Three icons of North Texas business made a rare joint public appearance Thursday to talk about transportation, technology and the future.
The Dallas Citizens Council's annual meeting promoted technological advancements that could also facilitate improvements in safety and education to prepare the workforce needed as North Texas' population booms.
Ross Perot Jr., chairman of Perot Companies and Hillwood Development, moderated the discussion with the chief executives of Southwest Airlines and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.
Perot was making explosive population estimates.
“In 100 years, the population will be 33 million people. By 2130, there will be 33 million people living here,” Perrault said.
His Hillwood built Victory projects around the American Airlines Center in Dallas and many other large developments in North Texas.
Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said there are limits to how much the carrier can prepare for such growth at Dallas Love Field, where it currently operates.
“We love Love Field, we love Dallas, but there are limitations. And as the metroplex continues to grow, we remain committed to serving the metroplex.” “We are doing our best,” Jordan said.
So Jordan said Southwest Airlines requested space in the new DFW Airport Terminal F, which is expected to be completed in about four years.
Leaders said prices were soaring because the area was a transportation hub.
“We have a great interstate system. Two of the largest airlines are headquartered here. We have the nation's largest railroad headquartered here,” said BNSF CEO Katie. Farmer said.
BNSF has significantly expanded its intermodal capacity to transfer rail freight to trucks at the Hillwood Alliance development in far north Fort Worth.
Farmer said further expansion is planned to clear more freeway traffic.
“There are 7 million trucks on the highways in lanes where intermodal transportation makes sense,” she says.
BNSF's CEO said the new technology could improve inspection of railroad tracks for defects and help improve safety.
All three business leaders told the Citizens Council that they are focused on technology and the needs of their customers and employees for future success.
Civic Council President Arcilia Acosta is the CEO of an engineering and construction company.
She said employers have a duty to participate in promoting education and that is the mission of the Citizens Council.
“We're definitely trying to foster workforce strength, especially the job opportunities that are going to come,” Acosta said.
Citizens Council CEO Kelvin Walker said the organization works to reflect the diverse city of Dallas today.
“The Citizens Council has been around for 86 years. We have grown significantly. And our mission is to create and foster an environment for inclusive growth,” he said. I did. “As we continue to add people here, we are looking to the scale of large companies and CEOs, but also to working with public institutions and philanthropy to ask: How can we create inclusive growth? People want to live and do business.”
Part of that happened at Thursday's annual meeting.
