IRVING The DART Orange Line to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is right on schedule to open in 2013, but there's already one setback.
On Tuesday, DART announced a possible delay on the first leg of the line between Dallas and Las Colinas.
Irving city leaders are hoping to get the project back on track.
We have been betting on this date for several years, so we want to make sure that there are no further delays, said Chris Wallace, president and CEO of the Greater Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce.
The section from Bachman Station to Las Colinas was scheduled to open in December, 2011. DART is now aiming to get the line moving in August, 2012.
Wallace told News 8 he has already received calls from concerned developers about the setback. The chamber has been promoting the light rail line, hoping to convince companies to relocate.
They are hopefully looking at making a decision soon, Wallace said. This may or may not impact their decision in terms of a timeline .
According to DART, the delay stems from an issue with the Texas Department of Transportation's work on State Highway 114. TxDOT has had delays getting its federal environmental clearance to relocate utilities. The rail line and Highway 114 cross at some spots.
TxDOT says it needs $10 million to pay crews who are working overtime to meet the deadline. TxDOT said the money would accelerate the the project.
In order to make this somewhat palatable and make the time frame that we need, to and prevent as much slowdown as possible, we need the $10 million, said Irving City Council member Rick Stopfer.
City leaders plan to go to the Regional Transportation Council to see if any funds are available to trim the delay. But even with that, TxDOT told News 8 there still might be somewhat of a delay; it all depends on how its highway project moves forward.
Residents of the Las Colinas Urban Center are hoping the rail line is finished on time. They are excited about all the benefits the train could bring to their neighborhood.
I think it's going to grow the area a lot more more interaction, bring more people to the area, said Bryan Ledesma. They need to get it done .
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