the offical newsletter of DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT - Spring 2008
Return to www.DART.org Building a Rail Life A letter from the DART Chairman of the Board. Keeping Watch 24 / Seven Deployed in cars, on motorcycles and bicycles, and on foot, DART Police promote safety and security in one of the largest and busiest "communities" in North Texas. Moving People While Moving Ahead As DART's Green Line expansion races ahead, a big part of the project is keeping neighborhoods and businesses up to speed on construction activities. Staying On Track With construction costs soaring worldwide, DART is exploring new design and financing strategies to open the next phase of DART Rail on time. Redefining Community Carrollton and Farmers Branch are using the arrival of DART’s Green Line to remake their city centers into lively transit villages and regional destinations. Hassle-free Driving Ahead With the doubling of high occupancy vehicle lanes, DART is speeding traffic and pollution relief to North Texas commuters. Short Trips Mobile website puts trip plans in your hands; new 7-Day Pass lets you roll when you want to; Million Milers go the distance; DalTrans keeps traffic moving; bus racks expand bike & ride trips; DART employees extend customer service. DART Board of Directors DART Current and Future Services Map DART: Live, On Tape and Online Contact Webmaster at: eelam@DART.org		Attention: Hassle-Free Driving Ahead Carpoolers, vanpoolers and DART bus riders are enjoying new freedom as DART doubles the network of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in many of the region’s busiest roadways. In December, a new 14-mile HOV lane opened on U.S. 75 (Central Expressway), from I-635 (LBJ Freeway) to Exchange Parkway in Allen. The lane features a direct "connector" to the HOV lane on LBJ Freeway, enabling motorists to transfer easily from one HOV lane to another during the peak period operating hours. Also in December, the reversible HOV lane on I-30 East was extended by six miles from Jim Miller Road to Northwest Drive in Mesquite. Two more Barrier Transfer Vehicles (BTVs) or "zipper machines" - like the ones already in use on the I-30 HOV lane - are helping with the expanded operation. In January a 12-mile extension of the HOV lane on LBJ Freeway opened from Central Expressway to I-30, roughly doubling the length of carpool lanes on one of the nation's busiest freeways. Managing congestion Fly-over ramps give motorists easy access to the new HOV lane on U.S. 75 from the main lanes as well as from the HOV lanes on LBJ Freeway. Eventually, new HOV lanes on the Tom Landry Highway (I-30 West) from downtown Dallas to Tarrant County could be open to lone drivers - for a fee. The concept, known as "congestion pricing," would use transponders to collect fees at varying rates depending on the time of day and traffic volume. As the main lanes get more crowded, the toll for driving alone in the HOV lanes would go up to ensure the lanes don't become too crowded to make them worthwhile. "It's similar to what used to happen with long distance phone rates, and what still happens with airline tickets as well as water and electric utilities. You pay a premium for peak period access," says Koorosh Olyai, DART's assistant vice president of Mobility Programs Development. Carpoolers will probably get a discount on the fee, while DART buses and emergency vehicles would get free access. "We're not taking away the incentive of carpooling," says Olyai. "We're making lanes available that would otherwise not be available outside of the peak drive times." Even without the tolls, HOV lanes are a vital piece of the ongoing effort to reduce congestion and automobile emissions. Return to the Inmotion front page