIDGE IS REBUILT OVER INTERSTATE 30, YOU HAVE TO TEMPORARILY MOVE THE TRACK IN A PARALLEL TRACK OR SHOE FLY.
SO YOU'RE TEMPORARILY USING THE RIGHT OF WAY, UH, NEGOTIATED BETWEEN TDOT AND THE CONVENTION CENTER.
UM, THEN THE BRIDGE IS REBUILT, THEN THE TEMPORARY SHOE FLY IS THEN RETURNED TO THE ORIGINAL WIDER FOOTPRINT.
'CAUSE WE'RE ADDING ADDITIONAL BRIDGE WIDTH TO THE RAIL DISTRICT BRIDGE OVER INTERSTATE 30.
SO THE SHOE FLY JUST REFERS TO THE TEMPORARY TRACK? YES, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT BAD NAME FOR A TEMPORARY SITUATION.
WELL, I JUST ASSOCIATED IT WITH THE AMISH, BUT
SO THE STAGING AREA IS WHAT'S MARKED ON SLIDE 12 AS THE CENTRAL UTILITIES AND LOGISTICS ACCESS.
SO IT BECOMES, SO MARSHALING IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
CONVENTION CENTERS CAN'T FUNCTION WITHOUT IT.
WE NEED THE LARGE TRUCKS TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND OUT.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF LOGISTICS, IT'S ALSO A GENERAL STAGING AREA FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES AS THEY TAKE PLACE.
AND THEN PARKING SOLUTION, AS WE WALK THROUGH THIS, IF WE FIND OURSELVES IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL PARKING, THAT'S AN OPTION FOR US.
AND THEN THE CENTRAL PLANT, UM, IS UH, THAT'S THE LOCATION GIVEN THE REORIENTATION THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PLACE IT.
AND THEN FINALLY ON SLIDE 16, THE LAST BULLET ON THAT PAGE SAYS, UTILIZE THE RAIL DISTRICT CORRIDOR TO ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND SUPPORT EXISTING ONES BY IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND INCREASING FOOT TRAFFIC.
WHERE IS THE RAIL DISTRICT CORRIDOR AND WHY WOULD WE WANT TO INCREASE FOOT TRAFFIC IN AN AREA OF TRAIN TRAVEL? SO IT'S CALLED THE RAIL DISTRICT, BUT IT STARTS, UM, WHEN YOU CROSS OVER 30 INTO THE CEDARS AND CONTINUES DOWN, UM, DOWN LAMAR.
AND SO RIGHT NOW YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT OF FOOT TRAFFIC AS THE, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED AND THERE IS SOME APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION ET CETERA THERE AS WELL AS SOUTH SIDE OF LAMAR AND OTHER BUILDINGS.
BUT THE, THE GOAL IS TO REALLY START TO REACH INTO SOUTH AND SOUTHERN DALLAS AND GET PEOPLE COMFORTABLE WITH BEING ABLE TO WALK.
SO CREATING THOSE AMENITIES THAT ALLOW THEM TO, TO DO THAT.
IT'S PART OF THE LONG-TERM PLAN FOR THE PROJECT.
SO RATHER THAN DESCRIBING IT AS THE RAIL DISTRICT CORRIDOR, IS IT MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS THE, UM, PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR ADJACENT TO THE RAIL DISTRICT SO THAT WE DON'T IMPLY THAT WE'RE MIXING TRAINS AND PEOPLE.
AND THEN, OH, FINALLY ON SLIDE 20, UH, THE TIMELINE, UH, FOR FINALIZATION OF THE CONCEPT AND SELECTION OF A DESIGNER, WHERE ARE WE IN THE PROCESS? HAS AN RFP ALREADY BEEN ISSUED
[07:10:01]
FOR THE DESIGN TEAM? NO.SO AS WE FINISH UP TODAY, WE HAVE A DRAFT, UH, RFQ FOR ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN.
WE'LL NEED TO DROP THIS ORIENTATION INTO THAT SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE BUILDING TOO, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER SPECIFICATIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE WRITTEN, UM, INTO THAT.
AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ISSUE I THINK DURING THE TIMELINE WHEN I TALKED ABOUT IT, UM, ON FEBRUARY 5TH, WE TALKED ABOUT AN APRIL TIMELINE FOR RELEASE OF IT.
SO IS JUNE 24 FOR, UH, SELECTING THE DESIGNER AMBITIOUS, OR IS THAT ACHIEVABLE? I THINK IT'S ACHIEVABLE.
THANK YOU MR. UH, MADAM MAYOR.
COUNCIL MEMBER RIDLEY COUNCILWOMAN, UH, PAULA BLACKMAN, FIVE MINUTES OF THIS ROUND.
AND UM, THANKS FOR, UH, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
UM, SO I'M GONNA GET RIGHT INTO IT.
I GUESS ON PAGE 13, UH, LOOKING AT THE EVOLUTION TO THE CONNECTION TO SOUTH DALLAS, IT SAYS REPLACING THE DECK PARK CONCEPT.
SO HAS THAT COMPLETELY BEEN SCRAPPED AND WE'RE JUST NOW LOOKING AT CONNECTIVITY WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, OPEN SPACE, NOT COMPLETELY SCRAPPED.
IF YOU, IF YOU RECALL, UM, BACK IN LAST FEBRUARY WE CAME AND WE TALKED ABOUT OUR EVOLUTION WITH, WITH TDOT.
AND SO WE MOVED BACK FROM HAVING THE BUILDING OVER BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS FROM TDOT AND THE TIMELINE OF BEING IN THAT SPACE AT THE SAME TIME.
AND SO WE MOVED THAT TO A DECK PARK CONCEPT, WHICH WE WERE WORKING THROUGH.
AND AS WE WORKED THROUGH IT, THERE WERE SOME VENTILATION ISSUES, ET CETERA, BECAUSE OF THE DEPTH OF I 30.
AND SO WE ARRIVED AT KIND OF REDEFINING LAMAR AND DOING A 60 FOOT WALK PATH ON THE WEST SIDE AND SOME OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE EAST SIDE OF LAMAR TAKING US OVER INTO THE CEDARS AND THEN DEVELOPING A PARK SPACE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CEDARS, BUT WITH COMMUNITY INPUT OBVIOUSLY.
SO WE'D LIKE TO DEVELOP A, A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CAN GIVE US TO SEE WHAT THEY WANNA SEE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, RIGHT.
AND WHAT IT NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE.
AND SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT EVOLVES AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS.
ONCE WE GET THE RFQ FOR THE ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN ON THE BUILDING DONE, THEN WE'LL MOVE INTO WORKING ON THAT.
SO THIS, RIGHT, THIS LITTLE DOTTED BLOB LOOKS LIKE OKLAHOMA RIGHT THERE, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, HAS A LITTLE PANHANDLE AND THEN THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SO GOING TO, SO A LINEAR PARK THAT CONNECTS IT INTO THE CEDARS? CORRECT.
AND SO, UH, SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE THE BUILT OUT OF A DECK PARK LIKE WE IMAGINED, BUT MORE OF A JUST A CONNECTOR CORRIDOR.
IT'S A CONNECTOR PATH, BUT I THINK WITH THE BUILDUP OF LAMAR, WE'LL CONCEIVE THAT OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
WE, WE ALWAYS BRING STUFF BACK TO COUNCIL SO THAT YOU ALL CAN KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UM, BUT BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL IN A WAY THAT YOU SEE THAT LAMAR IS BUILT OUT AND WALKABLE THAT IT, YOU CAN WALK OVER IN SEVERAL PLACES INTO THE CEDARS AND BE ABLE TO THEN GO INTO, INTO SOUTH DALLAS.
BUT ENGAGING THE SOUTH DALLAS COMMUNITY AS WE DEVELOP IT.
SO WE DON'T WANNA RUSH INTO IT, BUT RATHER MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SOME PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND IF PEOPLE ARE GIVING US THEIR FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY GO SEE.
SO, UM, IN, I MEAN, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT SOUTH DALLAS IS THE FAIR PARK AREA AND THIS IS SPECIFICALLY THE CEDARS AREA.
ARE YOU USING THOSE WORDS INTERCHANGEABLY? WELL, WE WANNA CONNECT THE TWO.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONNECT INTO SOUTH AND SOUTHERN DALLAS AND SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CUTOFF CREATED BY THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF I 30, SIMILAR TO LIKE 3 45 IS, IS DONE AWAY WITH.
AND THE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE.
IF YOU RECALL, A LOT OF THE, THE PHOTOS THAT WE SHOWED YOU AND A LOT OF THE DESIGN, THE CONVENTION CENTER TURNED ITS BACK ON SOUTH DALLAS FOREVER.
SO THIS IS PART OF THAT OPENING IT UP AND IT OPENING IT UP.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT FEW SLIDES IS NOT JUST, UH, IN TERMS OF SPACE, BUT OPENING IT UP IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE, IN TERMS OF ABILITY TO, TO GET BACK AND FORTH.
AND I THINK IF WE TALK TO CRAIG, CRAIG WORKS AS WELL AS MONICA PAUL AT THE SPORTS COMMISSION TO SELL A LOT AT, AT UH, FAIR PARK.
AND SO CONNECTING THE TWO TOGETHER SO THEY DON'T LOOK WORLDS APART, BUT ACTUALLY WHAT THEY REALLY ARE IS JUST A FEW MILES APART, UM, IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CORRECT.
BUT YOU'RE STILL FOCUSING INTO THE CEDARS AREA BECAUSE, WELL, FOR THIS CROSSOVER YES.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT CROSSOVER, YEAH.
AND THEN SO ARE YOU GONNA HAVE TWO ENGAGEMENT PRO UH, FOLKS? BECAUSE THE CEDARS IS NOT, AND I'M NOT HERE, BUT IF YOU TALK TO BASIL DUA IN, IN FAIR PARK, THEY'RE, THEY'RE DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.
SO ARE YOU GONNA HAVE TWO, BECAUSE YOU DO MENTION
[07:15:01]
A SOUTH DALLAS, UH, ADVISORY GROUP, BUT THERE'S NOT A CEDARS ADVISORY GROUP.WE DID SPECIFICALLY SAY CEDARS, BUT YES.
WILL IT GATES, CEDARS AND SOUTH DALLAS PROPER AS WELL, AS WELL AS SOUTHERN DALLAS AND THE PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN DALLAS.
AND THEN I ASSUME YOU'RE GONNA GO INTO THE NORTH AND DO THE DOWNTOWN PROPER ENGAGEMENT.
SO IT WOULD BE A TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE ENGAGEMENTS.
'CAUSE I MEAN YEAH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY TWO DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES.
AND SO WE DID THAT IF YOU, UM, AND IT'S BEEN A MINUTE.
SO, UH, THE SAME THING WE DID WITH THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS WHERE WE DID, GOSH, 247 MEETINGS OR SO, OR 347 MEETINGS.
UH, WE'LL DO THE SAME THING THIS TIME AND MAKING SURE THAT WE TRY TO HIT EACH POPULATION EVEN DOING THE TELEPHONIC TOWN HALLS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'LL BE VARIOUS NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN EACH ONE, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AT LEAST OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND LISTEN AND GIVE THEIR FEEDBACK.
SO THEN WE GO INTO, UM, A RAIL DISTRICT TROLLEY.
HAVE WE REALLY THOUGHT THROUGH THAT? BECAUSE WE, EVERY YEAR WE TALK ABOUT THE TROLLEY.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR, UH, SURE.
WE'LL HAVE TO EX A STREET CARD.
YEAH, SO WE'LL HAVE TO EXPLORE IT, RIGHT? WE WANNA GET SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA WORK.
I THINK EVERYBODY REMEMBERS THE DELINK AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER PARTIALLY FUNDED, RIGHT? I THINK IT WAS LIKE $360,000 A YEAR THAT WE PAID, BUT IT, IT WASN'T USED VERY MUCH.
I THINK IT WAS SOME ISSUES OF WHERE IT STOPPED, HOW FAR IT, IN THE FREQUENCY OF IT, THERE WAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES TO IT.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTOOD.
WE HAVEN'T LOST SIGHT OF FIGURING OUT A TRANSPORTATION OPTION FOR CONNECTING SOUTH DALLAS TO DOWNTOWN AND VICE VERSA.
OTHER AREAS, AS WE TALK ABOUT THE STREET CAR AND OTHER AREAS IN OTHER COMPONENTS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND.
SO THESE ARE IN THE VERY FLEDGLING EARLY STAGES OF DISCUSSION FOR THOSE.
AND SO OBVIOUSLY SAME, SAME THING.
WE'LL ENGAGE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING TO EVERYBODY BEFORE WE BRING BACK A COUPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU ALL CAN, BECAUSE THEN IN THE BULLET BELOW IT SAYS, ESTABLISHMENT OF A DYNAMIC ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.
SO YOU'RE NOT ONLY BUILDING A CONVENTION CENTER, BUT YOU'RE ALSO GONNA, THIS IS A LOT.
YOU'RE, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS YOU'RE TACKLING A LOT WITH THIS.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE SOME SCOPE CREEP HERE.
'CAUSE YOU'RE ALSO DOING A LAND USE PLAN WITH DEVELOPMENT AND A TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD A CONVENTION CENTER.
SO I GUESS HELP ME UNDERSTAND ALL THESE PARTS.
SO THE MAS IS ONE GONNA, IS ONE GONNA NOT BE ROBUST IN THE ORDER FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO HAPPEN? NO.
SO THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF COMPONENTS TO THE, TO THE MASTER PLAN.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT IS LIKE A 300 PAGE DOCUMENT, BUT IT HAS A, YOU KNOW, THE SEVEN PRIMARY COMPONENTS AND PART OF THAT WAS LAND USE AND THEN THE NATURAL ENCOURAGEMENT OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CONVENTION CENTER BUILD STUFF.
SO SOME OF THIS IS NOT THE CONVENTION CENTER OR CONVENTION AND EVENT SERVICES OR EVEN THE CITY OF DALLAS DOING IT.
IT'S OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS, LANDOWNERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF SMALLER LANDOWNERS.
WE'VE ENGAGED A LOT OF OTHER LANDOWNERS.
AND SO AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR PLANS, THEY'LL BECOME PART OF THE LARGER DISTRICT AND THAT CONNECTIVITY.
AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT SPURRED SOME OF THE CONVERSATION WE HAD EARLIER TODAY IS THERE IS INTEREST IN DOING ALL OF IT.
IT'S HOW DO WE GET THERE? SO THIS IS NOT A SHORT TERM PROCESS.
IT WON'T BE DONE BY THE TIME WE OPEN THE CONVENTION CENTER.
WE'LL, THIS WILL BE A LONG TERM DEAL.
AND THEN, UM, FINALLY IT DOES SAY HIGHLIGHT SOUTH DALLAS AND CULTURAL, AND I'M NOT PICKING ON IT, BUT IT'S LIKE, ARE WE GONNA TALK, ARE WE, ARE WE ACTUALLY GONNA HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF DALLAS STUFF? YES.
AND WHILE YES, YOU CAN DRIVE CERTAIN THINGS BECAUSE I HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE ARBORETUM AND SO I WAS KIND OF LIKE, WELL, CAN WE NOT DO EAST DALLAS STUFF? BUT ANYWAY, I MEAN, SO HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU DRIVE TOURISM BUT ACTUALLY STILL FOCUS INTO AN AREA BUT NOT NEGLECT EVERYTHING ELSE? YEAH.
AND I THINK WE STARTED THAT A LITTLE BIT WITH THE BRANDING THAT WE'RE DOING WITH VISIT DALLAS AND THEN SOME OF THE EXERCISES THAT WE DID OVER THE LAST, WHAT, TWO YEARS WHERE WE STARTED FOCUSING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND DALLAS.
WE CALLED THEM LITTLE GEMS OR HIDDEN GEMS, I BELIEVE.
UM, AND STARTED TO LOOK AT IT, BUT WE DIDN'T FLESH IT OUT ENOUGH.
AND SO THAT IS ONE OF THE, AND I'M GONNA LET, UH, CRAIG TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE IDEAS WITHOUT RELEASING SOME OF OUR BRAND ACCEPTANCE COMING OUT.
IT'D BE BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF REEVALUATING THE WAY THAT WE PUT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO MORE TO, MORE IS MORE.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING A LOT MORE, UM, NOT PARTNERS AND NON PARTNERS ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE, AND THEN WE WANT TO,
[07:20:01]
WE WANNA AGGREGATE SOME OF IT TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC POCKETS OF THE, THE BEST OF DALLAS, YOU KNOW.AND SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO DO THAT THAT'S EQUITABLE.
BUT IT ALSO LEANS INTO WHAT OUR, OUR VISITORS WANT TO DO.
AND THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN, UM, BRINGING IN TWICE AS MANY CUSTOMERS TO HAVING THAT KIND OF NATURAL DEMAND THERE.
RIGHT NOW OUR CUSTOMERS SUFFER FROM NOT HAVING A LOT TO CONSUME AROUND THE CONVENTION CENTER AND WE HEAR IT.
SO WE REALLY NEED THAT LAND AROUND THE, THE CONVENTION CENTER TO BE, THIS WOULD BE A NATURAL CATALYST TO BRING A LOT MORE BUSINESSES THAT COMPLIMENT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
THAT'S WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS WANT TO BUY.
AND WELL, AND KINDA GIVEN ALL OF THIS IN THE MASTER PLAN AND ALL THE, THE ELEMENTS AND COMPONENTS OF IT.
I MEAN, ROSA, THERE IS GONNA BE A TIME WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS.
IT IS IT ALL WE ON YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I MEAN, IT'S, 'CAUSE THIS IS A LOT MASTER PLANNING AND BUILDING A AND BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR A PROJECT.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT GREAT PARTNERS, BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING TO BUILD OUT AN AREA, IT MAY NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONVENTION CENTER DEPARTMENT TO, RIGHT.
SO, AND, AND SO THERE IS A, I THINK A NA THERE'S GONNA BE A NATURAL POINT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION OF I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER.
HOW DOES THIS AUXILIARY STUFF HAPPEN? AND WHO DOES THAT FALL UNDER? AND WHO IS THAT PERSON THAT IS THE CHAMPION FOR IT? BECAUSE CORRECT.
I I THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET REAL AND, AND IT'S GONNA GET VERY, I MEAN, THIS IS A LOT OF STUFF.
SO I MEAN, AND I THINK THE TEAM IS LOOKING AT IT THAT THERE IS A, I THINK A NATURAL BREAK WHERE IT IS MORE OF A VISION AND A PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN.
AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONVENTION CENTER, MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THESE CONVENTIONS SHOW UP, YOU'RE READY TO GO.
THAT WIFI IS GOING AND NOT NECESSARILY WORRIED ABOUT, WELL, ARE THE TREES PLANTED ALONG THE CORRIDOR OR TO THE PARK AND ARE WE HAVING A MEETING? SO THAT, THAT'S MY FEEDBACK IS THAT I THINK YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO FIND A TIME WHEN THAT HAPPENS IN THAT.
AND, AND WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
WE HAVE A, UH, LIKE I I KEEP SAYING WE HAVE A 14 MEMBER, UH, DEPARTMENT STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE, SO INTERDEPARTMENT STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE, AND, UM, ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE TRANSPORTATION'S MOST HEAVILY RIGHT NOW.
GUS HAS BEEN, UM, DIRECTOR CRAIG CARLY'S BEEN BY, BY MY SIDE THROUGH THIS ENTIRE, UH, PROCESS AS WELL AS PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN AS WELL AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO THOSE HAVE BEEN KIND OF THE STRONGHOLDS BEFORE WE GOT TO PROCUREMENT.
AND SO AS WE WALK THROUGH THAT, WE'LL BE DIPPING THIS UP AND IT'LL LAND IN THE APPROPRIATE, IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACE AS IT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE, BUT WE STILL WANNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES IF WE CAN, FROM SOME OF THE GENERATION OF REVENUE THAT WE DO, SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST LEAVING A DEPARTMENT TO SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE ACCOMPLISHED THAT WE ALL ENVISION TOGETHER.
BUT I I DO THINK THAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS MAKING SURE THAT THE CONVENTION CENTER'S READY TO GO WHEN VISIT DALLAS HAS THESE COMING IN.
AND SO THERE, I THINK THERE IS A TIME WHEN I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PITCH IT TO THE CITY MANAGER OF, YOU KNOW WHAT WE PROBABLY, I NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR X AND IF Y NEEDS TO GET DONE, WHO AND HOW DOES THAT LOOK? THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.
BECAUSE IF YOU WANT IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, I THINK YOU CAN'T, IT'S TOO, IT'S A LOT.
YOU'VE GOT A MICRO AND A MAN AND A MACRO, UH, MENTALITY AND IT'S, IT, IT'S HARD TO GO BETWEEN THOSE TWO WHEN YOU'RE THE MANAGER OF A FACILITY AND THAT'S WHAT YOUR JOB IS, BUT YOU ALSO GOTTA MANAGE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PLAN.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS.
THANK, THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JESSE MORENO, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES ON THIS PARTICULAR ROUND.
UM, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR, UM, GETTING US THIS FAR.
UM, I KNOW THAT I HAVE ALL THE CONFIDENCE THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PRODUCE AND GET THIS ACROSS THE LINE SAYING THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY FOCUSED ON THE CONVENTION CENTER ITSELF.
HELP ME UNDERSTAND HOW THAT CONNECTIVITY TO OUR OTHER DESTINATIONS WITHIN THE CITY.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO THE CITY OF DALLAS ARE STAYING HERE IN DALLAS AND NOT GOING TO OUR SUBURBS, UH, FOR ENTERTAINMENT, FOR HOTEL STAY.
AND SO HOW ARE WE WORKING WITH OUR, UH, URBAN PLANNING DESIGN AND, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION, LOOKING AT POTENTIAL, UH, REDESIGNS, LOOKING AT PERMANENT STREET CLOSURES, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CONNECTING PEOPLE FROM, UH, THE CONVENTION CENTER TO THE FARMER'S MARKET TO TO THE WEST END, TO DEEP ELLUM, TO KNOX HENDERSON? SURE.
SO IF YOU GO BACK AND YOU LOOK AT THE, THE MASTER PLAN AND WE'LL, WE'LL SEND THE LINK TO EVERYONE FOR OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS, I THINK WE STUDIED THAT.
SO WE STUDIED WITH, UH, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND URBAN DESIGN WAS AT THE TABLE FROM, FROM DAY ONE.
[07:25:01]
WE MADE SURE THAT WE INCLUDED THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ET CETERA.SO AS WE LOOKED AT EACH OF THE POCKETS AND KIND OF FEED IT, BECAUSE THE CONVENTION CENTER, IT'S A BUILDING AND IT CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT THE RETAIL, WITHOUT THE RESTAURANTS, WITHOUT THE HOTEL, WITHOUT THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOCUS.
AND AS WE LOOKED AND STARTED TO TAKE APART THE TRANSPORTATION, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD A LOT OF STREETS TO NOWHERE BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR REUNION ARENA, WHICH IS NO LONGER THERE.
AND SO CORRECTING SOME OF THAT, MAKING THE CONNECTIVITY INTO INTERSTATE 30, LOOKING AT HOW THOSE DARK SPACES AND DARK POCKETS WERE REALLY IMPACTING SOME OF OUR SURVEY RESULTS FROM CLIENTS, ET CETERA.
WE BROUGHT IN ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO HELP US DO THE HEAVY LIFTING ON THE PLANNING.
AND AS WE GO FORWARD ON THE IMPLEMENTATION, UM, THEY'RE STILL THERE TO HELP US DO THE, THE IMPLEMENTATION PART AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GONNA TAKE, UM, DOLLARS TO, TO MAKE THOSE PROJECTS HAPPEN.
UM, AT OUR LAST PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING, WE DISCUSSED SOME OPTIONS OR POSSIBILITIES, UH, WITH FIFA COMING TO DALLAS AND HOW WHEN YOU HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE CONCENTRATED IN ONE AREA, HOW POTENTIALLY WE COULD USE HOMELAND SECURITY DOLLARS OR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TO BE ABLE TO, UM, PREPARE FOR THE FIFA FIFA AT WORLD CUP.
SO WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS, AND I'LL LET CRAIG TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT VARYING THINGS WE NEED FOR FIFA.
AND I THINK WE'RE ALMOST AT A POINT, BUT NOT QUITE YET WHERE WE CAN BRING A PRESENTATION TO THE, UH, THE SPORTS COMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO, TO TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT I THINK WE'RE NOT THERE YET WITH MY LAST CONVERSATION WITH, UH, MONICA.
I WAS GONNA, UM, YEAH, MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT THAT COMMITTEE, UH, WOULD TAKE IT UP.
UH, ANOTHER AREA, UH, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PLACEMAKING, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND, UH, THAT'S OUR GREEN SPACES IN IN PUBLIC PARKS.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, COMING OUT THE OTHER EVENING TO TALK TO FOLKS AT OLD CITY PARK ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO CONNECT THOSE, UH, OLD CITY PARK TO THE FARMER'S MARKET DISTRICT.
UM, AND I HOPE THAT, UH, YOU GUYS JOIN US ON OUR UPCOMING, UH, PARKS SHOWN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, UM, SO WE CAN GET AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE FOCUS ON OUR GREEN SPACES.
OF COURSE, ALL THE ATTENTION IS ON THE CONVENTION CENTER ITSELF, BUT GREEN SPACES ARE, ARE SO CRITICAL AS THEY'RE GONNA CONNECT THE CEDARS, UH, FARMER'S MARKET, UM, TO DOWNTOWN IS I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOSE FOCUS ON OUR GREEN SPACES.
AND SO I I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE AND MORE DETAILED, ROBUST, UH, BRIEFING ON THE, THE CONNECTORS THEMSELVES.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, NAVAREZ, YOU'RE NEXT WITH THE FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND, AND ROSA, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S, UM, THERE.
IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION AND UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE IN THE RIGHT TRACK AND I'M, YOU KNOW, WHAT I LOVE IS THAT YOU, YOU KIND OF GET HIT WITH A, A LITTLE ISSUE OR A PROBLEM AND IT'S LIKE Y'ALL HAVE ALL BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE IT.
AND THAT GOES TO, UM, OBVIOUSLY YOUR LEADERSHIP ROSA, BUT ALSO TO THE, UM, YOUR FORETHINKING THAT THERE WERE ALL THESE MOVING PARTS, UM, THAT WE WEREN'T SURE WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN AND YOU MADE SURE THAT THERE WAS A FOOTPRINT AND ENOUGH SPACE THAT THINGS COULD BE ROTATED, MOVED, CHANGED THE LEVELS, WHATEVER NEED TO BE DONE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE, UM, JACK MATTHEWS AND VISIT DALLAS AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S, UM, ABLE TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
SO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE I THINK ANY OTHER CITY PROBABLY WOULD'VE HAD THEIR FOOTPRINT, THEIR DESIGN, AND THEN BE FREAKING OUT HOW TO ADJUST AND MOLD THIS.
SO, UH, PRETTY, PRETTY, UH, SMART IF I, IF YOU ASK ME.
AND, UM, ONE QUESTION I HAVE, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT OR HEARD IT YET, IS ABOUT LEE, UM, LEED CERTIFIED.
UM, ARE WE STILL FOCUSED ON THAT? UM, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE PART OF OUR CCAP AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, UM, PRETTY IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT I KNOW TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE IN DALLAS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO AS WE GO INTO, UM, AS I SAID PREVIOUS, WE GO INTO ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND DESIGN.
WE'LL BE BRINGING IN THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WHO, WHO'S ALREADY GIVEN US A REALLY, UM, STURDY DOCUMENT, UM, THAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE MASTER PLAN DRAFT THAT SPEAKS TO THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THE HIGHEST CERTIFICATIONS POSSIBLE, AND ALSO TO MAKE THE BUILDING AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS SUSTAINABLE.
SO THE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY GAVE US FOCUSED ON ALL OF THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS IN THE PLAN.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING TOWARDS.
BUT OBVIOUSLY AGAIN, AS WE COME BACK, WE'LL BE DOING SOME IMAGINING EXERCISES WITH YOU ALL AS WELL.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE GARAGES AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF'S GONNA HAVE TO
[07:30:01]
BE PUT ON THIS.UM, I SAW SOMETHING IN CALIFORNIA, NOT SAYING THAT THIS WOULD WORK HERE, BUT JUST SOMETHING I SAW, UM, WAS, UM, THE PARKING STRUCTURES, UM, WERE LIKE COVERS AND ALL THE COVERS WERE SOLAR PANELS.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY LIKE COOL AND SMART AND A WAY TO SELF SUSTAIN.
AND THEN THERE WERE EV CHARGING STATIONS AS WELL.
SO I'M JUST, IF, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, I KNOW THAT, LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BUILDING AND THE OLD CONVENTION CENTER AND IT'S LIKE THE ROOF JUST WON'T HOLD IT AND WE KNOW WHY NOW, BUT IT WOULDN'T HOLD IT.
BUT I'M SAYING IT'S THE ROOF OF THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, BUT IF THERE'S WAYS TO INCORPORATE THAT, UM, I, I, I FIGURE IF COLD PLAY CAN DO A COMPLETELY SELF-SUSTAINING TRAVELING CONCERT AND BROUGHT IT TO FAIR PARK THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO SOME OF THIS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
I JUST, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST WALKING AND IT JUST CREATES ENERGY THAT FEEDS IN.
I, I DON'T KNOW, I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT COSTS, RIGHT? 'CAUSE IT COULD BE WAY TOO EXPENSIVE AND NOT WORTH IT FOR US TO DO IT.
SO ANYWAY, JUST ANYTHING THAT WE CAN THINK THAT'S IMAGINATIVE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I HAD A QUESTION ON WAS, UM, I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR SKYLINE ALREADY DOES THIS, WHICH IT GETS LIT UP AND IT'S BRIGHT AND WE HAVE, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO DO THEMES THAT CAN WE INCORPORATE THAT ALSO AND ALLOWING YOU ALL WITH SOME AMOUNT OF BILLBOARD ADVERTISING, UM, FOR CONVENTIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY INCORPORATE THE REST OF DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THIS, THIS IS GONNA BE A MAJOR FOCAL POINT, UM, FOR THE BILL FOR ALL OF DOWNTOWN.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED INTO OR SOMETHING WE CAN POSSIBLY DO? IT IT IS, IT'S PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.
WE LOOKED AT HOW TO MONETIZE THE OUTSIDE OF, OF THE BUILDINGS AND NOT JUST THAT ONE, BUT AS WELL AS THE, THE TWO THAT WE JUST AWARDED.
SO THE ARENA AND T-BALL AS WELL.
AND SO I'LL LOOK TO INSPIRE ALICE TO HELP ME KIND OF PULL ALL THAT TOGETHER AND BRING SOMETHING FORWARD TO COUNCIL, UM, AFTER WE GET THROUGH ALL OF THE IMAGINING EXERCISES AND ALL OF THAT.
I, I THINK THAT'S JUST A GOOD IDEA TO HELP BRING IN A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE, SOME TYPE OF REVENUE, UM, WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, AS IT OPENS BECAUSE EVERYBODY LIKES TO SEE THEIR NAME AND LIGHTS, RIGHT? AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.
UM, AND WE, WE DO IT A LITTLE BIT WITH THE OMNI, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE PURPOSELY MAKE SURE IT COULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, IT COULDN'T GO CRAZY AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF ON THERE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SAME THING WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER.
DON'T LET PEOPLE GO CRAZY, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU CAN BRING IN SOME, UM, REVENUE THINGS OF, OF THAT NATURE.
UM, SO THERE'S SEVERAL COMPONENTS.
THERE'S, YOU JUST MENTIONED IT, UM, IN CASE PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE, THERE'S SEVEN DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AND WE'VE AWARDED THREE AND THERE'S FOUR MORE TO GO.
SO, UM, THERE'S, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND YOU ARE, YOU ARE ABLE TO DO ALL THESE DIFFERENT MOVING PARTS.
YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THEM.
YOU HAVEN'T HAD A GLITCH YET AS FAR AS I I'M CONCERNED OR SEEN.
AND I, UH, JUST WANTED TO COMMEND YOU BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND I'M JUST VERY PROUD OF YOU AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE BECAUSE ANYTIME I ASK YOU A QUESTION, YOU KNOW, SEND YOU, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING BACK, EVEN WHEN I'M JOKING WITH CONVENTION CENTERS THAT DON'T LOOK SO GREAT, UM, AND JUST SEND YOU THOSE PICTURES, SAY, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.
IT'S LIKE YOU RESPOND BACK QUICKLY AND HAVE THE INFORMATION AND IT'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KEEP THAT ALL IN YOUR BRAIN, BUT, UM, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTNERS BECAUSE I KNOW SHE DOESN'T DO IT ALONE.
BUT, UM, ROSA, YOU'VE KEPT THIS TEAM TOGETHER AND WHEN THE NAYSAYERS COME IN OR PEOPLE TELL YOU CERTAIN THINGS, I, I JUST SEE YOU JUST ALWAYS, UM, REACT WITH NOTHING BUT PROFESSIONALISM AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS GETTING TAKEN CARE OF.
CONTINUE THAT LEADERSHIP AND Y'ALL CONTINUE SUPPORTING HER.
'CAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS THE PERSON THAT'S GOD IS HERE AND SHE'S GONNA GET US ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE AND I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE IN OUR NOTES, UH, THE SOUTH DALLAS ADVISORY.
WOULD YOU DOCUMENT FOR YOUR NEXT BRIEF A BRIEFING, THE SOUTHERN, SOUTHERN SECTOR.
AND THEN WE ALSO WILL VISIT YOU ABOUT BRANDING, PROBABLY THROUGH VISIT DALLAS.
SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION ABOUT SOUTHERN DALLAS AND SOUTH DALLAS.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO DO THAT.
UH, IF THERE ARE NO, UH, OTHER QUESTIONS, I DON'T SEE ANY IN THE QUEUE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF STAFF TODAY FOR A VERY, UH, INTERESTING DAY.
UH,
AND SORRY YOU COULDN'T BE ON THE PAYROLL FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN SITTING HERE TODAY WORKING WITH US, BUT, UH, IT IS, IT IS, UH, A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION AND IMP IMPORTANT DECISIONS WE HAD TO HAVE BRIEFED ON TODAY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU HAVE INVESTED A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AND WE OWE THAT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR HIS STAFF.
MOST DEFINITELY, THIS IS WOMAN, HER HISTORY MONTH AND STAFF ALSO HELPED US WITH THAT GREAT EVENT TODAY.
[07:35:01]
THEM FOR THAT.IN PARTICULAR, IF I CAN JUST CALL OUT ONE NAME, UH, IF I COULD, BECAUSE SHE WANNA MAKE SURE I PUT HER, PUT THE THANKS OUT.
BUT MARCELLA SOTO, WE FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER TODAY IN TERMS OF HER WORK WITH FAITH, FAMILY, AND BRINGING THOSE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS TO THE WOMEN TODAY.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE ADJOURNED FOR THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL AT 5 35, UH, PM AND WE WILL RECONVENE.
RECONVENE IN MARCH 27TH, 2024.