advertisement

---

Dallas Area Rapid Transit continued its aggressive expansion plans May 6 by opening its 23rd light-rail station, LBJ/Skillman Station, which agency officials believe will provide easy access to downtown Dallas and points west.



The station’s opening extends DART’s Blue Line 3.5 miles from White Rock Station to serve northeast Dallas; Nov. 18, the agency plans to extend the line even farther to Forest/Jupiter and Downtown Garland stations.



LBJ/Skillman Station is between Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s line and LBJ Freeway, named after Lyndon B. Johnson, who signed the legislation creating U.S. Department of Transportation in 1966. Johnson’s wife, Lady Bird, promoted the use of native plants, grasses and wildflowers along freeways, so DART paid her homage by using those materials in the station’s landscaping.



The station includes passenger shelters, seating, telephones, windscreen art panels and 646 free parking spaces.



DART plans to open seven more stations July 1, including facilities at Park Lane, Walnut Hill, Forest Lane, and LBJ/Central in Dallas, as well as Spring Valley, Arapaho Center and Galatyn Park in Richardson, Texas. A third station in Richardson, and two more in Plano, Texas, are scheduled to open Dec. 9.