Transit Oriented Development Arrives Before the DART Cotton Belt Line

"The University of Texas at Dallas isn't waiting for a train," reports Ray Leszcynski. "Near the planned UTD stop along the prospective $1.1 billion Cotton Belt commuter rail line, apartments with ground-floor retail are now open. Thai food and bubble tea are already here, even though the train won't be until at least 2022."

According to Leszcynski the development in advance of the arrival of the Cotton Belt rail line "represents a convergence of DART's, [the city of] Richardson's and UTD's interests." Dallas Area Rapid Transit expects the UTD stop to a major hub on the Cotton Belt line, and UTD is working to become a less commuter-centric school.

The article includes details about the remaining vacant parcels that the city plans to position for development, with a potential large corporate anchor like Amazon.