Downtown Plano station

{{Infobox Station

| name = Downtown Plano

| style = Dallas Area Rapid Transit

| image = DART Downtown Plano station - February 2020.jpg

| image_caption = Downtown Plano station and adjacent transit-oriented development

| address = 1001 East 16th Street{{cite web |title=Downtown Plano Station |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/transit-and-use/rail/rail-station-detail/downtown-plano-station |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |access-date=2024-06-18}}

| borough = Plano, Texas

| coordinates = {{coord|33|1|15|N|96|42|3|W|type:railwaystation_region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}

| line =

| connections = {{rint|bus|1}} DART: {{DART LB|236}} and {{DART LB|247}}
{{DART GL|eastplano|East Plano|(M-F)}}
{{DART GL|southcentralplano|South Central Plano|(M-F)}}

| structure = At-grade

| platform = 2 side platforms

| parking = None

| bicycle = 3 bike lockers,{{cite web |title=Bicycle Parking |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/supporting-services/bike-information/bicycle-parking |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |access-date=2024-06-18}} 1 bike rack

| passengers =

| pass_year =

| pass_percent =

| opened = December 9, 2002{{Cite news |date=2002-12-10 |title=Briefs: DART ridership heavy as 3 rail stations open |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F7DCF74F0327578 |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=22A |via=NewsBank}}

| rebuilt =

| accessible = Yes

| code =

| owned = Dallas Area Rapid Transit

| zone =

| services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=DART

|line1=Red|left1=CityLine/Bush|right1=Parker Road

|line2=Orange|left2=CityLine/Bush|right2=Parker Road|note-mid2=(peak-hour only)

}}

| other_services_collapsible = yes

| other_services_header = Planned services

| other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=DART

|line1=Red|left1=12th Street|right1=Parker Road

|line2=Orange|left2=12th Street|right2=Parker Road|note-mid2=(peak-hour only)

}}

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-custom = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail-light |marker-color=#000 |zoom=15 }}

}}

Downtown Plano station is a DART light rail station in Plano, Texas. The station is located in Plano's historic downtown district on the eastern side of Haggard Park. It serves the {{DART R}} and, during peak periods, the {{DART O}}.

History

= Predecessor =

The rail corridor through Downtown Plano was constructed by the Houston and Texas Central Railway in the late 19th century. The corridor was purchased by Dallas Area Rapid Transit in 1988.{{Cite news |last=Kelley |first=Chris |date=1988-04-05 |title=DART makes first rail land buy |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3CFE734B98745 |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=13A |via=NewsBank}}

The modern-day station site was previously used by the Texas Electric Railway interurban line from 1908 to 1948 as a passenger station. The Texas Electric Railway's station building, now used by the Interurban Railway Museum, is located in Haggard Park.

= Modern station =

In 1996, DART released preliminary plans for a downtown Plano station, tentatively named 15th Street.{{cite archive|item=North Central Corridor LRT Extension: Final Environmental Impact Statement|item-url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1138605/|type=report|year=1997|publisher=Dallas Area Rapid Transit|pages=2-18, 2-21, 2-22|collection=DART Historical Archive|repository=The Portal to Texas History|institution=University of North Texas|date=April 22, 1997}} The station would be an at-grade structure on the south side of 15th Street with a small parking lot. The station plan was controversial among downtown merchants, as it would require the demolition of an antique mall and would cause traffic congestion.{{Cite news |last=Hartzel |first=Tony |date=1996-11-09 |title=Study says rail's potential effect not grim - Merchants want project reconsidered |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3D6E8CD642FF1 |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=1J |via=NewsBank}} In 1998, the city of Plano approved a different location north of 15th Street. This location was three times larger and able to accommodate redevelopment, though it did not include any long-term parking. The station was slated to open in 2003.{{Cite news |last=Packer |first=Jennifer |date=1998-01-27 |title=Council OKs new site for DART rail station Facility to be built at 15th Place and Avenue J |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3DA8847B001BD |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=1Z |via=NewsBank}}

In 2000, construction began on Transit Village, a $16 million transit-oriented development directly adjacent to the station, which contained both apartments and retail space.{{Cite news |last=Jacobson |first=Sherry |date=1999-07-01 |title=New downtown development gets under way with a bang |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED8223BD27D2D70 |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=10A |via=NewsBank}} In 2002, the city of Plano announced renovations to Haggard Park, which is also adjacent to the station.{{Cite news |last=Washington |first=April M. |date=2002-06-27 |title=Officials see vibrant future for historic Haggard Park: City hopes renovation, arrival of DART restore landmark as civic hub |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F471A8EAF79B46B |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=1P |via=NewsBank}}

In March 2002, DART announced that construction of the North Central Corridor, which included Downtown Plano, was six months ahead of schedule.{{Cite news |last=Hartzel |first=Tony |date=2002-03-21 |title=DART expansion chugging along - Rail to arrive faster, cheaper than expected |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F26D14273CCA28D |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=1P |via=NewsBank}} A sculpture of a steam locomotive-inspired horse, named "Iron Horse", was installed on the station platform.{{Cite news |last=Hundley |first=Wendy |date=2002-10-05 |title=Giving color to downtown - Mural competition is among art projects planned for city core |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F682D2EA648BDFD |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=1J |via=NewsBank}}{{Cite web |title=DART Gallery: A Collection of Public Art |url=https://dartorgcmsblob.dart.org/prod/docs/default-source/station-art/dartgallery.pdf |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |pages=16}}

On December 7, 2002, DART held an opening ceremony for the station. Dubbed "Super Saturday", the event offered a free preview service between the Bush Turnpike, Downtown Plano, and Parker Road stations, as well as a Christmas parade. The ceremony also commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Northern Texas Traction Company, the first interurban in the modern-day Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.{{Cite news |last=Washington |first=April M. |date=2002-12-08 |title=Plano welcomes DART with a little holiday flair - Celebration also marks 100th anniversary of region's first railway |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F7D2928AE406457 |work=The Dallas Morning News |publisher=A. H. Belo Corporation |pages=37A |via=NewsBank}}{{Cite web |last=Rieder |first=Robert A. |date=2020-10-02 |title=Electric Interurban Railways |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/electric-interurban-railways |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Texas State Historical Association |language=en}} The station officially opened the following Monday.

References

External links

[https://www.dart.org Dallas Area Rapid Transit] - [https://www.dart.org/guide/transit-and-use/rail/rail-station-detail/downtown-plano-station Downtown Plano Station]

Category:Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail stations

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 2002

Category:2002 establishments in Texas

Category:Railway stations in Collin County, Texas

Category:Red Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)

Category:Orange Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)