FEBRUARY 2012

What the Future Holds: The Next Destination for Transit in North Texas
Speaker: Gary Thomas
What does the future hold for transit in North Texas? Funding from state and federal sources is flat, reflecting a new mood from Austin and Washington. Will there be future fare increases and service changes? Are streetcars the solution for Dallas neighborhoods and nearby communities? Will new technological advances promise faster and more reliable service? And what about all those cities that now want to join the DART system? It begs the question, is the transit car half full or half empty in North Texas?

Come find out the answers when Gary Thomas, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) President and Executive Director, speaks to you and the Greater Dallas Planning Council members at the February monthly membership breakfast.

Since taking the DART reins in 2001, Gary Thomas has seen a lot ... DART's light rail network has gone through its largest expansion in the organizations history; notably with the opening of the Green Line stretching from Carrollton in the northwest to Pleasant Grove in the southeast – a 28-mile expansion. Before 2012 is complete, DART will open the first phase of the 14-mile Orange Line west to Las Colinas and Irving and expand the Blue Line further east to downtown Rowlett. In auto-oriented North Texas, DART's light rail system has spurred new transit oriented developments around its stations and fostered a change in attitude of local leaders that now realize the benefits that transit offers. While much has been accomplished in the last ten years, come hear the presentation and find out where we go from here.

JANUARY 2012

The State of the City
Speaker: Mary Suhm
Many local and regional economies across the United States continue to languish through the economic slowdown that just won't let go. Even Dallas has been impacted by the weak economy; however, our local economy continues to lure people seeking opportunity, plus there is a lot the area can boast regarding its growth. The opening of a new convention hotel, the spring ribbon cutting of the new signature bridge over the Trinity River, the near completion of a deck park linking Uptown with downtown, and the anticipated move of the Museum of Nature and Science to its new home north of downtown.

While the region celebrates the return of the construction crane to the Dallas skyline, a lackluster housing market and persistent high unemployment can have a dulling effect on the growth of the local economy. As the major city in North Texas, Dallas city leaders face a daunting task of juggling the day-to-day needs of running the City with the limitations many of its citizens are experiencing due to the economy. The City is long overdue for its next bond program, but if there is a bond program in 2012 will it be a back to basics bond program or simply a survival bond program. Tough choices are not easy, but they must be made.

The Greater Dallas Planning Council's first speaker for 2012 will be Mary Suhm, City Manager of the City of Dallas. Ms. Suhm will share with our members the hard choices both elected leaders and city officials will need to address in 2012, the prospects of a bond program, plus point to the many major investments and events that will shape the fabric of our City and the lives of future generations.