Master Plan Shows Potential for Future Development on
Cotton Belt Rail Line at North End of UT Dallas Campus
(Richardson,
TX) - The City of Richardson and UT Dallas were honored by the Greater Dallas
Planning Council (GDPC) at the annual Urban Design Awards event on Dec. 5. The
two entities received a Dream Study Award for their UT Dallas North Campus
Transit-Oriented Development master plan, which creates a framework for
potential development near the proposed UT Dallas DART Station along the Cotton
Belt Rail Line, at the north end of the university campus. The GDPC recognizes
organizations and municipalities that are working to build a sustainable future
for the Dallas region.
“Richardson
is honored to work with great partners, like UT Dallas, that recognize the
importance of collaborating for the benefit of the city and its residents,”
said Richardson Mayor Bob Townsend. “We are excited to receive this recognition
from the Greater Dallas Planning Council, which underscores our dedication to
sustainability and regional leadership efforts.”
The Dream
Study Award recognizes an unbuilt project that displays sustainability efforts
in the planning process. The GDPC, established in 1946, presented the annual
awards at the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art in the
Dallas Arts District on Wednesday, Dec. 5.
“We want
our faculty, staff and students to be connected to the community, and this
visionary master plan outlines that eloquently,” said Vice President for
Administration Dr. Calvin Jamison. “The University is growing in size and
students, and this exciting development would be a welcome addition to our
campus and community life.”
The UT
Dallas North Campus Transit-Oriented Development master plan was initiated in
the fall of 2008 when the City of Richardson, UT Dallas and Dallas Area Rapid
Transit (DART) decided to collaborate to plan a transit-oriented development
(TOD) near the proposed UT Dallas DART Station and campus. With the help of
Jacobs Engineering Group and Ragsdale Consulting, which specializes in traffic
engineering, the team conducted an extensive study and developed the proposed
master plan.
The site
included in the master plan, the UT Dallas North Campus, is located north of
the existing academic facilities along the Cotton Belt rail corridor, which is
owned by DART. Passenger service on the Cotton Belt is included in DART’s 2030
system plan, and the Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas
Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is currently working to advance that timeframe
dramatically through its Innovative Finance Initiative.
The
proposed UT Dallas Station would link the campus to DFW International Airport
and function as the focal point for the new pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use
environment. Proposed land uses for the site include campus-related residential
and retail, office, research and development facilities, an event center, a
hotel, a park, other residential housing and public open spaces. A
university-related office/research campus is also planned just outside the
primary TOD area.
The master
plan, which was completed in 2009, includes a variety of sustainability
elements that are consistent with the guidelines of the NCTCOG Development
Excellence program. NCTCOG’s ten sustainability elements that were considered
in the master plan include: development options; efficient growth; pedestrian
design; housing choice; activity centers; environmental stewardship; quality
places; transportation efficiency; resource efficiency; and implementation.
Additionally,
the design team was challenged with designing for the future since the project
might not be developed for 10 to 20 years. Advancements in technology and
materials can have a major impact on planning, but the team was able to
incorporate research on future trends into their plans. The project would
include elements such as new low-cost energy solutions, waste management
advancements, nanotechnology and information technology developments.