 the offical newsletter of DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT - Winter 2008 |
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eelam@DART.org
Flexing with the times
Altogether, our service network is handling more than 400,000 riders every week day - about 100,000 more than this time just a year ago. Our parking lots, trains and buses are crowded during rush hours, but we're working hard to manage the surge as you'll read more about in this edition of Inmotion.Like everybody else, higher fuel prices drive up the cost of operating our vehicles. But, unlike some other transit systems around the country, our combination of local funding sources, conservative fiscal planning and operating efficiencies have helped avoid fare hikes and drastic service cuts. Instead, we've actually gone the extra mile to improve service quality. Customers responding to our most recent survey give us a 94% overall satisfaction rating, and 96% say they'd recommend us to their friends. That's an enviable success measure for any company - public or private.
Beyond our operations, our ambitious rail expansion program makes us one of the biggest and most important construction enterprises - not just here in North Texas, but just about anywhere. At $1.8 billion, our emerging Green Line is the longest light rail expansion project underway in North America. And in the months ahead, we'll be kicking off simultaneous construction of our Orange and Blue line extensions to Las Colinas and Rowlett, respectively.
Meanwhile, we're rolling out our new Super Light Rail Vehicles (SLRVs) - low-floor cars that allow boarding without climbing steps - and preparing to buy 537 advanced technology buses to replace our fleet and meet stricter emission standards beginning in 2010.
Together with our member cities, we're transforming North Texas into one of the most vibrant places to live, work and raise a family. To witness the incredible power of public transit, just turn to our feature story on the massive new "urban city" poised to open at Park Lane Station.
Still, the best measure of transit success is how well we move people everyday. Rider Delia White said it all in a recent letter to a local newspaper:
"DART does a wonderful job, and I suggest people give it a try."
That's good advice for all of us.
Randall D. Chrisman
DART Chairman of the Board
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