DART Green Line opens to wet weather, lots of riders

by Michael Counter of Dallas South News

The sun didn’t come out on Saturday, September 12, but Dallas citizens surely did! Crowds of enthusiastic men, women, and children flooded DART rail stations, waiting to ride the Green Line, the newest addition to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) family.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Dallas public could ride the Green Line free of charge. According to the DART website, “the Green Line extends from Pearl Station on the east side of Downtown Dallas to Deep Ellum Station, extend is key in realizing how great of an opportunity Dallas has been given to provide yet more connection between Dallas neighbors and neighborhoods.”

The total Green Line Project costs an estimated $1.8 billion. However, only the first three miles of the line are now open. DART news states that “the remaining 25 miles will open in December 2010, & will extend southeast from Downtown Dallas to Pleasant Grove and northwest from Victory Station to the Dallas Market Center, the Southwestern Medical District, Love Field Airport and downtown Farmers Branch and Carrollton.” The Green Line is currently the longest light rail project in North America, a fact that should make Dallas citizens and many North Texas proud.

As the Green Line pulled into West End Station, I watched mothers and fathers enjoy the new transit addition with their children. I could not tell who was more excited, the children -- because of the free treats, food, and music -- or the parents. I stood waiting for the 10:24 train to the Deep Ellum Station and heard a voice ask, “Where are we headed?”

Georgia Jenson, a petite, slightly-graying African-American woman helped me pass the time as we both waited for the Green Line train to arrive. She told me that she was from Louisiana but visiting her family the Fair Park area. She said she wanted to “see what all the fuss was about.”

“It’s good for [young] people,” she said. “No excuse for not being able to get out and find a job.” Although, Jenson’s focus was on youth accessibility and employment, I was impressed with the amount of middle-aged and senior citizens that came out to celebrate the Green Line opening.

We boarded our train at West End Station, picking up passengers at the Pearl station. As we pulled into the Deep Ellum, rain poured from the sky, but tents that lined the streets, offering mini-art exhibits, face painting, and warm faces that welcomed me and many others off the train.

Musical groups such as The Dirty Birds moved Deep Ellum Station with each song and chord progression during their mini-concert. Refreshments were available as well. Hearty aromas of barbecue and fried chicken filled the air as the rain fell. Citizens and DART celebration personnel even handed out ponchos and plastic bags for those migrating among the tents.

I watched parents encourage their children to stomp around in puddles as people danced and nodded to the beats of Melody Memory, a phenomenal Dallas-based band with reggae, funk, and rock roots associated with Art.Love.Magic. Hard as it was, I pulled myself away and prepared to board the Green Line again. This time I was headed to Fair Park Station.

There I met Hope Heart, a mother who had brought her son and daughter (Honor and Hope) out to the Green Line festivities. Honor and Hope were all smiles and energy as the men and women emptied the train station and exited into Fair Park. It was refreshing to see Ms. Heart had worn a green blouse and head wrap in honor of the occasion. She even pointed out that I had on a green shirt as well, something of which I had not yet been conscious.

We exchanged pleasantries as the rain continued to fall and realized that time was nearing 2 p.m. and the end of the festivities. We watched Fair Park personnel pack up their tents and allow Mother Nature to have her way.

I boarded the Green Line headed back to West End Station. Many of the same faces that I saw Saturday morning were smiling, a bit damp from the rain, but nonetheless still smiling. Although Mother Nature brought the rain, she didn’t rain on Dallas’ parade.

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