Frisco Station developers ready to start construction on second major office building (https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2018/09/18/construction-start-next-week-second-major-office-building-frisco-station)

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11051386/the-offices-two-at-frisco-station.jpg
DBJ (https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2018/09/19/construction-to-begin-on-new-frisco-station-office.html)

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.1083838,-96.8321771,419m/data=!3m1!1e3)


Missouri-based VanTrust Real Estate is set to begin construction this month on a second major office building at Frisco Station, the 242-acre mixed-use project at the Dallas North Tollway and Warren Parkway.

Called Offices Two at Frisco Station, the 210,000-square-foot building is a speculative venture -- being launched without a major tenant attached -- and is planned for the southwest corner of Cowboys Way and Gridiron Road.

It will be the second of five buildings planned for the office district at the $1.8 billion Frisco Station. Construction costs for the new office building were not released.

Frisco Station is set to have 5 million square feet of office space upon completion and a daytime employment of nearly 15,000 people.

Meyer said his firm, which has a regional office in Frisco, anticipates strong demand for both buildings.

"We're pretty confident about ... several deals that we're working on," he said. "And the activity that we've got on building one exceeds the vacancy that we've got."

Construction on the six-story office tower is slated for completion in September 2019.

Frisco Station is one of the first developments in the nation using the technology, and the combination of wireless stealth microcells, ultra-fast internet powered by AT&T Fiber and robust Wi-Fi throughout all common areas, will provide "the ultimate wireless user experience," the company's announcement said.

Offices Two at Frisco Station is adjacent to the Dallas Cowboys' world headquarters at The Star and will be within walking distance of more than 50 retail, restaurant and entertainment options at The Star and The Hub at Frisco Station, the development's planned entertainment district.

Frisco Station also is where one of the world's first Skyports to support Uber Air's flying taxis is planned.

TEXRail overpass bridge nears completion (https://communityimpact.com/guides/dallas-fort-worth/grapevine-colleyville-southlake/news/transportation/2018/09/13/texrail-overpass-bridge-nears-completion-and-3-more-transportation-updates-in-grapevine-colleyville-and-southlake/)

https://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/GCS-2018-09-9-1.jpg

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.9292192,-97.049813,828m/data=!3m1!1e3)


The TEXRail bridge over SH 114/121 is nearing completion after more than a year of construction. The new bridge connects the TEXpress lane rails as they head south from Grapevine into DFW International Airport.

The bridge is 1,580 feet long and held in place by more than 40 columns. It will have one track running across it when it opens, although it has the capacity to carry two.

In the coming months, the roadway beneath the bridge will be restored to its pre-construction status as the lane closures come to an end.

This fall the bridge will begin to see trains traverse between the airport and Grapevine as the service prepares to begin at the end of the year.

Developers are betting smaller is better with new East Dallas rental project (https://www.dallasnews.com/business/business/2018/09/24/developers-betting-smaller-better-new-east-dallas-rental-project)

https://dallasnews.imgix.net/1537821119-image006.jpg?w=1200&h=630&format=jpg&crop=faces&fit=crop


The 70-unit Fitzhugh Flats development will have 1-bedroom and studio apartments averaging just 615 square feet.

The project is being built east of downtown Dallas between Ross Avenue and Live Oak Street.

The project will include garages and covered parking spaces, storage units, a lounge and dog park for residents.

"Our goal is to provide a project that will appeal to the majority of renters in the market based on the price point" said Reid Beucler, principal of Slate Properties LLC.

"With projected rents starting around $1,200 per month, we feel like we are positioned well to compete with the other communities in the neighborhood."

Frisco condo tower in the works on $5 billion mile (https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2018/09/24/frisco-condo-tower-works-5-billionmile)

https://dallasnews.imgix.net/1537804655-gate-condos.jpg

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.1177091,-96.8249362,395m/data=!3m1!1e3)


The developers of the $700 million Gate development on the Dallas North Tollway plan to build a 10-story residential building. The condo tower, on John Hickman Parkway just west of the tollway, will have more than 100 residential units, according to plans filed with the city.

"The Gate will be for-sale condos," said Michael Cox with architect Humphreys & Partners, which is designing the project. The more than 3-acre development site is part of the 40-acre mixed-use Gate project, which was part of Frisco's original $5 billion mile.

The Gate property is owned and has been planned by Dubai-based Invest Group Overseas. The project is planned to include almost 20 buildings ranging in height from about three stories to more than 10 floors.

The development is designed for more than 650,000 square feet of office space, almost 1 million square feet of residential buildings, and more than 130,000 square feet of retail space, plus a luxury hotel.

Two high-rise rental residential buildings are also under construction next door to The Gate in the Frisco Station and the Dallas Cowboys' Star developments.

Atlanta developer Novare Group is building a 25-story residential rental building along the west side of the tollway in Frisco Station.

And a 17-story apartment tower is being built by Columbus Realty Partners and Dallas Cowboys owners the Jones family in the Star development.

Not a fan of the surface parking, but this is what Dallas needs more of - developments that fit the context of their neighborhood.

Look: Here’s what’s planned for the old Gloria’s (https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2018/05/look-heres-whats-planned-for-the-old-glorias/)

https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Screen-Shot-2018-05-30-at-8.47.49-AM.png

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7494168,-96.8316455,3a,75y,135.55h,86.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxpd1NhAMw-iw5lcSD4qFdg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)


Gloria’s restaurant moved to Fire Station No. 15 on Bishop at Davis in 2011, and the local chain’s original building, at the southeast corner of Davis and Llewellyn, was demolished in 2013.

The lot sat vacant for years until recently. A new restaurant building is under construction on the site now.

A listing from the Woodmont Co. says the building will comprise 2,546 square feet and have a 900-square-foot patio.

Chinese development group to bring mall project to US 380 corridor (https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/frisco/city-county/2018/09/19/chinese-development-group-to-bring-mall-project-to-us-380-corridor/)

https://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-19-at-9.10.47-AM.png

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2151282,-96.8391855,1326m/data=!3m1!1e3)


Frisco City Council approved to rezone 77 acres on Tuesday along US 380 for a multilevel shopping center project with additional retail, office, hotel and urban-living residential units.

The rezoning request was approved with the condition that the developer would begin construction on 100,000 square feet of office space plus the first phase of the mall and retail aspects before receiving a building permit for any residential building.

Lesso America, a subsidiary of building material manufacturer China Lesso Group Holdings Ltd., has owned the land for two years and plans to move its American headquarters to the development.

The development is planned to have three different districts:

a frontage district with a mixture of retail, hotel and office;
a lifestyle district that would contain most of the retail with one urban-living tower;
and a southern district that would contain mostly urban-living units as well as some office, hotel and retail space.


Ron Patterson, president of Frisco Economic Development Corp., said the project is valued at about $2 billion, which would bring in a lot of tax revenue.

I thought malls were dying?

I thought malls were dying?
No, "lifestyle centers" are the new mall. Then you have the big box malls.

Dallas area lands two more huge Amazon shipping hubs (https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2018/09/28/dallas-area-lands-two-huge-amazon-shipping-hubs)

https://dallasnews.imgix.net/1538145620-amazonsouthport.jpg

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/place/1301+Chalk+Hill+Rd,+Dallas,+TX+75212/@32.7601537,-96.9022228,733m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x864e9b23d27d11c5:0x56e2e 3658a338a89!8m2!3d32.7603537!4d-96.9023097)


Amazon is expanding its warehousing operations with two huge fulfillment centers — one in West Dallas and another on Interstate 45 in southern Dallas County.

This week the Dallas City Council voted to give the Seattle-based Internet retailer about $2 million in economic incentives to build a more than $100 million distribution center in West Dallas that is expected to create 1,500 new jobs.

The 100-acre ecommerce facility will be located at 1301 Chalk Hill Road near Davis Street south of Interstate 30. Developer Hillwood Properties is building the huge shipping hub which will have 855,000 square feet.

Amazon already has nine major distribution and sorting centers in the D-FW area.

The company is just opening a more than 1-million-square foot shipping hub in Wilmer south of Dallas.

Windhaven Meadows Park: A look inside the plans for Plano’s future park (https://communityimpact.com/community/dallas-fort-worth/plano/news/parks-recreation/2018/09/27/windhaven-meadows-park-a-look-inside-the-plans-for-planos-future-park/)

https://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/PLN-2018-09-1-11.jpg

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.0522191,-96.8093635,1632m/data=!3m1!1e3)

Airline launches its first DFW Airport to Florida route, prices start at $39 (https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2018/10/03/sun-country-airlines-dfw-airport-fort-myers-tampa.html)

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/7725242/sun-country.jpg


Sun Country Airlines is launching two Florida flights from Dallas Fort Worth Airport this week. It will mark the first time the airline has operated a scheduled flight to Florida that originated at DFW Airport.

The airline's new DFW-to-Fort Myers route begins Wednesday, and a DFW-to-Tampa flight will start Friday. Sun Country said flights to Fort Myers and Tampa are available for as little as $39 and $49, respectively.

It also flies to Cancun out of DFW and will start a DFW-to-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic route in November.

Construction on phase 2 of Post Sierra at Frisco Bridges expected to last 22 months (https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/development-construction/2018/10/04/construction-on-phase-2-of-post-sierra-at-frisco-bridges-expected-to-last-22-months/)

https://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Post-Sierra-2.jpg

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.1060081,-96.8196378,373m/data=!3m1!1e3)


The second phase of Post Sierra at Frisco Bridges started construction in mid-July and is expected to last 22 months.

The multifamily community, located on the southwest corner of Rifle Gap Road and Warren Parkway, will have 348 units that include one- and two-bedroom lofts or one- and two-bedroom traditional apartment homes.

2 hotels coming soon near Eldorado Parkway and US 75 in McKinney (https://communityimpact.com/local-news/dallas-fort-worth/mckinney/features/business/2018/10/05/2-hotels-coming-soon-near-eldorado-parkway-and-us-75-in-mckinney/)

https://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/McKinneyHotelsFeature-mw78eidfu42iq9ez3yxnvoth8kftq9t2zdsj5yjm38.jpg

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.1764523,-96.6419712,418m/data=!3m1!1e3)


Two hotels are expected to open in December north of Eldorado Parkway along US 75.

Home2 Suites by Hilton, located at 2630 S. Central Expressway, McKinney, will offer 107 suites.

The second hotel, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, located at 2660 S. Central Expressway, McKinney, will offer 125 suites.

Uptown Dallas' new Central Market store will anchor a high-rise mixed-use project (https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2018/10/19/uptown-dallas-new-central-market-store-will-anchor-high-rise-mixed-use-project)

https://dallasnews.imgix.net/1539890789-Project-Rendering-101818.jpg?auto=format&q=50&or=0&w=800

Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8059224,-96.7974534,273m/data=!3m1!1e3)


The supermarket will be part of a high-rise development planned for the block at McKinney and Lemmon avenues that will include offices, shops and restaurants.

"We see this project as the unifier between Uptown and what's going on in Cityplace and the West Village," said KDC president Toby Grove.

Instead of just remodeling the existing building, Central Market will occupy the lower levels of a 19-story mixed-use project KDC plans for the high-profile Uptown block.

Dallas architect Omniplan and San Antonio design firm Lake|Flato are designing the development, which will take up most of the 4.8-acre block between McKinney and Oak Grove.

"It's going to be very well-connected with the DART rail station nearby and the street car that stops out front."

KDC plans to build a 2-acre public plaza on the roof of the Central Market that will have access to the office tower and shops and restaurants facing the elevated public space.

"Central Market shoppers will have parking on two levels of garage on top of the store," said KDC executive vice president Walt Mountford. "On top of that, the amenity deck will have great views of downtown.

"It's going to be a great experience for both the retail users and tenants in the office building."

"This will be largest store in Central Market's portfolio," Mountford said. "There will be a total of 150,000 square feet of retail in the entire project.

"This activates the entire street frontage, and it will be a great pedestrian experience."

The planned Uptown store will be Central Market's seventh location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

https://dallasnews.imgix.net/1539947384-centralmarket.jpg?auto=format&q=40&or=0&w=400




KDC will seek zoning changes for the Uptown block to allow the construction of the development, including asking for an additional 85 feet in building height.

The 450,000-square-foot office tower is being made taller to allow for the plaza area on the south side.

The Office of James Burnett — the same firm that did downtown's Klyde Warren Park — is designing the plaza and street-side landscaping.

"This will be the longest storefront on McKinney Avenue," said KDC senior vice president Colin Fitzgibbons. "The pedestrian experience should be great and a vast improvement over what is there today."

Because of the complexity of the project and underground parking that will be excavated on most of the block, construction will take more than two years.

The planned Uptown Central Market will be the fourth new urban grocery store in central Dallas that is combined with a high-rise building.

DFW lands another Fortune 500 Company. According to the Dallas Journal, they are moving from Southern California.

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2018/11/30/mckesson-relocates-headquarters-to-north-texas.html

Here's another article:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181130005526/en/McKesson-Announces-New-Global-Headquarters-Las-Colinas

Uptown Dallas' new Central Market store will anchor a high-rise mixed-use project (https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2018/10/19/uptown-dallas-new-central-market-store-will-anchor-high-rise-mixed-use-project)



Project Location (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8059224,-96.7974534,273m/data=!3m1!1e3)



Used to go to Manny's quite a bit. This thing is going to have a massive footprint. Gonna have to be tall to make up for the land acquisition costs.

This area is blowing me away with how fast it is changing though.

Southeast on Blackburn
15051

We went to Central Market in Austin much more often than Whole Foods. A south side WF location opened up only a couple of years before we moved to Denver.

Another corporate relocation for the DFW area, specifically Frisco. DFW is red hot with corporate relocations especially from California and this one below from Palm Beach Florida


https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/more/pga-of-america-to-relocate-national-headquarters-to-frisco-sources-say/287-618991735

Another corporate relocation for the DFW area, specifically Frisco. DFW is red hot with corporate relocations especially from California and this one below from Palm Beach Florida


https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/more/pga-of-america-to-relocate-national-headquarters-to-frisco-sources-say/287-618991735

This seems like a big move in that it seems like Florida would literally be the center of the golfing universe. Next thing you know, NHL will be relocating to Plano from NYC.

This seems like a big move in that it seems like Florida would literally be the center of the golfing universe. Next thing you know, NHL will be relocating to Plano from NYC.

actually funny you mention this... because there was a group from DFW who put a proposal together back in 2016 when the NHL was looking for its next location after deciding to move from Rockefeller Center... they ended up deciding to go to Hudson Yards and stay in NY... but DFW tried. they are moving into their new offices sometime in 2019

Cotton Belt line is starting construction soon and will be open by 2022. It’s a 26 mile light rail line that will stretch across north Dallas and include interchanges with other light rail lines. This will be nice and could help Dallas move towards a lettered system maybe one day instead of using colors(which I don’t like).

DART really needs to get on the ball with planning more lines however. After this, the light rail subway is the only rail project I’m aware being planned in the DFA area other than TexRail and that isn’t suitable for a region growing as fast as Dallas is. They need to have at least 50 miles of rail under study right now as anything proposed today would likely take over 5 years before it could even break ground.

https://www.trafficandtransit.com/dallas-area-rapid-transit-awards-contract-build-cotton-belt-rail-line

Cotton Belt line is starting construction soon and will be open by 2022. It’s a 26 mile light rail line that will stretch across north Dallas and include interchanges with other light rail lines. This will be nice and could help Dallas move towards a lettered system maybe one day instead of using colors(which I don’t like).

DART really needs to get on the ball with planning more lines however. After this, the light rail subway is the only rail project I’m aware being planned in the DFA area other than TexRail and that isn’t suitable for a region growing as fast as Dallas is. They need to have at least 50 miles of rail under study right now as anything proposed today would likely take over 5 years before it could even break ground.

https://www.trafficandtransit.com/dallas-area-rapid-transit-awards-contract-build-cotton-belt-rail-line

Minor correction - the Cotton Belt line will be heavy / commuter rail, not light rail, due to a desire to share assets with TEXRail and a continuation of freight business along the line (both the Fort Worth & Western and the Dallas, Garland, & Northern currently operate freight over the Cotton Belt line). The last information I saw was that the current plan is for the passenger operation to use the Stadler FLIRT vehicles (or similar) like the TEXRail line is using.

Are you sure? I could had sworn it was to be light rail. That’s a bit disappointing if true. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with commuter rail, but if Dallas want to be serious about its transit network, light rail is a must and even for Dallas heavy rail should be looked at for downtown as far as rapid transit goes.

The article I linked said it will have interchanges with existing light rail lines as well as Tex rail which i didn’t understand how that would work.

Are you sure? I could had sworn it was to be light rail. That’s a bit disappointing if true. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with commuter rail, but if Dallas want to be serious about its transit network, light rail is a must and even for Dallas heavy rail should be looked at for downtown as far as rapid transit goes.

The article I linked said it will have interchanges with existing light rail lines as well as Tex rail which i didn’t understand how that would work.

Yep, positive. The plans, presentations, and studies are available here: https://www.dart.org/about/expansion/cottonbelt.asp

The western terminus of the line will be at the DFW Airport station built for TEXRail. Given that the intent appears to be to use vehicles like the Stadler FLIRT, and the entire stretch will be rebuilt with 2 main tracks very much like the existing DART light rail lines, I seriously don't foresee there being any issues. It'll operate and feel very much like light rail, except the vehicles will be self-powered DMUs instead of the electric SLRV's that DART employs elsewhere across their system.

By interchange, what they mean is that there will be co-located stops so that passengers can transfer from the Cotton Belt line to the Red or Green lines, as well as to the TEXRail line too.

Yep, positive. The plans, presentations, and studies are available here: https://www.dart.org/about/expansion/cottonbelt.asp

The western terminus of the line will be at the DFW Airport station built for TEXRail. Given that the intent appears to be to use vehicles like the Stadler FLIRT, and the entire stretch will be rebuilt with 2 main tracks very much like the existing DART light rail lines, I seriously don't foresee there being any issues. It'll operate and feel very much like light rail, except the vehicles will be self-powered DMUs instead of the electric SLRV's that DART employs elsewhere across their system.

By interchange, what they mean is that there will be co-located stops so that passengers can transfer from the Cotton Belt line to the Red or Green lines, as well as to the TEXRail line too.
Just much slower acceleration and deceleration times and lower capacity.

I have nothing against commuter rail, just not the biggest fan of it being used for intercity travel as I think LRT would induce more demand and is capable of much higher frequencies.

That’s interesting though. It’s not like they can’t electrify it in the future if need be. More transit options are never bad! I know I’ll be using it whenever I take Amtrak to or from OKC.

Just much slower acceleration and deceleration times and lower capacity.

I have nothing against commuter rail, just not the biggest fan of it being used for intercity travel as I think LRT would induce more demand and is capable of much higher frequencies.

That’s interesting though. It’s not like they can’t electrify it in the future if need be. More transit options are never bad! I know I’ll be using it whenever I take Amtrak to or from OKC.

Actually, not in this case. The 750VDC-powered Kinki Sharyo SLRV vehicles that DART employs in light rail service have 94 seats, with a max capacity of 274 passengers (seated and standing)[1] (https://www.dart.org/about/dartreferencebookmar18.pdf) - page 35, have a maximum speed of 70mph, and achieve a maximum acceleration rate of 2.3mph/s[2] (https://web.archive.org/web/20160615081645/http://www.kinkisharyo-usa.com/media/pdf/dallas.pdf). The diesel-powered Stadler FLIRT3 vehicles that TEXRail is using (and DART will very likely use for the Cotton Belt line) contain a total of 229 seats, with a max capacity of 488 passengers (seated and standing)[3] (https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/70260/texrail-a-sleek-new-type-of-train-arrives-in-north-texas/), have a maximum speed of 79mph, and achieve a maximum acceleration rate of 2.7mph/s[4] (https://wwwstadlerrailcom-live-01e96f7.s3-eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/filer_public/a5/5c/a55c4ff1-3624-4c7a-9549-7261a4101160/f3tr0415en_us.pdf). Granted, the FLIRT3 is slightly more than double the length of the SLRV - 266 feet vs 124 feet - but still. The FLIRT3 vehicles provide light-rail performance in a commuter DMU package, and even look externally a lot like light rail vehicles.

That said, yes, they could electrify later if they wanted to; they appear to be engineering the roadbed for DART's part of the cotton belt line the same way they do for their light rail lines, just without the catenary poles or wire. The FLIRT3 vehicles are actually electric, but the ones TEXRail ordered (and presumably DART will as well) have a diesel powerpack inserted into the middle of the train that actually generates the needed electricity. To my knowledge, it's relatively simple to convert these to pure electrical use by installing the catenary assemblies.

Cannot wait to see this stuff around OKC. I loved all of the transit option while in Austria, and in fact have come close to moving to a city with more transit options than just car.

Actually, not in this case. The 750VDC-powered Kinki Sharyo SLRV vehicles that DART employs in light rail service have 94 seats, with a max capacity of 274 passengers (seated and standing)[1] (https://www.dart.org/about/dartreferencebookmar18.pdf) - page 35, have a maximum speed of 70mph, and achieve a maximum acceleration rate of 2.3mph/s[2] (https://web.archive.org/web/20160615081645/http://www.kinkisharyo-usa.com/media/pdf/dallas.pdf). The diesel-powered Stadler FLIRT3 vehicles that TEXRail is using (and DART will very likely use for the Cotton Belt line) contain a total of 229 seats, with a max capacity of 488 passengers (seated and standing)[3] (https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/70260/texrail-a-sleek-new-type-of-train-arrives-in-north-texas/), have a maximum speed of 79mph, and achieve a maximum acceleration rate of 2.7mph/s[4] (https://wwwstadlerrailcom-live-01e96f7.s3-eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/filer_public/a5/5c/a55c4ff1-3624-4c7a-9549-7261a4101160/f3tr0415en_us.pdf). Granted, the FLIRT3 is slightly more than double the length of the SLRV - 266 feet vs 124 feet - but still. The FLIRT3 vehicles provide light-rail performance in a commuter DMU package, and even look externally a lot like light rail vehicles.

That said, yes, they could electrify later if they wanted to; they appear to be engineering the roadbed for DART's part of the cotton belt line the same way they do for their light rail lines, just without the catenary poles or wire. The FLIRT3 vehicles are actually electric, but the ones TEXRail ordered (and presumably DART will as well) have a diesel powerpack inserted into the middle of the train that actually generates the needed electricity. To my knowledge, it's relatively simple to convert these to pure electrical use by installing the catenary assemblies.
Damn dude! You know your stuff. Haha. Thanks for the correction. Maybe it’s just me, but the TRE rail feels like it takes off slower but maybe that’s due to how big it is?

I know Caltrain is planning electrifying portion of their route in the Bay Area. Presumably they will do the way you explained in your last paragraph.

Damn dude! You know your stuff. Haha. Thanks for the correction. Maybe it’s just me, but the TRE rail feels like it takes off slower but maybe that’s due to how big it is?

I know Caltrain is planning electrifying portion of their route in the Bay Area. Presumably they will do the way you explained in your last paragraph.

What can I say? I'm a total nerd for this kind of stuff, haha. Though I'll admit I only knew some of this off-hand and had to search for most of the exact specifications to make that post.

But yeah, that's a big reason. Your commuter rail argument is apt when applied to the TRE. The TRE uses bi-level commuter cars built by Bombardier Transportation and a mix of F59PH and F59PHI locomotives. This equipment, while capable of carrying more passengers overall, are based on older Federal Railroad Administration rules and designs, and are much heavier as a result; an assembled TRE trainset (1 locomotive, 2 coaches, 1 cab car) works out to roughly 315.5 tons empty, where an assembled FLIRT3 trainset in the TEXRail configuration (2 cab cars, 2 coaches, and a power car) works out to roughly 144 tons empty. The additional mass of the TRE trainset means slower acceleration. The entire FLIRT series was specifically designed to be a "fast and light" regional/intercity vehicle.

I read something somewhere, maybe you posted it, that the standards for commuter rail or heavy rail train cars have changed and now allow for lighter commuter rail cars or something like that.

If that is the case, im guessing these will be the newer commuter rail cars that fall in the new standards?

I figured the TRE trains went by the old standards. I like the TRE trains a lot actually. Very smooth ride for the most part.

Pretty amazing stats on growth in DFW metro...

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/dallas-area-leads-american-cities-2018-population-growth-62539169

Pretty amazing stats on growth in DFW metro...

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/dallas-area-leads-american-cities-2018-population-growth-62539169

So, To put things in perspective, just since 2010, Texas has increased population by almost the total population of Oklahoma. Increase in DFW over past 7 years equals 2/3 of the entire OKC metro.

So, To put things in perspective, just since 2010, Texas has increased population by almost the total population of Oklahoma. Increase in DFW over past 7 years equals 2/3 of the entire OKC metro.

I don't see how OK can compete with the economic machine to the south. Just need to tread water and not sink until the momentum there boils over.

I don't see how OK can compete with the economic machine to the south. Just need to tread water and not sink until the momentum there boils over.

Texas isn’t for everyone and not every business wants to or needs to be there. They have a lot of advantages but so does Oklahoma.

Texas isn’t for everyone and not every business wants to or needs to be there. They have a lot of advantages but so does Oklahoma.

OK is too busy with stupid laws like banning cities from banning plastic bags to take advantage of those advantages. I would love, in my lifetime, to see one Fortune 500 move their HQ to OKC. We have a couple, but they didn't move here.

OK is too busy with stupid laws like banning cities from banning plastic bags to take advantage of those advantages. I would love, in my lifetime, to see one Fortune 500 move their HQ to OKC. We have a couple, but they didn't move here.

I get tired of this argument. Every state has stupid laws. In the end, businesses care about what kind of business environment they'll be working in, and the labor force.

I get tired of this argument. Every state has stupid laws. In the end, businesses care about what kind of business environment they'll be working in, and the labor force.

And OK does nothing to increase the attractiveness of either to white-collar businesses. My point stands. It is about priorities. Texas attracts them, OK does not.

Texas isn’t for everyone and not every business wants to or needs to be there. They have a lot of advantages but so does Oklahoma.

Texas has a huge advantages with education, air infrastructure, seaports, and most of all CAPITAL.

And OK does nothing to increase the attractiveness of either to white-collar businesses. My point stands. It is about priorities. Texas attracts them, OK does not.

I disagree. OK is growing just fine. The Dallas growth is not sustainable over the long term and such fast growth puts a strain on services and overcrowding. I like that we have sustainable growth here and are not packed in so tight. My take is if a person likes Dallas so much they will move. OKC is a perfectly sized city with good growth. We are attracting business too. We have enough problems with less growth just imagine how much more they have in Dallas.

I never understand this wanting to be Dallas sized or trying to compare us to them. We are us and most like it that way. We are growing yet not over growing. I say we are “right sized”. Can always drive to Dallas on weekends if needing something more. Then leave the overcrowding and come back here Sun.

I get tired of this argument. Every state has stupid laws. In the end, businesses care about what kind of business environment they'll be working in, and the labor force.

Oklahoma takes the cake though. But, this is a one-party state and in one party states, government becomes dysfunctional as it tends to pander to the extremists to everyone else's detriment. Government functions best when there's a left and a right and there can be some kind of compromise. More and more though that's becoming a thing of the past, not just in Oklahoma but in many other states as well.

Surprisingly, 2019 is a lot worse for Texas when it comes to stupid draconian right-wing laws than its been for Oklahoma. I never thought I would see the day.

Oklahoma takes the cake though. But, this is a one-party state and in one party states, government becomes dysfunctional as it tends to pander to the extremists to everyone else's detriment. Government functions best when there's a left and a right and there can be some kind of compromise. More and more though that's becoming a thing of the past, not just in Oklahoma but in many other states as well.

Surprisingly, 2019 is a lot worse for Texas when it comes to stupid draconian right-wing laws than its been for Oklahoma. I never thought I would see the day.

Spare me the politics this is Dallas thread not politics thread

I have to agree. OKC has not landed a Fortune 500 or 1000 company in decades. OKC has the mentality of the boom and bust cycle with O&G. No long term stability. OKC has diversified "somewhat", however it still lacks the high income jobs and increased wealth. The mindset of "some" of its residents and government officials completely baffle me.

I have to agree. OKC has not landed a Fortune 500 or 1000 company in decades. OKC has the mentality of the boom and bust cycle with O&G. No long term stability. OKC has diversified "somewhat", however it still lacks the high income jobs and increased wealth. The mindset of "some" of its residents and government officials completely baffle me.

How many F500 or 1000 companies have relocated to other similarly-sized cities? I would think the list is pretty small. Most companies move from smaller cities to larger ones, or from expensive cities in CA and the NE to cheaper large cities in the Sunbelt.

How many F500 or 1000 companies have relocated to other similarly-sized cities? I would think the list is pretty small. Most companies move from smaller cities to larger ones, or from expensive cities in CA and the NE to cheaper large cities in the Sunbelt.
I understand what you’re saying and this isn’t directed at you, but I really dislike it when people defend bad things like this by saying “other cities and states have this problem too.”

This looks promising for Dallas! Major hub outside of San Francisco! 3,000 jobs and the pay scale looks pretty darn good!!


https://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/2019/08/09/ubers-new-office-dallas-could-gain-3000-new-jobs-become-companys-biggest-hub-outside-san-francisco

It's official! Dallas lands major hub for Uber! 3,000 jobs.


https://hosted.ap.org/journalrecord/article/6e959fa11e9446c2ad32d4fbbda2214c/uber-open-regional-hub-dallas-resulting-3000-jobs

Good get for Dallas. Would be a true game changer for OKC. For Dallas just another indicator of the norm.

wow, that would be an insane get if OKC were to get that. $400M per year and 3K jobs and in TECH. Wow!

OKC really needs to see what Dallas and other cities are doing and step it up, no way should OKC have been left out if they ended up choosing the trendy area of Dallas (of which OKC does have equal).

wow, that would be an insane get if OKC were to get that. $400M per year and 3K jobs and in TECH. Wow!

OKC really needs to see what Dallas and other cities are doing and step it up, no way should OKC have been left out if they ended up choosing the trendy area of Dallas (of which OKC does have equal).

We do? They have 2x the population of Oklahoma in an area roughly the size of OKC (slight exaggeration, but still).

Also, we have plenty of people on this board totally against incentives of any kind. Texas cities throw them around like candy. OK can't compete with that, when Dallas has a bigger budget that the entire state, almost (probably not, but the point still stands OKC is not at all equal with DFW, strictly on size and human capital alone).

wow, that would be an insane get if OKC were to get that. $400M per year and 3K jobs and in TECH. Wow!

OKC really needs to see what Dallas and other cities are doing and step it up, no way should OKC have been left out if they ended up choosing the trendy area of Dallas (of which OKC does have equal).

https://media2.giphy.com/media/CDJo4EgHwbaPS/giphy.gif?cid=19f5b51ae38063ab6438f319c60698d9587f 7d5998fa8c2b&rid=giphy.gif

Oklahoma, being a state that has spoken loud and clear that it isn't interested in prioritizing education at any level, is always going to have a hard time landing stuff like this until something changes at 23rd and Lincoln. Plus, OKC will probably always be somewhat cursed by it's proximity to Dallas. There's a lot of momentum in Dallas and in Austin that is lacking in OKC, especially in the tech sector. If I was the CEO of a company trying to relocate out of California and was choosing between Dallas and OKC it would be a no-brainer. Dallas offers most of the advantages of OKC like a low cost of living and business-friendly economic climate but also has a hub airport, much larger and more diverse workforce, and a more positive national perception. OKC has more of an advantage when it comes to developments where a lot of land is needed at the lowest possible price, such as that Amazon distribution center.

^^^ I think OKC’s proximity to Dallas is more of blessing than a curse with few exceptions.

I think there's starting to be an uptick in the number of people actually relocating from DFW to Oklahoma City. It's not a LOT, but it's starting to increase. I go to the Citydata forums and am a member of a OKC area FB group and I'm starting to see people moving here from Dallas. They're citing the cost of living as being the main driver. The cost of living is starting to go up quite a bit there because of the rapid growth. They're building large apartment complexes and sprawling subdivisions, but it can't keep up.

^^^ I am seeing tons of Texas plates in OKC. Much more than I remember years ago.

We don’t always lose to Dallas. We do beat them sometimes on somethings. Heartland payments being 1. GEBH energy research another.

I think there's starting to be an uptick in the number of people actually relocating from DFW to Oklahoma City. It's not a LOT, but it's starting to increase. I go to the Citydata forums and am a member of a OKC area FB group and I'm starting to see people moving here from Dallas. They're citing the cost of living as being the main driver. The cost of living is starting to go up quite a bit there because of the rapid growth. They're building large apartment complexes and sprawling subdivisions, but it can't keep up.


^^^ I am seeing tons of Texas plates in OKC. Much more than I remember years ago.

Agree on both points. I'm seeing a lot more Texas tags in the OKC area in recent years.

I usually dread having to go to Dallas... Impatient drivers will run you down if you get in their way. In the last few trips I've seen such craziness on the highways it's scary. Passing on highway ramps, ppl cutting across 3 lanes of traffic suddenly because they missed their exit, and one guy who was texting or fell asleep run his car into a side barrier on I-35E scraping down the side of his car. I would rather OKC not become Dallas. More growth does not equal better living. Measured, managed growth is better. I lived in the Orlando/Kissimmee area for over 10 years from the late 80s to 2000 and it went from somewhat nice to one large swath of overdevelopment. Not fun. Please don't make OKC Dallas.

OKC growing at the rate of Dallas and Austin is a big "no" for me unless we can improve our public transit system to at least be on par with, like, Denver's. And given the current state of infrastructure planning in this city and state, that seems unlikely to occur for another couple of decades, regardless of OKC's growth rate between now and then.

Denver’s transit sucks ass. Hopefully OKC can aim higher than that LOL

I don't know anything about Denver's transit - except we flew in recently and took a super nice, clean train from the airport to downtown for less than $10. Then we took the train from Denver to California, which had beautiful scenery!