Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons
Mark A. Ball

May 30, 2012

DART schedules community meetings on proposed new transit fares

The first of 18 community meetings on a proposed Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) fare change is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Richardson.

These meetings, plus a Tweet chat on the topic, will take place in advance of a public hearing before the DART Board of Directors. The hearing will have DART staff presenting suggestions for modifications to a fare structure that remains among the nation’s lowest. Public input is encouraged and welcomed at any of the meetings or at the hearing on Tuesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m., DART Board Room, 1401 Pacific Avenue, Dallas (MAPSCO 45K).

Based on the outcome of the hearing, and in accordance with DART's 20-year financial plan, the proposed fares would go into effect, along with system wide service changes, on December 3, 2012 when the agency opens the second section of the Orange Line light rail from Las Colinas to DFW Airport property and an extension of the Blue Line from Garland to Rowlett.

The 18 meetings will be held throughout the Service Area.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Richardson Civic Center, 411 West Arapaho Road
Richardson, TX 75080/MAPSCO 7X

Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Plaza Arts Center, 1115 Fourth Avenue
Carrollton, TX 75006/MAPSCO 12C

Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Irving City Hall, 825 West Irving Boulevard
Irving, TX 75060/MAPSCO 31B-S

Thursday, June 7, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Farmers Branch City Hall
13000 William Dodson Pkwy
Farmers Branch, TX 75234/MAPSCO 12V

Monday, June 11, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Hampton-Illinois Branch Library
2951 South Hampton Road
Dallas, TX 75224/MAPSCO 53V

Monday, June 11, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior Center
2901 Pennsylvania Avenue
Dallas, TX 75215/MAPSCO 46T

Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Garland City Hall, 200 North Fifth Street
Garland, TX 75040/MAPSCO 19Z

Wednesday, June 13, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Rowlett City Hall, 4000 Main Street
Rowlett, TX 75088/MAPSCO 30D

Thursday, June 14, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Dallas West Branch Library
2332 Singleton Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75212/MAPSCO 43N

Monday, June 18, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Plano Municipal Center, 1520 K Avenue
Plano, TX 75074/MAPSCO 659S

Monday, June 18, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Glenn Heights City Hall
1938 South Hampton Road
Glenn Heights, TX 75154/MAPSCO 83Z

Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Cockrell Hill City Hall, 4125 West Clarendon Drive
Dallas, TX 5211/MAPSCO 53J

Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Addison Town Hall, 5300 Belt Line Road
Addison, TX 75254/MAPSCO 15A

Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Fretz Recreation Center
6998 Belt Line Road, Room A
Dallas, TX 75254/MAPSCO 15H

Thursday, June 21, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Skyline Branch Library, 6006 Everglade Road
Dallas, TX 75227/MAPSCO 48J

Thursday, June 21, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.
Eastfield College – Pleasant Grove Campus
802 South Buckner Boulevard, Room 109
Dallas, TX 75217/MAPSCO 58Q

Saturday, June 23, 2012, at 12 p.m. (noon)
DART Board Room, 1401 Pacific Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202/MAPSCO 45K

Monday, June 25, 2012, at 12 p.m. (noon)
DART Board Room, 1401 Pacific Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202/MAPSCO 45K

DART is also taking to Twitter to encourage customer feedback on the proposed fare changes and will host a Tweet chat through its @dartmedia Twitter account on Thursday, June 14, from 1 until 2 p.m. Finance and Planning staff will be available to answer questions posted to the page. Follow the conversation using #DARTFareChange. The conversation on Twitter, marked with the hashtag #DARTFareChange, will be tracked and will be included as a part of the official public record regarding the agency's proposed fare changes for 2012.

Additional information about the proposed fare change, including a table of the new fares, is available on a special web page, www.DART.org/2012FareChange. This page will be updated as needed while the Board deliberates the changes. Customers may also contact DART Community Affairs at 214-749-2543 about the meetings.

The Board is scheduled to vote on the changes in late August.