Light rail turns 10 in Plano

Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of DART Rail's arrival in Plano.

On Dec. 9, 2002, three new stations -- Bush Turnpike, Downtown Plano and Parker Road -- officially opened for business and began providing quick, congestion free commuting from Collin County to Downtown Dallas and beyond.

However, the arrival of light rail did more than allow residents to avoid U.S. Highway 75 -- it spurred growth along the rail corridor that is still being seen today.

"DART was kind of a catalyst that made people outside of Plano begin to look at downtown Plano as an option for development," said Jamee Jolly, president of the Plano Chamber of Commerce. "Now you have transit-oriented development as an option, and with that comes a different look and feel. I think there are huge opportunities all along DART, particularly at the Parker Road Station."

The addition of residential units downtown has also allowed for the further development, Jolly said, adding that businesses such as the urban 7-11, which will be located immediately south of the Downtown Plano Station, would not have been possible five years ago.

"The tricky thing we found with DART, and why it has taken a while to develop, is that there is that critical mass question," she said. "... Because we are now starting to see the population critical mass be met, there are more services that will come online. It is tricky. Do you get the people first or the amenities, since the people won't come without the amenities?"

Gary Thomas, DART's president and executive director, said in an emailed statement that the development that has occurred in Plano is something DART is proud of.

"DART has become a national leader in transit-oriented development, and Plano is one of our leading lights," he said. "Eastside Village was complete three full years before the first train rolled into Downtown Plano Station, and the development that has followed has exceeded our wildest expectations. In fact, the development around Downtown Plano Station -- as well as the revitalization of the historic downtown -- has become a showpiece for our region."

Robert Pope, a former assistant city manager in Plano who served as the chairman of the DART Board of Directors from 2001 to 2003, said the impact light rail has had on Plano extends beyond new development.

"DART Rail is as much a part of the Plano brand as our great schools, diverse housing and robust employment opportunities," he said in an emailed statement. "It really sets us apart from our Collin County neighbors. It makes us more competitive in attracting new residents and businesses alike."

While DART allows Plano residents to commute to jobs in Dallas, the reverse is also becoming more common, Pope said.

"About six out of seven people who work in Plano come here each day from elsewhere," he said. "That would have been hard to imagine 20 years ago, but today the 'reverse flow' commute is fast becoming the norm."

This trend has also allowed Plano to attract larger corporations, which in turn add to the tax base of the city, Jolly said.

"I honestly think the city of Plano has been successful recruiting the larger corporations because of the fact we have mass transit," she said. "It is not just DART Rail, it is also the bus line and the new station on the west side of town that services a lot of the corporate headquarters. I think in order to secure big companies who want to bring in employees from all over the Metroplex, you need mass transit."

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