PLANO, Texas — The city of Plano is holding a public open house Tuesday night to discuss the areas surrounding two new train stations for DART's new Silver Line Project.
The new project running on the Cotton Belt Regional Rail Corridor is set to take passengers from Plano to DFW Airport in around 50 to 55 minutes. The stations are currently being built and the city of Plano is asking for input for the half-mile radius around those stations.
"These plans are setting the community's vision for how they want the area around the transit station to look and feel knowing there is a new mode of transportation being introduced to the area," said Jason Aprill, a Senior Mobility Planner for the city.
Aprill says the city has been collecting public feedback since April and those suggestions have worked their way through an advisory group.
"Should there be more bike lines? How do the streets look and feel? Do we need more parks and plaza?" Aprill asked rhetorically.
The public meeting is for the stakeholders in and around those stations along Shiloh Road and 12th Street. Tuesday is another opportunity to discuss how these stations fit into the city's fabric and what can be updated or improved.
"We just want to make sure it is something friendly; neighborhood-friendly and culturally friendly," said David Evans, who represents the historic Douglass Community.
The Douglass Community is on Plano's east side and is one of the first settlements for freed slaves. The community is just one of many stakeholders that live and operate within a half mile from the 12th Street station.
Tuesday's meeting goes a long way in making sure the new stations are seamlessly and gradually integrated.
"We want to make sure both areas have a strong sense of place and they respond to the community's needs," said Aprill.
The 26 mile alignment cuts through seven cities: Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson and Plano. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.