Here’s a Hint: It’s Not Your Car
DART Train at Irving Convention Center Station
In the past there have been parking issues at the Irving Convention Center for Dallas Digital Summit. In 2013 the upper three floors of the parking garage were closed due to an ice storm that had recently blown through. Also you had to pay to park and payment was made through a payment machine at the exit. This created a serious backlog getting out of the garage.
This year the parking garage is free and there are currently no ice storms are being predicted. One problem remains. They are expecting 1200 in attendance and there are only 800 spaces in the parking garage. There is a limited amount of street parking but that will be gone early. There will also be a shuttle running every 15 minutes from the front of the Omni Mandalay hotel from 8am – 8pm on December 9th and from 7:30am – 7pm on December 10th. If you must drive then carpooling must be considered.
However the best option will be to board the local DART train. The Orange Line Irving Convention Center stop puts you 4/10s of a mile walk from the front door of the convention center. The best part is while people are cued up getting out of the parking garage you’ll be on a train headed to home.
Orange Line
The Orange Line runs from Plano to DFW Airport during peak times, roughly 6:30am – 8:30am and 3:30pm – 7:00pm. Between 8:30am-3:30pm it runs from the LBJ/Central station in Dallas to the DFW Airport. If you are on the Red, Blue, or Green lines you will have to make a transfer to the Orange Line.
Trip Planner
On the DART website they have a Trip Planner you can use to help you figure out what schedule works best for you. DART also has a GoPass mobile ticketing app you can download to your phone that allows you to purchase your ticket, plan your trip, and see train schedules.
Ticket
The cost of the ticket for most people will be $5.00. They can be purchased at any train station via a ticket machine, or through the GoPass app on your phone. Don’t forget this step. DART police routinely patrol the train issuing citations to those without tickets.
Path From Train Station to Convention Center
Once you arrive at the Irving Convention Center station you will clearly see the convention center to the west.
View of the Irving Convention Center from the Irving Convention Center DART Station.
Follow the sidewalk from the station toward the convention center, cross Las Colinas Blvd at the crosswalk, turn left and you’ll be walking in front of the convention center.
Approaching Irving Convention Center as You Cross Las Colinas Blvd.
We look forward to seeing you at Dallas Digital Summit 2014!