Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons

September 22, 2003

Effective Monday, October 6

DART Implements Systemwide Service Modifications

Effective Monday, October 6, DART will implement changes to bus routes and schedules and modify the frequency of service on DART Rail and the Trinity Railway Express.

Details about the changes can be found in the October 6 Bus & Rail Service Change brochure, now available on buses and trains and at DART transit centers and downtown Dallas DART Stores, or online at DART.org.

Bus Service Changes
Several bus routes are being reduced, modified or eliminated based on ridership, and alternative service options are being provided. Sixteen bus routes have been eliminated due to low ridership: 103, 321, 322, 342, 353, 518, 527, 539, 550, 575, 585, 703, 705, 712, 761 and 823. These discontinued routes will be replaced with other bus routes, DART On-Call service, Employer Shuttle van service, vanpools or carpooling. Other bus routes and bus route schedules are being adjusted. Check the Bus & Rail Service Change brochure or DART.org for details about the specific routes.

DART Trolley-Bus services will be replaced with 30-foot shuttle buses or be discontinued. Shuttles will operate on Route 702 serving NorthPark Center and Route 760 serving Collin Creek Mall. Route 712 in downtown Dallas, Routes 703 and 705 in Richardson and Route 761 in Plano will no longer operate as of October 6.

DART On-Call Service
DART On-Call, a curb-to-curb van service, will be introduced to residents of East Plano, Farmers Branch and North Dallas as an alternative service replacing bus Routes 321, 322, 503, 567, 575 and 761. DART On-Call vans provide service to and from residences and specified businesses within their service areas.

DART Rail and Trinity Railway Express Schedule Changes
Beginning October 6, the frequency of DART Rail Red Line and Blue Line service will be adjusted to every 20 minutes during midday. Connecting 500-series feeder bus routes will be adjusted slightly to maintain transfer connections to DART Rail during midday.

Changes will be made to both weekday and Saturday schedules of the Trinity Railway Express (TRE). On weekdays, four trains between Union Station and CentrePort/DFW Airport Station - two in the early afternoon and two in the late afternoon - will be eliminated. The last evening service from Dallas to Fort Worth and from Fort Worth to Dallas will leave about 7:30 p.m. Other departure times will also be adjusted. On Saturdays, some early morning trips will be discontinued.

On weekdays, the TRE will run a special event train from Victory Station to Fort Worth following all scheduled Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars games and other selected events at American Airlines Center. This single train will leave Victory Station 20 minutes after the event's conclusion. On Saturday, regularly scheduled TRE trains will continue to provide Victory Station service to and from games and other selected events at American Airlines Center. The TRE does not operate on Sundays.

Bus & Rail Service Change brochures and customer timetables are available on buses and trains and at DART transit centers and downtown Dallas DART Stores. For information about DART services, fares, schedules, trip planning and maps contact DART Customer Information at 214-979-1111 or visit www.DART.org. For detailed information about TRE services or schedules visit www.trinityrailwayexpress.org.

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