the offical newsletter of DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT - DART Rail 10th Anniversary Issue 2006
Return to www.DART.org The Best Is Yet To Come A letter from the DART Board of Directors. 10 Years and Growing Can it be? Is it possible – DART trains have been rolling across the North Texas landscape for 10 years? 10 Views on DART Rail Ten years ago on the eve of DART Rail's debut, many people still didn't believe the system would succeed. 10 Hours in Rail Time Jeff Gottesman travels all around the city without ever going more than a few blocks. 10 Years Ahead The only thing more exciting than looking back at the 10-year history of DART Rail is looking 10 years ahead, when the light rail system will double to more than 90 miles and 62 stations. Short Trips Lone Star Kudos; Good news for folks with spokes; New ride from Denton "Fast Forward" Depicting the spirited past, present and future of DART Rail, "Fast Forward" is the centerpiece of our 10th anniversary celebration and is available as a poster at the DART Store at Akard Station, 1401 Pacific Ave. in Dallas. 10 Great Moments in DART Rail History DART Board of Directors DART Current and Future Services Map DART: Live, On Tape and Online Contact Webmaster at: eelam@DART.org		Ten years ago on the eve of DART Rail's debut, many people still didn't believe the system would succeed. The DART Rail launch team poses in 1996. Interspersed with news stories about the grand opening were stories casting doubt on projected ridership and economic development. Fast forward a decade: Ridership is at an all-time record, DART Rail is a proven economic engine, and the voices of support are many and diverse. "At every stage, DART has proven an exemplary model for efficient mass transit. A history of solid results demonstrates that DART is well worth the investment." U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison "DART's light rail presence throughout the community has paid phenomenal returns in mobility, productivity and economic growth for the region. The light rail system is an unparalleled success and has positively impacted the quality of life for North Texas residents." U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson "Full trains moving both north and south at all hours of the day are dramatic proof that DART Rail is changing the way people live, work and play in North Texas." U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions "The arrival of DART Rail in Farmers Branch, Carrollton and Irving will bring traffic relief and spur new development activity in these already-booming areas, just as it has done elsewhere." U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant "Transportation equals opportunity, and the expansion of DART into the Northwest Corridor will connect some previously isolated communities and persons with the full array of educational, employment and public service assets in our region." State Rep. Rafael Anchia "DART is an example for other transit agencies in Texas and nationwide on how to build a system on schedule and on budget, how to meet the needs of millions of riders, and how light rail and mass transit can be used to stimulate economic growth and development." State Sen. Royce West "The development of DART has been profoundly important to the growth and vitality of the region, not only in the near term but also for the future." Civic Leader Walt Humann "The expansion of DART Rail will expand business and job opportunities for the diverse and dynamic populations in the Northwest Corridor, including the growing Asian community." Les Tanaka Executive Director, Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce "Texas is in the middle of the global economy, and the greater Dallas region has many attributes attractive to domestic and foreign companies, not the least of which is our strong transportation network, including DART." Norman Bagwell President, Chase Dallas "DART is a dream come true, just as the Latino Cultural Center is a dream come true. DART Rail will be a terrific asset for the Southeast Corridor." Dolores Gomez Barzune Civic Leader, Latino Cultural Center Return to the Inmotion front page