Irving Convention Center station

Irving Convention Center
General information
Location80 W. Northwest Highway
Irving, Texas
Coordinates32°52′36″N 96°56′17″W / 32.876788°N 96.93805°W / 32.876788; -96.93805
Owned byDallas Area Rapid Transit
Platforms2 side platforms
Bus stands1
ConnectionsBus interchange DART: 227
Construction
Structure typeAt grade
Parking721 spaces at North Irving Transit Center[1]
Bicycle facilities1 rack
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedJuly 30, 2012 (2012-07-30)[2]
Services
Preceding station Dallas Area Rapid Transit Following station
Hidden Ridge Orange Line Las Colinas Urban Center
Location
Map

Irving Convention Center station is a DART light rail station in the Las Colinas development of Irving, Texas. It serves the Orange Line.[3] The station is located on a frontage road of Northwest Highway (Spur 348) and serves the development's Convention District, including the Irving Convention Center and Toyota Music Factory.

Parking for the station is located at North Irving Transit Center, which is 12 mile (0.80 km) southeast of the station. A pedestrian walkway, which passes under Northwest Highway, connects the two facilities.[1]

History

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A 2000 study the Northwest Corridor, which became the northern legs of the Orange Line and Green Line, described four potential light rail routes through Las Colinas's urban center. Each of these routes included a stop at the existing North Irving Transit Center on the northern side of Lake Carolyn. However, an alternative station for the area was also proposed under the name North Urban Center. This station would be located on the opposite side of Northwest Highway to make it closer to a denser portion of the development.[4]

A 2008 plan for the corridor used the alternative station under the name North Las Colinas. The proposal remained similar, although a planned parking lot was removed in favor of a pedestrian connection to the existing North Irving Transit Center lot.[5]

To secure land for the line, DART agreed to build the station at the intersection of two tracts, with the expectation that development would be spurred on both.[6] The station would also be adjacent to Las Colinas Entertainment Center, a proposed $250 million development containing a convention center, a plaza, a hotel, and restaurants. However, due to financial issues, only the convention center was constructed by the station's opening.[7]

The station opened on July 30, 2012, alongside the University of Dallas and Las Colinas Urban Center stations,[2] and served as the line's terminus until it was extended to Belt Line the following December.[8] At opening, the station (via its connection to North Irving Transit Center) was the only station on the Orange Line to contain parking.[2]

Following the opening of the Orange Line, DART moved the area's primary bus transfer point to the Las Colinas Urban Center station, leaving both Irving Convention Center and North Irving Transit Center with no bus service.[2] However, in the following December, this was reversed, with DART redirecting six routes to one or both stations.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "North Irving Transit Center". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Formby, Brandon; Fleck, Deborah (July 31, 2012). "DART lays it on the line". The Dallas Morning News. A. H. Belo Corporation. pp. B1 – via NewsBank.
  3. ^ "Irving Convention Center Station". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Final Report Major Investment Study for the DART Northwest Corridor" (2002-10-31) [report]. DART Historical Archive, pp. 77-91. The Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  5. ^ "Northwest Corridor Light Rail Transit Line to Irving and DFW Airport in Dallas County, Texas: Final Impact Statement" (2008-07-17) [report]. DART Historical Archive, pp. 2-21, 2-22, 2-25. The Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  6. ^ Lindenberger, Michael A. (July 30, 2012). "3 DART stations ready for 1st riders". The Dallas Morning News. DallasNews Corporation. pp. B1 – via NewsBank.
  7. ^ Betz, Jonathan (June 11, 2012). "Train to nowhere? New Irving DART station is a lonely place". WFAA. Belo Corporation – via NewsBank.
  8. ^ Leszcynski, Ray (December 3, 2012). "Big day for DART as routes are extended to Rowlett, D/FW Airport". The Dallas Morning News. A. H. Belo Corporation. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013.
  9. ^ "DART's Blue Line to Rowlett highlights service changes". Dallas Area Rapid Transit. November 12, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
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