D2 Subway BriefingPlanning & Capital Programs CommitteeJuly 6, 2021

Kay Shelton, AICP

Interim Vice President, Capital Planning

• The purpose of today’s briefing is to update the DART Board on the following activities related to D2 Subway:– FTA Coordination

o Entry into Engineering o Core Capacity submittal for project rating

– D2 Subway East End evaluation update– Next Steps and Future Briefings

Today’s Briefing

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D2 Subway Alignment

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Zone B subject to East End Evaluation

FTA Activities

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• May 28, 2021 – Letter to FTA stating formal six-month advance notice requesting Entry into Engineering and re-entry into Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program as core capacity project

• May 28, 2021 - Request for Letter of No Prejudice (LONP) that activities underway to support request to enter Engineering will be allowable as local match under future grant

• Core Capacity submittal to support project rating – required for Entry into Engineering

FTA Related Activities

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• Preparing Project Management Plan (PMP) and required sub-plans• Preparing for Independent Cost Review of the 30% cost estimate to be

complete this summer• Preparing for Value Engineering effort• Coordinating with FTA on Risk Workshop in late Summer/early Fall• Developing master integrated schedule outlining key procurements, real

estate, design, and construction activities– Draft FTA Roadmap schedule indicates Entry in Engineering

sometime between November 2021 (early) and March 2022 (late)• Future briefing on proposed project delivery method and procurement

approach

Entry into Engineering Activities

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• DART has assembled information to allow FTA to evaluate and rate the project as a Core Capacity project

• DART is prepared to submit the information by end of July 2021• Key elements of the submittal:

– Project templates– Cost information– Financial checklist and supporting documentation– Additional supporting documents

• Rating estimation – MEDIUM-HIGH

Core Capacity Submittal for Project Rating

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• DART Red Line is used for D2 Core Capacity eligibility purposes• FTA is allowing use of 2019 pre-COVID data for this year’s submittal• FTA continues to review D2 Subway and Red/Blue Platform Extensions

independent of each other– Once Red/Blue Platforms are operational in September 2022, D2

eligibility is compromised as platforms can handle near- to mid-term crowding unless guidance is revised

• Key dates for D2 project ratings under Core Capacity:– By August 2021 to support entry into Engineering– By August 2022 to support Grant application

Core Capacity Eligibility Review

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• D2 Subway eligibility for Core Capacity grant is demonstrated through the “Capacity Needs and Congestion Relief” template

• Two calculations based on existing peak hour/peak direction data1. Capacity Needs: Space per Passenger

o 5.4 square feet (SF) per passenger or less = above capacity and eligibleo 5.4 to 5.7 SF = anticipated to be at capacity within 5 years and eligibleo Over 5.7 SF = not eligible

2. Peak hour capacity improvemento Minimum peak hour/peak direction improvement of 10%

Core Capacity Eligibility Review

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• DART Service Standards include peak period and peak hour load factors for light rail:– 1.75 for peak hour (161 people per vehicle) – 92 seated/69 standing– 1.5 for peak period (138 people per vehicle) – 92 seated/46 standing

• This translates to:– 5.0 SF/passenger in the peak hour– 5.8 SF/passenger in peak period

• When using FTA calculation methodology, our submittals (2015 to now) have ranged from 4.9-5.7 SF/passenger on the Red Line

Core Capacity and DART Light Rail Load Policy Factors

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Operations

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With D2 in place:• Opportunity for

more frequent service long term

• More flexibility for special events and incident management

Additional peak hour Red Line service will achieve minimum 10% capacity improvement

East End Evaluation

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East End Evaluation

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We are here

• May 7, 2021 – Agencies presented range of options for enhancements,

refinements and modifications• May 28, 2021

– Reviewed “families” of options prepared by NCTCOG– Discussed initial evaluation parameters and criteria

o First level and second level screening• July 2, 2021

– Reviewed preliminary first level screening results• Next meeting July 9, 2021

– Summarize results and prepare for public/stakeholder input

East End Evaluation Agency Work Group Progress

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• Many options have been reviewed over past few years during regular joint agency and stakeholder meetings – some are new

• First level screening focuses on:– Design Feasibility – is it constructable using DART design criteria?– D2 Purpose and Need – adds capacity through downtown,

provides operational flexibility, serves new markets– Effects on existing I-345 and future I-345 options

o TxDOT I-345 Public Meetings held on June 22, 2021

• DART General Planning Consultant East End Evaluation efforts to date for first level screening: $102,000

East End Evaluation Agency Work Group Progress

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• Why are agencies looking at options that may cost more or take us out of the core capacity program?– Given concerns and council direction, City staff is doing due

diligence to review other options to make a recommendationo What other options might address Deep Ellum concerns and

I-345 interface and achieve broader vision for the area?o How do those options impact or benefit the community

compared to the FEIS 30% baseline?o How much more or less do the options cost and is there

funding that can be committed if more?

Range of Options

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• DART Board will make ultimate decision on path forward for our agency and determine what is important for DART in an Interlocal Agreement (ILA)

• Key factors for a future ILA:– Cost – No additional costs to DART outside approved budget– Funding – If higher cost, additional external funds must be

committed by others prior to FTA grant application – Schedule – Avoid or minimize delays that compromise federal Core

Capacity grant opportunity. Staff is evaluating how D2 would perform under New Starts funding criteria

– Risk – City support is critical to minimize project risk related to permits, schedule delays, real estate, etc.

East End Evaluation Decision

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Next Steps and Future Briefings

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• Progress on entry into Engineering readiness review• Project delivery and procurement approach• Monthly briefings on East End Evaluation progress

– July, August, September will be key to identifying a path forward– City staff will be preparing Council memo in July with additional

details prior to public/stakeholder outreach– DART Board will also be provided with this information

Future Briefings

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