Orange Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)

Planning and construction

The Orange Line was planned as an extension to the DART Light Rail system at least as early as 2006, when DART's 2030 System Plan described a "Northwest Corridor" route with expected revenue service to both Love Field and DFW Airport by 2013.^[3]

On March 12, 2007, the City of Dallas officials and DART made an agreement to make Love Field Station a surface-level facility, concluding a long debate over whether or not to make it an underground station.^[4][5]

On December 5, 2007, the Dallas Morning News ran a story reporting that DART President Gary Thomas stated that a previous cost estimate of $988 million was too low. A new cost estimate for the 14 mile project was $1.8 – $1.9 billion.^[6] The $900 million overrun in costs has caused considerable outrage amongst political leaders^[7] in Irving, Texas, where the line passes on its way to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Irving leaders subsequently made inquiry as to the cost overruns.^[8] Texas State Representative Linda Harper Brown sent an official letter ^[9] to Mr. Thomas also making inquiry into the project's substantial cost overruns.

In February 2010 DART officials warned that the first two phases of the Orange Line may be delayed due to TXDOT problems along State Highway 114, which the Orange Line route follows. Utility relocation and road construction was expected to delay access to portions of the construction area where the rail line and highway intersect. DART estimated that the delay could push the opening of the Las Colinas extension from December 2011 to August 2012; however, DART also advised that it was determined to keep the original schedule and minimize any delays.^[10][11]

In June 2010, DART placed new Orange Line construction on indefinite hold due to declining revenue. However, on September 15, 2010, the agency said that due to cost savings and federal funds, the plans for the line have been revived.^[12]

On December 13, 2011, DART awarded a contract to design and build the Orange Line extension from Belt Line Road to DFW Airport, valued at about $150 million, with construction to start in early 2012 and an opening date of August 18, 2014, ahead of schedule.^[13]

Opening and operation

The Orange Line started operation on December 6, 2010, with weekday peak service from the Parker Road Station to Bachman Station on stations shared with DART's Red and Green lines. The first Orange Line-exclusive stations opened with the extension to Irving Convention Center on July 30, 2012,^[14] and two more were added on December 3, 2012.^[15] The current northwestern terminus, located at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, opened on August 18, 2014.^[1]

Daily service

Listed from Northeast to Northwest. Peak-hour only service is highlighted

Station	Other lines	Opened	Notes
Parker Road		2002	Terminus for Red (full-time) and Orange Lines (peak-hour)
Downtown Plano		2002
CityLine/Bush		2002	Formerly Bush Turnpike Station until March 14, 2016.
Galatyn Park		2002
Arapaho Center		2002
Spring Valley		2002
LBJ/Central		2002	Terminus for Orange Line outside peak hours
Forest Lane		2002
Walnut Hill		2002
Park Lane		1997 (extended 2002)
Lovers Lane		1997
Mockingbird		1997	Northernmost transfer for Blue Line
Cityplace/Uptown		2000	Transfer to M-Line Trolley
Pearl/Arts District		1996	Easternmost transfer for Green Line
St. Paul		1996	Transfer to M-Line Trolley (one block north)
Akard		1996
West End		1996	Westernmost transfer station for Red and Blue Lines
Victory		2004	Transfer to Trinity Railway Express
Market Center		2010
Southwestern Medical District/Parkland		2010
Inwood/Love Center		2010
Burbank		2010
Bachman		2010	Westernmost transfer for Green Line
University of Dallas		2012
Las Colinas Urban Center		2012	Transfer to Las Colinas APT
Irving Convention Center		2012
North Lake College		2012
Belt Line		2012
DFW Airport		2014	Terminus

Special event service

Listed from East to West

• Lawnview Station (Also served by Green Line)
• Hatcher Station (Also served by Green Line)
• MLK, Jr. Station (Also served by Green Line)
• Fair Park Station (Also served by Green Line)
• Baylor University Medical Center Station (Also served by Green Line)
• Deep Ellum Station (Also served by Green Line)

Future/Deferred

• Loop 12 Station (Deferred)
• South Las Colinas Station (Deferred)
• Las Colinas Carpenter Ranch Station (Deferred)^[16]
• DFW North Station (Future branch)