Monday, November 26, 2007

St. Paul DART Rail station in downtown Dallas getting remodel

By Pegasus News wire

DALLAS — Beginning Monday, Nov. 19, St. Paul Station will be the first in downtown Dallas to undergo a transformation designed to improve access, safety, and train capacity throughout the system.

DART will raise the station platforms to accommodate level boarding of the new rail cars that will be delivered within the next few years. This will allow people with disabilities - plus others currently using the wheelchair lifts to board with strollers, bicycles and the like - to step or roll directly onto the train from the platform. The platform improvements also will enable operation of longer three-car trains to meet growing ridership.

Phase One - November 19, 2007 to Approximately January 4, 2008

Construction will be taking place away from the station boarding areas, closer to the front of the adjoining buildings. Normal train boardings will be taking place, but pedestrian movement will be limited. Area businesses - such as Subway, Jusmex, the Original Italian Cafe, and Tootsie's Café - will remain open. Signage will direct patrons to these establishments in the event normal access is blocked.

Phase Two - January 4, 2008 to Approximately February 4, 2008

Due to construction near the track area, trains will not be permitted to board or de-board passengers at St. Paul Station. Pearl and Akard stations will remain open, and normal rail schedules will be maintained. Customers may choose to walk to either adjacent station, or to take a DART shuttle bus. Shuttle service to both Pearl and Akard stations will be available at the red bus stop on Harwood Street (see map). Area businesses - such as Subway, Jusmex, the Original Italian Cafe, and Tootsie's Café - will remain open.

Following completion at St. Paul Station, this process will be repeated at Pearl, Akard, and West End stations. At West End, a temporary station will be constructed nearby and no closure of that station will occur. Please keep in mind that St. Paul is the first station in the entire DART system to be renovated, and the total level boarding project will not be complete until each platform is made accessible to the entire fleet of the new rail cars.

In the meantime, please keep these projects in mind and exercise the rules of caution found below. Construction updates will appear beginning in December onboard trains, or you may visit the Web site, or call Customer Service at 214-979-1111.

Source: DART

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