View source for SMU/Mockingbird station

{{short description|DART light rail station in Dallas, Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox station
| name               = SMU/Mockingbird
| style              = Dallas Area Rapid Transit
| type               = [[DART light rail]] station
| image              = Mockingbird Station 1.jpg
| image_caption      = Station platform viewed from street level
| address            = 5465 East [[Mockingbird Lane (road)|Mockingbird Lane]]<ref name="Station Guide">{{cite web |title=SMU/Mockingbird Station |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/transit-and-use/rail/rail-station-detail/smu-mockingbird-station |website=[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]] |access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref>
| borough            = [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|32.837874|-96.774922|type:railwaystation_region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| line               = <!-- line information is detailed under "services" -->
| connections        = {{rint|bus|1}} '''[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit#Buses|DART]]''': {{DART LB|3}}, {{DART LB|17}}, {{DART LB|105}}, {{DART LB|209}}, {{DART LB|249}}, {{DART SH|440|SMU Express Red|(M-Sat)}}<br>{{DART GL|lakewood|Lakewood|(M-Sun)}}<br>{{DART GL|parkcities|Park Cities|(M-Sun)}}<br>[[Katy Trail (Dallas)|Katy Trail]]
| platform           = [[Island platform|Island]]
| structure          = Trenched
| parking            = 712 spaces<ref name="Station Guide" />
| bicycle            = 8 lockers,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bicycle Parking |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/supporting-services/bike-information/bicycle-parking |website=[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]] |access-date=July 3, 2024}}</ref> 6 racks
| passengers         = 
| pass_year          = 
| pass_percent       = 
| opened             = January 10, 1997<ref name="Station Opening">{{cite news |first=Curtin |last=Howell |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |title=DART's light rail making tracks: First-week ridership exceeds expectations by 33 percent |date=February 2, 1997 |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3D8E8B8E12716 |pages=37A |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>
| rebuilt            = 
| accessible         = Yes
| code               = 
| owned              = [[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]]
| zone               = 
| services           = {{Adjacent stations|system1=DART
|line1=Red|left1=Cityplace/Uptown|right1=Lovers Lane
|line2=Orange|left2=Cityplace/Uptown|right2=Lovers Lane
|line3=Blue|left3=Cityplace/Uptown|right3=White Rock
}}
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-custom    = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail-light |marker-color=#000 |zoom=15 }}
}}
'''SMU/Mockingbird station''' (originally '''Mockingbird station''') is a [[DART light rail]] station in [[Dallas, Texas]]. The station is located at the intersection of [[Mockingbird Lane (Dallas)|Mockingbird Lane]] and [[Central Expressway (Dallas)|North Central Expressway]] ([[U.S. Route 75|US&nbsp;75]]). The station serves the {{DART R}}, {{DART O}}, and {{DART B}}. It is the northernmost station to serve all three lines: the Red and Orange Lines continue north towards [[Richardson, Texas|Richardson]] and [[Plano, Texas|Plano]], while the Blue Line continues northeast towards [[Garland, Texas|Garland]] and [[Rowlett, Texas|Rowlett]].

The station is located {{Convert|1/2|mi|km}} east of the main campus of [[Southern Methodist University]] (SMU), which is on Mockingbird Lane on the opposite side of US&nbsp;75. SMU operates a shuttle route between the station and the campus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SMU Express Shuttles |url=https://www.smu.edu/BusinessFinance/CampusServices/ParkingAndIDCardServices/Transportation/SMUExpress |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Parking and ID Card Services |publisher=[[Southern Methodist University]] |language=en}}</ref> The station also serves the University Crossing neighborhood of Dallas and the [[Park Cities, Texas|Park Cities]] (i.e., [[Highland Park, Texas|Highland Park]] and [[University Park, Texas|University Park]]). It directly connects to the University Crossing Trail, which in turn connects to the [[Katy Trail (Dallas)|Katy Trail]], Ridgewood Trail, and SoPac Trail.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Linear Trails |date=2020-07-17 |url=https://www.dallasparks.org/406/Linear-Trails |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=[[Dallas Parks and Recreation Department]] |publisher=[[Dallas|City of Dallas, Texas]]}}</ref>

'''Mockingbird Station''' is a [[mixed-use development]] adjacent to the station, which contains an [[Lifestyle center|open-air shopping district]], an [[Angelika Film Center]], apartments, and office space. {{Citation needed span|text=Because of this, SMU/Mockingbird has the highest population density within three miles of any mass transit station in Texas.|date=December 2019|reason=Unsupported statistic/potentially original research. As many other TODs have been built in Texas since this one was built, it is also possible this information is dated.}}

== Station ==
[[Image:Mockingbird Station 3.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A northbound train at the station]]SMU/Mockingbird is the only entrenched station in the DART light rail system, with the main platform located {{Convert|40|ft|m}} below ground level.<ref name="DART Gallery">{{Cite web |title=DART Gallery: A Collection of Public Art |url=https://dartorgcmsblob.dart.org/prod/docs/default-source/station-art/dartgallery.pdf |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]] |pages=5}}</ref> The station is the northern end of a {{Convert|3.5|mi|km|adj=on}} tunnel to [[Downtown Dallas]].

The station's upper level consists of a small plaza containing [[ticket machine]]s, an elevator, and a pair of escalators. The west entrance to the plaza leads to the Mockingbird Station development and the University Crossing Trail, while the east entrance leads to buses, passenger drop-off/pick-up, bicycle parking, and vehicle parking. A stairwell to the rail platform is located at each end of the bus platform.

On the lower level is the rail platform, which is an [[island platform]]. Southbound and westbound trains board on the western side, while northbound and eastbound trains board on the eastern side. All three lines use the same platforms.

=== Artwork ===
The eastern entrance to the station contains six {{Convert|20|ft|m|adj=on}} archways, each of which are decorated with colorful mosaic tiles and topped with a stained-glass mockingbird. The western retaining wall is decorated with a colorful ribbon pattern, while the eastern retaining wall is landscaped with shade-tolerant plants.<ref name="DART Gallery" />

== History ==
Plans for a station at North Central and Mockingbird date back to DART's 1983 rail plan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rodrigue |first=George |date=1983-08-07 |title=The DART Decision: DART would alter growth pattern, experts say |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A0F99DDB671832188%2540EANX-NB-1344984BEF2535BD%25402445554-134490109EB9E8A0%254030-1395D4116619D3A0%2540The%252BDart%252BDecision%252BDART%252Bwould%252Balter%252Bgrowth%252Bpattern%25252C%252Bexperts%252Bsay/hlterms%3Adart%2520mockingbird%2520station%253B%2520advertisement |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=31A |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> A revised plan in 1986 called for the Mockingbird Lane station to open in 1994 as the initial northern terminus for the North Central line.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maxon |first=Terry |date=1986-05-10 |title=DART staff offers cut-down rail plan |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3CE5DB159010F |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=1A |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> Later in the decade, DART obtained two rail corridors that intersected north of Mockingbird Lane, one from [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]] (which became the Red Line)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelley |first=Chris |date=1988-04-05 |title=DART makes first rail land buy |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3CFE734B98745 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=13A |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> and the other from [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] (which became the Blue Line).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelley |first=Chris |date=1989-10-25 |title=DART OKs rail land deal |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3D0A913AAC0FF |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=21A |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>

A 1990 study of the Southern Pacific corridor determined two possible locations for the Mockingbird Lane station. One location would consist of two separate stations north of the Southern Pacific/Union Pacific junction, while the other would consist of a single station south of the junction. Both proposals included a 950-space parking lot.<ref>{{Cite archive|item=North Central Corridor: Local Environmental Assessment|item-url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1138600/|type=report|year=1990|publisher=[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]]|access-date=July 3, 2024|collection=DART Historical Archive|repository=The Portal to Texas History|institution=[[University of North Texas]]|pages=16, 18-20}}</ref> DART ultimately chose the southern site.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Steve |date=1990-06-20 |title=Dr Pepper site faces foreclosure: NCNB posts property, county records show |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3D10C25627671 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=1D |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> The site was located near the former headquarters of [[Dr Pepper]], which was demolished in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rivas |first=Mariana |date=2021-06-16 |title=What happened to Dr Pepper’s Mockingbird plant? Curious Texas investigates |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/curious-texas/2021/06/16/what-happened-to-dr-peppers-mockingbird-plant-curious-texas-investigates/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |language=en}}</ref> A proposal was made to name and theme the station after Dr Pepper, but this was rejected.<ref>{{Cite news |last=North |first=Kim |date=1994-12-04 |title=Landmark site won't lose its Dr Pepper fizz: Key historic ingredients combined in new store |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3D52231BC872E |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=33A |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>

Mockingbird station opened on January 10, 1997 as part of a Red Line extension from [[Pearl/Arts District station|Pearl]] to [[Park Lane station (DART)|Park Lane]].<ref name="Station Opening" /> The station did not receive Blue Line service until September 27, 1999,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hartzel |first=Tony |date=1999-09-25 |title=Blue line expanded north to Mockingbird Lane |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3DBC9F149D7B8 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=36A |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> and said service was weekday-only until the opening of [[White Rock station]] on September 24, 2001.

In 2015, DART added two dedicated spaces for [[carsharing]] company [[Zipcar]] to the station's passenger pick-up/drop-off zone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-04 |title=DART, Zipcar collaboration completes last mile |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/home/press-release/12041791/dallas-area-rapid-transit-dart-dart-zipcar-collaboration-completes-last-mile |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Mass Transit |publisher=[[Endeavor Business Media]] |language=en}}</ref> An additional space was added later in the year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Formby |first=Brandon |date=2015-06-22 |title=Zipcar adds vehicles at Inwood/Love Field Station |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F156C340E82E08E98 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>

On November 4, 2017, a pedestrian bridge over Mockingbird Lane, which connected the station to the [[Katy Trail (Dallas)|Katy Trail]], was opened.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montes |first=Bianca R. |date=2017-11-04 |title=Mockingbird Bridge Officially Opens |url=https://www.peoplenewspapers.com/2017/11/04/mockingbird-bridge-officially-opens/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Park Cities People |publisher=[[People Newspapers]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

On August 12, 2019, DART renamed the station to SMU/Mockingbird station, with SMU paying DART $463,000 for a 10-year naming rights agreement.<ref>{{cite web |title=DART station renamed SMU/Mockingbird Station |url=https://www.smu.edu/News/2019/DART-Station-Renamed-SMU-Mockingbird-Station |website=SMU News |publisher=[[Southern Methodist University]] |accessdate=September 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dickson |first1=Gordon |date=September 6, 2019 |title=SMU paid naming rights for DART Mockingbird Station. Can TEXRail do this in Fort Worth? |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/traffic/honkin-mad-blog/article234742752.html |accessdate=September 6, 2019 |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]]}}</ref>

==Development==
[[Image:Mockingbird Station 2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Lofts at Mockingbird Station, the residential section of the development]]
Several months after the DART station opened, developers Ken Hughes and [[Archon Group]] announced plans for Mockingbird Station, a [[transit-oriented development]] complex with a pedestrian connection to the DART station.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Steve |date=1997-06-26 |title=Apartments, shopping planned next to rail stop |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0ED3D924D340CCB1 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=1D |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> The 10-acre, $100 million complex, built on top of a former [[Western Electric]] warehouse, opened on July 1, 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dillon |first=David |date=2001-07-01 |title=An urban space that sings: Mockingbird Station creates harmony from old and new, odds and ends |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EDB04775AAFC2C6 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=1C |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>

The complex contains 211 apartments, {{Convert|150000|sqft|m2}} of office space, and {{Convert|200000|sqft|m2}} of retail and restaurant space.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Steve |date=2016-10-05 |title=DART seeking developers for Mockingbird Station properties |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2016/10/05/dart-seeking-developers-for-mockingbird-station-properties/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |language=en}}</ref> Notable retail tenants include [[Angelika Film Center]], [[Bath & Body Works]], [[Ann Inc.|Loft]], and [[Urban Outfitters]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directory |url=https://mockingbirdstation.com/shops/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Mockingbird Station |publisher=[[CBRE Group]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The property is currently owned by [[CBRE Group]], which purchased the property in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Steve |date=2015-10-16 |title=Dallas’ popular Mockingbird Station ready to change hands |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2015/10/16/dallas-popular-mockingbird-station-ready-to-change-hands/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |language=en}}</ref>

A 2004 study of transit-oriented developments by the [[Transportation Research Board]] called Mockingbird Station "a TOD success story," praising it for its location with "strong local demographics, and an abundance of adjacent regional attractions," as well as for being driven by private developers.<ref>{{cite conference |year=2004 |title=Transit-Oriented Development in the United States: Experiences, Challenges, and Prospects |url=https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23360/transit-oriented-development-in-the-united-states-experiences-challenges-and-prospects |format=PDF |conference=Transit Cooperative Research Program |publisher=[[Transportation Research Board]] |pages=302–305 |doi=10.17226/23360|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.dart.org Dallas Area Rapid Transit] - [https://www.dart.org/guide/transit-and-use/rail/rail-station-detail/smu-mockingbird-station SMU/Mockingbird Station]
* [https://www.smu.edu/businessfinance/campusservices/parkingandidcardservices/transportation/smuexpress SMU Express Shuttles]
* [https://mockingbirdstation.com/ Mockingbird Station] (adjacent development)

{{Mockingbird Station Tenants}}
{{Dallas Area Rapid Transit stations navbox}}
{{Dallas malls}}

[[Category:Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail stations in Dallas]]
[[Category:Shopping malls in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Texas at university and college campuses]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Dallas County, Texas]]
[[Category:Blue Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)]]
[[Category:Orange Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)]]
[[Category:Red Line (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)]]