Dallas — Shutdown for Construction

August 2013

The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority [MATA] is shutting down its heritage streetcar line through September for upgrades including construction of a route extension, Dallas Morning News reports.

The reason for the shutdown is to allow installation of track switches that will lead to a new route along Olive Street and through Klyde Warren Park. The whole line is being shutdown as it would not be safe for cars to reverse direction in traffic near Boll Street to serve the northern end of the line.

All construction of the Olive Street branch should be completed by mid-November, according to Phil Cobb, chairman of the McKinney Avenue Transit Authroity. In 2014 a parallel route along Federal Street and St. Paul Street will be connected with the Olive Street track to form a loop which will include a station close to the Pearl Street/Arts District DART light rail station.

The shutdown is the first time in the 24 year history of the trolley. MATA is hoping that construction on the new extension will be complete in time for the line's 25th anniversary on July 22, 2014.