January 2023

DART welcomed the start of the new year with major improvements to bus routes and GoLink services. On January 23, DART returned 22 Core Frequent bus routes to 15-minute peak service, which were modified in June 2022 due to labor shortages. DART GoLink also expanded operations to seven-day-a-week service, from 5:00 a.m. to midnight.

February 2023

DART’s first long range electric bus began regular revenue service on DART Bus Route 20. With a range of almost 300 miles, the 40’ Proterra ZX5 Max joined the seven Proterra Catalyst 35 zero-emission electric buses that are currently in service on DART Bus Route 28.

March 2023

DART and Toyota have partnered with Circuit to support a free ride-share transportation service that provides West Dallas residents with an easy way to get to grocery stores, doctor visits, and other services throughout West Dallas, as well as access to the larger DART network.

With an average of almost 4,000 riders per month, the West Dallas Circuit Circulators are a fleet of six electric vehicles that currently operate Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

April 2023

To provide a cleaner and more comfortable environment for customers, DART replaced nearly 34,000 fabric seat cushions and backs on its bus fleet with vinyl-covered ones. The new vinyl seats are part of the agency’s continued customer-focused commitment to riders to provide a safe and clean transit experience.

May 2023

Sophia Wilson, an 8th grade student at Charles M. Blalack Middle School in Carrollton, was this year's Best of Show winner in the annual DART Student Art Contest. Her winning artwork was displayed at DART rail stations, buses and inside trains, as well as at the Dallas Museum of Art, and Love Field Airport.

June 2023

With temperatures rising across North Texas, DART provided transit centers as cooling stations for customers looking for ways to stay safe from the excessive heat we are experiencing across the region.

July 2023

With its continued focus on rider safety, DART announced the addition of more than 100 contract Transit Security Officers (TSO) to improve public safety and security for DART commuters.

TSOs provide enhanced service on DART’s light rail vehicles and platforms, as well as the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), with a focus on DART Code of Conduct violations and any potential unlawful activities on DART property. The TSOs joined the agency’s 252 budgeted DART Police Officers and Fare Enforcement Officers (FEO) in ensuring DART riders have a safe and secure experience.

August 2023

DART celebrated 40 years of service to North Texas residents. On August 13, 1983, the formation of DART was approved by the voters of North Texas with a goal of providing a transportation system that could be operated efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively. 40 years later there is a multimodal network of bus, rail, paratransit, and commuter rail. DART is responsible for 42.7 million passenger trips a year.

September 2023

DART continued its work to promote a culture of sustainable planning, project development, operations, and maintenance. In collaboration with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), DART installed electric vehicle charging stations at the Glenn Heights Park & Ride and Illinois Station locations.

October 2023

The DART Board of Directors elected Gary Slagel, who represents the cities of Richardson and University Park, and the towns of Addison and Highland Park, as their chair for a two-year term.

Appointed to the DART Board in 2011, Slagel, a former mayor of the City of Richardson, is the CEO at CapitalSoft, Inc. He is a former president of the Metroplex Mayor's Association, and a former president of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG).

November 2023

DART proudly rang in the season with its second annual holiday train and buses hitting the road. Each car of the DART Holiday Train is wrapped with snowmen and hundreds of twinkling holiday lights to create holiday cheer for our riders and everyone who sees them.

December 2023

Coors Light and DART delivered free rides on all buses, trains, Paratransit Services, and the TRE between EBJ Union Station and CentrePort/DFW Airport Station on New Year's Eve. Rides were complimentary from 6:00 p.m. through end of service on December 31.

January 2022

With the goal of providing greater frequency, longer service hours and improved access to destinations across North Texas, DART's new bus network launched on January 24, 2022. The new bus system is designed to ensure passengers have quick and easy access to employment, education and entertainment destinations.

March 2022

DART extends the Discount GoPass Tap Card pilot program through December 31, 2022. The program provides riders using any one of nine support assistance programs with a 50% discount on the regular price of a DART pass. DART launched the pilot-program to ensure riders who qualify have access to jobs, health care and educational opportunities, reducing social and economic inequalities by making mobility financially feasible to more people.

June 2022

Beginning June 13, DART implemented temporary service frequency adjustments on 31 of its 97 bus routes due to the ongoing nationwide shortage of bus operators. To restore service reliability and dependability, DART implemented a five-minute temporary reduction in frequency on most routes operating every 15 minutes. Some routes with 20-minute midday and early evening service also changed to 30-minute service. Light rail service, as well as service on the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) and the Dallas Streetcar, remained the same. DART tentatively plans to return to regular frequency on all services on January 23, 2023, based on bus operator hiring goals.

April 2021

On April 9, DART celebrated the opening of the Hidden Ridge Station at Carpenter Ranch in Irving, the 65th station in the DART network. Developed in partnership with the City of Irving and Verizon Communications, the new station is located on the Orange Line between North Lake College and Irving Convention Center stations. Originally a part of the 3.9-mile Irving-2 opening of the Orange Line in December 2012, Hidden Ridge Station (formerly known as Carpenter Ranch Station) had been deferred in anticipation of Verizon Communications' Hidden Ridge development, a planned 110-acre mixed-use project which will feature 1,200 apartments and residences; 80,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space; a hotel; and a two-acre green space with amenities.

June 2021

On Monday, June 14, DART celebrated 25 years of providing light rail service to the residents of North Texas. The DART light rail system debuted on June 14, 1996. The original starter system was 11.2 miles long, with Blue Line service between Illinois Station and Pearl/Arts District Station, and Red Line service between Westmoreland Station and Pearl/Arts District Station. Over the last 25 years, the DART light rail system has grown into a 93-mile, 65 station network - the longest light rail system in the country - improving the quality of life for all North Texas residents, and providing access to greater mobility options to jobs, health care and even educational opportunities.

September 2021

The DART Board of Directors unanimously approved the DARTzoom Final Bus Network Plan, which includes a complete redesign of the DART bus network. With the goal of providing greater frequency, longer service hours and improved access to destinations, the redesigned network goes into effect on January 24, 2022.

September 2021

To make traveling by public transport easier and more convenient, DART begins accepting Contactless Payment on all bus, light rail and Dallas Streetcar vehicles. Contactless Payment allows riders to pay for their DART transit fare with a contactless credit, debit card, or a payment-enabled mobile phone or wearable device. The Contactless Payment option gives riders a new touch-free option for paying their fare, along with the GoPass® mobile app and GoPass® Tap card. Riders simply tap, ride, and go.

December 2021

To prepare riders for the launch of the DARTzoom new bus network, DART begins operating all GoLink zones beginning December 6 while maintaining existing fixed route bus service. An essential part of DART's new bus network is the expansion of GoLink, DART's on-demand, curb-to-curb microtransit service solution that operates in zones across the DART service area. GoLink offers service with connections to DART transit facilities as well as anywhere within each specified zone. With the start of the new bus service on January 24, 2022, 13 new GoLink zones will be added, replacing traditional fixed-route service, bringing the total to 30. In addition, weekend hours have been added to many GoLink zones, with 13 zones offering Saturday service and 6 zones offering Sunday service.

December 2021

On December 30, the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) celebrated 25 years of providing unparalleled commuter rail service across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The TRE debuted on December 30, 1996. Operating between what is now EBJ Union Station and South Irving Station, the 10-mile commuter rail line enjoyed more than 4,000 riders during its first day of operation. Five years later, on December 3, 2001, the TRE finally realized its full vision. Stretching from EBJ Union Station all the way to the Fort Worth T&P Station by Downtown Fort Worth, the TRE became a commuter rail system that serves the needs of all of the residents across North Texas.

January 2020

DART begins the installation of more than 300 interactive digital kiosks across the service network. In the largest deployment of its kind by a public transit agency, DART launched the first interactive kiosks at JB Jackson Jr. Transit Center in Dallas.

February 2020

DART Launches Discount GoPass Tap Card for participants in any of eight support assistance programs. DART is promoting the new, two-year, pilot-program designed to lend a hand to riders who need assistance affording public transit with outreach through media, printed materials and a partnership with eligible agencies to inform eligible riders. Anyone who participates in any of the eight programs is eligible for DART services at half the fare.

March 2020

DART, the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), Fort Worth's Trinity Metro and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) aggressively expand agency-wide cleaning and safety protocols in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The agencies all remain in close contact with local, state and national health authorities, including the Texas Department of State Health Services and the CDC, and continuously monitor the situation for residents in the North Texas region. DART vehicles begin to receive additional cleanings throughout the day.

DART will extend operations of the GoPass® mobile app to the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (MTTA) after the Board approved authorizing an Inter-Local Agreement at their March meeting.

April 2020

DART continues to provide transit service while safeguarding its customers and employees in response to the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. As many in North Texas remain at home under shelter in place orders, DART implements temporary service adjustments for bus and light rail starting Monday, April 6, that reflects current ridership demand. While DART ridership has fallen since the outbreak, DART remains committed to providing services for North Texas riders who rely on buses and trains to get to jobs, stores and medical appointments.

DART partners with the Dallas Independent School District and the Garland Independent School District to deliver meals to students, the City of Dallas to distribute care packages to seniors, with paratransit customers to deliver food and medicine and with Catholic Charities to deliver meals to Brady Center seniors.

In addition, DART and The University of North Texas at Dallas Mobile Market joined forces to reach families in food deserts in southern Dallas with fresh produce, food and other necessary items during the COVID-19 outbreak. Volunteers loaded and unloaded the buses as part of a partnership with DART, UNT Dallas, Toyota, the Oak Cliff Veggie Project, Lone Star Human Services and Grow North Texas.

May 2020

DART receives notification that it has been allocated $229 million from The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, enacted on March 27. Funding from the CARES Act allows access to valuable financial resources in the battle to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 2020

DART began installing respiratory droplet shields throughout the bus fleet since mid-March to help protect operators and passengers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Designed by DART Engineering, with collaboration with Fleet Maintenance & Bus Operations teams, the CV-19 Plexiglass Shields are made of high-impact plexiglass and are being installed between the operator and passengers. The new shield leverages DART's initial investment of the Operator Barrier Door by expanding a shield forward towards the windshield and upward towards the ceiling. The shields are in addition to enhanced cleaning procedures for both buses and trains to protect passengers and bus operators. DART began installing the shields as a safety measure to protect operators who continue to provide essential transportation services to riders and businesses, serving as a lifeline for communities and residents across the DART service area. Shields are fully installed on the entire fleet of more than 600 buses by July 1.

July 2020

Researchers from the Economics Research Group at the University of North Texas (UNT), led by Michael Carroll, Ph.D., reviewed 81 development projects completed within a quarter mile of DART stations with a total property value of $5.138 billion between 2016 and 2018. UNT Researchers concluded the total economic impact of the projects created $10.27 billion for the DFW economy and 61,017 construction jobs.

August 2020

The Engineering Department at DART began installing face mask and hand sanitizer dispensers on all buses, light rail vehicles and streetcars. Dispensers were in place to assist customers on more than 600 buses, 160 light rail vehicles and four Dallas streetcars by early September. The mask and hand sanitizer dispensers were placed to complement DART's aggressive agency-wide cleaning and safety protocols in response to the coronavirus, including removing vehicles from service that have been exposed to biohazard situations from passengers.

October 2020

DART restored ninety percent of pre-pandemic service levels beginning October 19. The service modifications were approved by the DART Board of Directors after determining that the service is within the proposed FY 2021 budget and Twenty-Year Financial Plan allocations. The Board action came after DART implemented temporary service adjustments for the bus and light rail system on April 6 that better reflected current ridership demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The D2 Subway project reached another important milestone with the completion of the 30% level of preliminary design on October 30, 2020. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is prepared in cooperation with Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FTA plans to issue a combined FEIS and Record of Decision (ROD) to environmentally clear the project so it can advance into the next stage of development.

March 2019

GoLink, DART's on-demand shuttle, is now integrated into DART's GoPass app for customers in North Central Plano/Chase Oaks, Legacy West, Far North Plano, Inland Port and Kleberg/Rylie. This update to the flexible neighborhood service puts the best travel options and trip-planning tools at the customer's fingertips.

DART partners with Uber for a one-year pilot program to provide North Texas riders greater flexibility and more options for their transportation needs. Using GoPass, customers can book an UberPool shared ride in each of DART's GoLink zones in DART's service area, including Inland Port, Kleberg/Rylie of south Dallas County, and Far North Plano, Legacy West in Plano and North Central Plano/Chase Oaks.

May 2019

DART focuses 41 new "New Flyer" CNG-fueled buses on peak schedule adjustments by straightening out, simplifying and improving access on several routes in and around Dallas beginning August 12. To date, thirteen New Flyer XN-40 buses have been delivered from St. Cloud, Minnesota, with an additional three arriving weekly. New bus features are the USB ports located at 33 of the seats that will allow riders to charge their electronic devices while riding, larger interior InfoTransit monitors, vinyl upholstery on the seats and flush-mounted tinted windows.

June 2019

Beginning Monday, June 3, DART expands the UberPool shared rides option to customers in the Rowlett GoLink zone.

The DART Board selects Stadler US for the contract to assemble and build eight FLIRTs (Fast Light Intercity and Regional Train) and design an Equipment Maintenance Facility (EMF) for the Cotton Belt Regional Rail Project scheduled to go into service in 2022.

The DART Board of Directors approved a resolution on Tuesday, June 18, to name future service running on the Cotton Belt Commuter Rail as the Silver Line. The Silver Line project's primary purpose is to provide passenger rail connections and service improving mobility, accessibility and system linkages to major employment, population and activity centers in the northern part of the DART Service Area, and in time, along the 60-mile corridor connecting Plano to Ft. Worth.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) awards DART its 2019 Gold Award for Security for light rail and streetcar systems at the annual APTA Rail Conference in Toronto, Ontario.

On June 27, the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces a $60.76 million grant agreement with DART for construction of the Red and Blue Line Platform Extensions, which will allow DART to accommodate more riders and longer trains. The project will lengthen platforms at 28 stations along the existing Red and Blue light rail lines that currently can accommodate only two-car trains. When the project is complete, all stations on these lines will be able to accommodate three-car trains. The total project cost is $128.74 million.

July 2019

DART was named the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) 2019 Innovation Award winner. The Innovation Award is given to a public transit agency demonstrating innovative concepts in the provision of public transportation services. Entries this year had to show how their transit system demonstrated excellence within the three-year period of 2016-2018.

DART's winning entry was their GoPass app, the first public transit ticket-purchasing app in the nation that involved multiple agencies and different types of transportation by combining efforts between DART in Dallas County, The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (now Trinity Metro) in Tarrant County and the DCTA in Denton County.

September 2019

DART’s Mockingbird Station was renamed SMU/Mockingbird Station. The change comes after the DART Board approved a naming rights agreement with SMU making it easier for visitors to find the campus and cementing the rail station's role as a gateway to the University.

DART has expanded its partnership with Uber, providing North Texas riders even more options for their transportation needs. Customers can now book an UberPool shared ride in any of DART's 13 GoLink zones through the DART GoPass® app available for free from the App Store or Google Play. With the choice of a GoLink shuttle or an UberPool vehicle, DART is reaching more people and providing more flexibility than ever.

DART and local dignitaries broke ground during six ceremonies on Thursday, September 19, on the new 26-mile Silver Line regional rail service from Plano to DFW International Airport. Events took place across DART's historic Cotton Belt corridor in five cities with elected officials from Addison, Plano, Dallas, Carrollton and Richardson, ending at DFW International Airport where additional representatives from the cities of Coppell and Fort Worth celebrated the upcoming service.

December 2019

Officials from agencies across North Texas launched a new nonprofit organization intended to develop transportation opportunities in the growing Dallas County Inland Port. The Dallas County Inland Port Transportation Management Association (TMA) was the vision of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price and Dallas City Council Member Tennell Atkins, based on the potential of the region several years ago. The TMA was formed by employers, developers, transit agencies and local governments to help connect workers and companies to various transportation solutions. The announcement benefits a 120-square mile area that encompasses five cities, nearly 90,000 residents, and serves as a base of operations for hundreds of major employers.

February 2018

DART expanded GoLink to Kleberg, Rylie, and a portion of the Inland Port in Southern Dallas County. A demand-response service, GoLink builds upon DART's existing On Call services by providing "last mile" access to and from the rest of the DART rail and bus network.

April 2018

Doreen Chen, a student at Jasper High School in Plano, is the 2018 best of show winner in Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) annual student art contest. Chen's work, based on the theme "Oh the places DART goes" was selected from 1,157 entries from students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

May 2018

DART’s GoPass® app, one of the first transit payment apps when it was launched in 2013, added new features including the option to load value with cash at hundreds of area retailers as well as the ability to track buses and trains in real-time.

August 2018

DART introduced fare capping to make riding easier and cheaper. By using the GoPass® mobile app or GoPass® Tap card, riders will never spend more than the total cost of a day pass ($6.00) in a single day, or the total cost of a monthly pass ($96.00) in a calendar month.

November 2018

DART signed an agreement with Element Markets Renewable Energy to provide renewable natural gas (RNG) for DART's fleet of 650 CNG powered buses. By monetizing Renewable Identification Number credits, DART can potentially generate up to $11,000,000 in revenue over the life of the contract.

June 2017

DART is the over-all second place finisher at the 2017 APTA International Rail Rodeo. The DART team consisted of John Bailey, David Jit, Carlos Garza, Antaeus Chandler, and Christopher Kress.

September 2017

The DART Board approved the D2 Commerce/Victory/Swiss alignment as the approved Locally Preferred Alternative at their September 26 meeting. The Dallas City Council approved the LPA by DART Board on September 13. Also on September 26, the DART Board approved a budget and 20-year financial plan supporting the Cotton Belt and D2 projects. The board previously approved new debt resolutions providing funding mechanisms for the Cotton Belt and D2.

December 2017

Miller Lite and DART teamed up for the third year to provide a safe travel option to driving on New Year's Eve with free rides on all buses, light rail trains, paratransit vehicles and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) from Union Station to CentrePort/DFW Airport Station. The partnership between Miller Lite and DART means no passes, tickets, GoPass app, coupons or money were required to ride safely Sun., Dec. 31, from 6 p.m. until end of service. The program began locally in 2015. Miller Lite Free Rides has provided more than 70,000 people in North Texas with safe, alternative transportation on New Year's Eve. Last year, more than 30,000 people took advantage of a Miller Lite Free Ride.

April 2016

DART received a $1 million grant from Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) to support essential transportation assistance for residents in Northern Collin County needing help getting to medical facilities and physician's visits. The grant supports the continuation of a 90-day interim service that had been funded by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and several northern Collin County cities. The service was previously operated by Texoma Area Paratransit Service. The Toyota grant funds a taxi-type extension to the demand-response operation in Collin County provided by DART and the COG. The $1 million dollar grant funds the service for a minimum of twelve more months.

May 2016

DART took the top spot and was crowned the Grand Champion at the 41st Annual International Bus Roadeo. The Grand Champion Award recognizes the system with the highest combined bus operator and maintenance team score. The event was held in conjunction with the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) Bus and Paratransit Conference in Charlotte, NC.

June 2016

DART Rail celebrates its 20th anniversary. Notable about the DART Rail System:

• More than 360 million passenger trips
• 90 miles of rail (longest system in the country)
• $8 billion in economic impact
• $5 billion in private transit oriented development at or near rail stations

August 2016

DART's announces participation in the national "Safe Place" program. Safe Place is a national youth outreach and prevention program for young people needing immediate help and safety. The transit agency began the collaboration with Safe Place as part of its ongoing effort to address human trafficking. Runaways and other youth in danger are often targets for traffickers. DART began working to raise awareness of human trafficking in 2015 through a series of posters and public service announcements on buses, trains and stations. All DART buses and Light Rail trains have a Safe Place decal prominently displayed on the exterior and interior of the vehicle. Minors who see the decal will know DART can help get them to safety.

August 29, 2016

The Dallas Streetcar extended to Bishop Arts on Monday, August 29. Cars began running every 20 minutes, seven days a week and include passenger service to two new stops - 6th Street and Bishop Arts.

October 24, 2016

New opportunities and new destinations arrived on October 24 when DART Rail's Blue Line added three miles and opened new stations at Camp Wisdom and UNT Dallas. Connecting an area known as the Education Corridor to downtown by light rail also enables more people to discover the academic programs offered at the University of North Texas at Dallas, Paul Quinn College and Cedar Valley College. DART operates the nation's longest electric light rail system with 93 miles and 64 stations.

January 2015

DART spearheaded local awareness efforts about human trafficking in conjunction with January being National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. President/Executive Director Gary Thomas signed a U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking Pledge, which committed DART to addressing the important issue.

As part of DART's pledge and efforts, all DART employees including police, transportation and administration staff completed training programs relating to human trafficking awareness and prevention.

February 2015

DART announced a partnership with Zipcar, the world's leading car sharing network, to add two Zipcars along the transit line at Mockingbird Station in an effort to provide more convenient and simple transportation options in DART’s service area.

DART joined pioneering transportation organizations across the North America that have partnered with Zipcar to bridge the "last mile" of transit trips. The Mockingbird location helps residents, students, businesses and visitors to get around by combining DART and Zipcar trips to explore the greater Dallas area. Later in 2015 Zipcar and DART expanded its partnership further with Zipcars added at Inwood/Love Field Station.

February 2015

DART is awarded a $7.6 million grant to purchase seven all-electric Proterra buses and the infrastructure to charge and maintain them as part of the federal Low or No Emissions Vehicle Deployment Program.

The buses, which will be delivered in late 2016, will become part of D-Link serving Uptown, downtown Dallas and Oak Cliff. The charging station is expected to be installed at Convention Center Station.

April 13, 2015

Streetcar travel between Oak Cliff and Downtown Dallas returned after a nearly 50 year absence, connecting a historic community via a state-of-the-art electric vehicle and a free ride. The Dallas Streetcar opened its 1.6-mile route from downtown's Union Station to Oak Cliff's Methodist Dallas Medical Center. The opening and beginning of service marks the first phase of Dallas' modern streetcar system. DART operates and oversees the City of Dallas project that was the recipient of federal TIGER grant.

April 14, 2015

Uber and DART helped travelers connect with the Uber application through DART's GoPass mobile ticketing application. The collaboration makes it easier for travelers who begin or end their trips in places not easily served by DART to use a train or bus for the longest portion of the trip with an Uber available for the "first mile/last mile" part of the equation.

June 2015

A .65-mile track-extension of the M-Line Trolley opened creating a reverse loop and expanding the service further into downtown Dallas.

The opening was celebrated with a formal dedication with officials from the Dallas City Council, McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, DART, Downtown Dallas Inc., Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Uptown Dallas Inc., the Dallas Arts District, the Federal Transit Administration and Klyde Warren Park were on hand.

September 2015

The Dallas City Council and DART Board of Directors approved a proposed preferred alignment for the second downtown Dallas light rail alignment to be submitted to the Federal Transportation Administration. DART seeks up to $400 million in funding for the project through a federal capital investment grant for core capacity.

The proposed alignment travels south from Victory Station along Lamar Street partially underground before turning east to travel along Young and/or Jackson streets at street level before connecting back with the current alignment in Deep Ellum. The proposed alignment represents 2 percent of the final design and is subject to additional alignment design consideration and environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

October 5, 2015

Vix Technology is been selected by DART to implement a new, state-of-the-art comprehensive fare payment system. The system will be delivered through Vix's eO™ (easy and open) product: an account-based, open architecture and PCI compliant fare collection platform. This new system will allow DART customers the flexibility to pay via NFC-enabled smartphones, third party or agency-issued transit cards, or use EMV contactless cards.

October 8, 2015

Brookville Equipment Corporation earned the award for Technical Innovation of the Year for its Liberty Modern Streetcar, featuring an onboard energy storage system (OESS), at the ninth annual Global Light Rail Awards in London.

Developed in partnership with DART, the Liberty Modern Streetcar's OESS utilizes a redundant lithium ion battery system to power the Dallas Streetcar over the one-mile Houston Street Viaduct, spanning the Trinity River, along a 1.6-mile rail corridor, making the Dallas Streetcar the first and only off-wire capable system to operate in the United States.

October 26, 2015

A new collaboration between DART and the ridesharing app Lyft means North Texas travelers have a great new way to begin, continue, or end their trip. The Lyft app can be accessed through DART's GoPass mobile ticketing application in the "Travel Tools" section.

November 2015

DART commemorated the 60th anniversary of Rosa Parks' decision to keep her seat on a Montgomery, Ala. city bus marking a new phase of the civil rights movement with the installation of two plaques at DART's Rosa Parks Plaza in Downtown Dallas.

The front seat of more than 500 DART buses were reserved on Dec. 1, 2015 to honor the 60th anniversary. Rosa Parks Plaza, opened in 2009, is the only civil rights monument in Downtown Dallas.

December 2015

For the first time, the Original Light Beer is partnered with DART and Andrews Distributing to help ring in the New Year safely with Miller Lite Free Rides available on all DART buses and trains on New Year’s Eve. Since its inception 28 years ago, the Miller Lite Free Rides program has provided safe rides to more than 5 million people in 21 cities across the country.

January 2014

Capital investment in the DART Light Rail System has generated billions in regional economic activity and transit-oriented development. Two studies released in January, both conducted by the Center for Economic Development and Research at the University of North Texas, examine the build-out's economic impact.

DART's capital spending between 2003 and 2013 was almost $5.63 billion, or $4.7 billion in inflation-adjusted 2013 dollars. In the 11-year period studied, the agency grew the light rail network from 44 miles and 34 stations to 85 miles and 61 stations, and made DART Rail the longest light rail system in the country. The expansion to date has generated $7.4 billion in regional economic activity, creating more than 54,000 person-years of employment that paid in excess of $3.3 billion in salaries, wages and benefits.

More than $5.3 billion in private-capital transit-oriented development projects have been built, are under construction, or are planned near DART's light rail stations since the debut of DART Rail in 1996.

April 2014

Dallas Area Rapid Transit's two-year paid parking demonstration known as Fair Share Parking and implemented at Northwest Plano Park & Ride, Parker Road, North Carrollton/Frankford and Belt Line stations ended Wednesday, April 2, making it free to park at DART facilities.

August 2014

Officials from DART and DFW Airport along with elected officials, business and community leaders rode an inaugural train ride and had lunch in celebration of the new DFW Airport Station on Friday, Aug. 15. Numerous "DART to DFW" events celebrated completion of the Orange Line to DFW International Airport. The project added another five miles of rail to what was already the longest light rail system in North America, now a total of 90 miles and 62 stations.

On Monday, August 18, DART and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport officially opened the last segment of the Orange Line at the new DFW Airport Station to the public. It connected DART to the country's fourth-busiest airport, providing more transportation options for travelers from across North Texas and around the world.

The 5-mile segment linked newly renovated Terminal A and Belt Line Station, with continuing service to major regional destinations including Irving-Las Colinas, Dallas Market Center and downtown Dallas. With this opening, DFW Airport becomes the third-largest American airport with a direct rail connection to the city center. The opening meant the world's third-busiest airport had direct-rail access for its more than 61 million passengers.

September 2014

Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the University of North Texas at Dallas and the City of Dallas held a groundbreaking on Monday, Oct. 6, for DART's 3-mile Blue Line extension. The project, referred to as South Oak Cliff III (SOC-3), went from Ledbetter Station to a new UNT Dallas Station. The groundbreaking took place on the UNT-Dallas campus.

The Blue Line extension includes a new station at Camp Wisdom with 475 parking spaces, a new station at UNT Dallas with 123 parking spaces and modifications to existing Ledbetter Station, including the lengthening and raising of the platform to meet level-boarding initiatives.

November 2014

In recognition of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, DART partnered with local groups to protect the homeless with an event on the Union Station platform, Friday, Nov. 21. DART was one of 11 transit agencies selected to receive a grant to develop a local version of the "See Tracks? Think Train!" campaign. The grant supported a coordinated outreach effort to engage persons who are homeless and who use DART and TRE right of way as campgrounds and walkways about the risks of those choices.

January 2013

DART's new fleet of smoother-riding, cleaner-running 40-foot buses began service on January 28 and will replace the agency's mix of diesel and liquefied natural gas buses by 2015. The 459 buses are running exclusively on compressed natural gas, will cut the agency's annual fuel costs by nearly two-thirds by the end of 2015 and significantly limit harmful emissions. The new buses are 40-foot models with a new low floor design for easier entry, larger windows for increased visibility, a wider aisle that allows greater flexibility with wheelchairs and mobility devices, interior cameras for safety, and has LED interior monitors located in the front and rear for displaying visual images, including next stop, rider alerts, passenger information and stop requests. DART plans to put approximately five new buses into service every week to replace the existing fleet.

April 2013

DART, The T and DCTA introduce the new Family Fun Pass on April 20. This pass can transport a family (two adults, four children) from Fort Worth to Dallas to Denton for just $10 on Saturdays through August 17, 2013. The special promotion connects families to all the great Saturday destinations served by the Trinity Railway Express, DART, DCTA and The T. Customers who have 7 day, monthly or annual Regional Passes can take advantage of the Saturday savings as well, making those passes an even better value.

July 2013

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recognized DART with a Bronze level recognition for outstanding sustainability achievements. DART was recognized along with eight other public transportation systems and businesses. Started in 2009, 105 public transit agencies and businesses have participated in the APTA Sustainability Commitment program by implementing processes and actions that will lead to continuous improvement on environmental, social, and economic sustainability. There are different levels of recognition -- Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum -- that are determined by specific measured achievements.

September 2013

North Texas transit customers were able to put away paper passes and pick up their smartphones to buy, store and activate passes for DART, The T and DCTA. The GoPass℠ mobile ticketing application was introduced as a free app available in Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store. The Danish firm Unwire won the contract based on its experience overseas with mobile ticketing in large urban markets with multiple agency participants. The North Texas agencies are among the first in the country to offer mobile ticketing and are Unwire's first U.S. client. The agencies had hoped to achieve 35,000 downloads in 2013 - a goal surpassed in the first month. By the end of December, more than 70,000 people had downloaded the app, far exceeding projections.

November 2013

The D-Link, or Route 722, makes its debut with special stops connecting major tourist attractions and employment centers in Downtown Dallas and Oak Cliff. The free shuttle is identified by distinctively colored D-Link wrapped buses and operates Monday through Saturday. Stops along the circulator route in downtown include such destinations as Victory Park, Klyde Warren Park, the Sixth Floor Museum, the Arts District, Main Street hotels and restaurants, the Omni and the Convention Center. Oak Cliff points of interest include the Bishop Arts District and the Kessler and Texas theatres. Evening service is extended to serve South Side on Lamar and Cedars Station.

November 2013

Route 703, the two-year old free shuttle connecting the vast Parkland Hospital area with Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Station officially became the first DART route to provide 24-hour service, seven days a week, when buses began running between midnight and 4 a.m. The route provides service every three to seven minutes during peak and off-peak hours and makes two stops at bus shelters along Parkland Boulevard near Parkland's employee parking lot and at 2121 Butler for Prescription Center employees.

April 2, 2012

DART customers who don't live in one of the agency's 13 cities and choose to park at either Parker Road or North Carrollton/Frankford stations began paying for parking on Monday, April 2. As DART's rail system continues to expand parking space has at times been limited at specific locations. Establishing paid-parking helps the agency meet the demand that riders outside DART's service area have placed on the rail system while rewarding other residents for their city's commitment to DART. Customers living in DART cities of Addison, Carrollton, Cockrell Hill, Dallas, Farmers Branch, Garland, Glenn Heights, Highland Park, Irving, Plano, Richardson, Rowlett and University Park will continue to park for free in unreserved spots, but must first apply for a parking permit sticker with DART's contractor, Platinum Parking, to avoid any parking fees.

June 4, 2012

DART marks 250,000,000 light rail passenger trips. Don Johnson is the 250 millionth customer on the light rail system. The daily DART Rail rider was greeted by DART President/Executive Director Gary Thomas and Michael Melaniphy, president and chief executive officer of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), who was in Dallas for the annual APTA Rail Conference.

July 30, 2012

DART's long-anticipated Orange Line to Irving opened July 30. The opening of the first phase of the Orange Line, a 5.4-mile section from Bachman Station to Irving Convention Center Station, provides easy access to arts, education, entertainment and businesses while adding three new stations to the DART rail system: University of Dallas, Las Colinas Urban Center and Irving Convention Center.

July 30, 2012

A trio of original DART Rail and Trinity Railway Express stations were renamed on July 30 to better reflect identities created by their evolving neighborhoods or surrounding developments. Pearl Station officially became Pearl/Arts District Station; Cityplace Station changed to Cityplace/Uptown Station; and South Irving Station became the Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing Station.

December 3, 2012

DART opened two more rail segments on Dec. 3, extending the Blue Line to Rowlett and the Orange Line farther into Irving and closer to DFW International Airport. DART has built more than 40 miles of track in the last three years, greatly enhancing transit accessibility throughout the Dallas area. At 85 miles, DART Rail is the largest electric light rail system in the nation.

Downtown Rowlett Station marks the first expansion of the Blue Line since it reached Garland in November 2002. The 4.5-mile, $360 million segment completes the build-out of the northeast corridor and increases access to and from the largely residential community.

The $1.3 billion Orange Line - the first section of which opened in July with three stations - grew nearly four miles with new stops at North Lake College and Belt Line Road, on DFW Airport property. This segment advances the Orange Line toward its eventual terminus at DFW Airport, where it will connect riders from throughout the Dallas area to one of the nation's busiest airports. DFW Station is scheduled to open in December 2014, making DART one of the few transit agencies in the U.S. with direct rail service into a major airport.

March 2011

The Monroe Shops building, located at Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) Blue Line Illinois Station, entered its next century of use in a way that could not have even been imagined when it opened as a train maintenance facility around 1914. On March 21 it became the new home of the DART Police Department.

March 2011

The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) recognizes DART with its "2011 Transportation Owner of the Year Award." DART is honored for making significant contributions in advancing awareness, understanding and use of the design-build project delivery method in the transportation sector with 47 percent of its projects, by contract value, performed under the practice over the previous three years.

May 2011

Representatives from DART and the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority sign an interlocal cooperation agreement recognizing the importance of coordinated transportation planning and advocacy as the two agencies work to expand rail in the area. Multi-jurisdictional cooperation is often cited by federal officials as a key to securing project funds. The agreement encourages the two agencies to identify "potential issues of mutual interest in the development of plans" for future rail service between the North Central, North East and East regions of Texas.

July 2011

The Dallas-to-Oak Cliff Streetcar project receives environmental clearance with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on July 21. The decision means local, state and federal agencies concluded the project will not adversely affect the environment. The 1.6-mile streetcar project is a collaborative endeavor involving the North Central Texas Council of Governments, City of Dallas, and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) as well as the FTA. The FTA awarded the agencies $23 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding for the transit project that will provide streetcar service from near Union Station in downtown Dallas to the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and Beckley Avenue in Oak Cliff. The $35 million project also includes $12 million in Regional Toll Revenue funds.

October 2011

For the first time the Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is from Dallas Area Rapid Transit. DART President/Executive Director Gary Thomas was elected Chair September 21 by association members. His term is one year. Thomas has served the association in a variety of capacities, most recently as Vice Chair. APTA is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 public and private member organizations, involved in transit. According to the association more than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA member systems.

November 2011

The transformation of the near-century old Monroe Shops streetcar maintenance barn, now the home of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police, was honored by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) as the first publicly owned building listed on the National Register of Historic Places to achieve the LEED® Platinum Certification, the organization's highest recognition. DART earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification by working closely during the renovation with the Texas Historical Commission, the Federal Transit Administration, and City of Dallas officials and staff to ensure that the renovations were performed in an environmentally sensitive way and at the same time consistent with the US Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Preservation. Commonly known as Monroe Shops, the former train maintenance facility was built in 1914 for the Texas Electric Railroad and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. It was remodeled, rebuilt and transformed into the police headquarters in March 2011.

December 2011

DART makes the final push to DFW Airport with the award of a design-build contract to construct a 5.2-mile extension of the Orange Line from the future Belt Line Station to the airport's Terminal A. A joint venture of Kiewit, Stacy and Witbeck, Reyes, Parsons (KSWRP) was selected by the DART Board of Directors to complete the $149,750,000 project known as Irving-3 (I-3). Construction should begin in early 2012 and the I-3 section is scheduled to open in December 2014. DFW Airport is building the Terminal A station. The first two sections of the Orange Line -- Bachman Station to Las Colinas Convention Center and then on to Belt Line Station at SH 161 and Belt Line on DFW Airport property -- will open July 30, 2012 and December 3, 2012, respectively. Those two sections are also being built by the KSWRP joint venture.

April 2010

The Texas Transit Association (TTA) named DART the 2010 Outstanding Metropolitan Transit System. The TTA award is given to a metropolitan public transportation system that has designed and implemented programs that demonstrate innovative concepts or effective problem-solving techniques. The agency was recognized for the successful launch of the first phase of the Green Line in September 2009. DART previously won the award in 2006.

November 6, 2010

DART debuts level boarding at all light rail stations. The transition followed two-and-a-half years of construction and station closures. Special use platforms or "high blocks," which have served persons with disabilities and mobility challenges since the rail system opened in 1996, are removed from service, as these passengers begin utilizing the low-floor center doors in each train's center section.

December 6, 2010

Just over four years after the first front loader of dirt was turned, the 28-mile, 20-station, $1.8 billion Green Line was completed on schedule and under budget on December 6, when it opened 24 miles and 15 stations creating new light rail connections for DART customers from southeast Dallas to the cities of Farmers Branch and Carrollton in the northwest. It was the longest single-day opening of electric light rail in the United States since 1990. The first section of the Green Line opened September 2009 and connects Pearl Station on the east side of Downtown Dallas to MLK, Jr. Station on the west side of Fair Park.

Lake Highlands Station, DART's first infill station, also opened December 6. The station is located on the Blue Line in northeast Dallas between White Rock and LBJ/Skillman stations. This station was originally approved by the DART Board as part of the rail extension to Garland, but was deferred until warranted by new development and corresponding higher ridership. Lake Highlands Station is being incorporated into the overall site design of the adjacent Lake Highlands Town Center development.

February 2009

DART completes the installation of brand-new, heavy-duty bike racks on the front of its buses. The addition of 655 racks will allow customers to go places they may not have tried reaching before due to time constraints and distance. This makes it easier for customers to combine bike use with bus and rail service for trips to work, school or pleasure. The new racks have a locking mechanism to prevent bikes from coming loose. And, for additional safety, buses have had special mirrors installed that allow bus operators to see both the bike racks and the customers loading them. Up to two bikes can be easily stored in each new rack, which cyclists can load and unload themselves.

March 2009

DART was named "Best Metro Americas" -- the top transit agency in North, South and Central America during the MetroRail 2009 Conference in London. Other finalists for the distinction were the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and the Chicago Transit Authority.

Judging was conducted by a distinguished panel of transport industry officials and business news correspondents representing the BBC News, Financial Times and Metro Report. Organized by the international business media firm Terrapinn, "The Metros" recognize individuals, teams and transit systems demonstrating success through innovation, creativity and pioneering in the global metro rail industry. Integration with other transit modes, customer service, value for money, safety and high performance standards were a few of the categories in which DART was judged. Event organizers said the awards were created, "to identify and reward those companies who have demonstrated an unparalleled ability to succeed and continually set standards of excellence."

April 2009

The cities of Rowlett and Irving conduct "rail stacking" events to mark the start of construction of the Blue Line extension and Orange Line. The Blue Line extension will connect the downtowns of Garland and Rowlett when complete in 2012. The Orange Line will connect with the Green Line at Bachman Station and open in stages in 2011, 2012 and 2013, ultimately reaching DFW Airport.

July 2009

DART's High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) network grows to 84 miles with the expansion of the I-30 West (Tom Landry Highway) lanes. The I-30 West lane runs from Sylvan Avenue west of Downtown Dallas to the Dallas/Tarrant County line.

July 2009

The Rosa Parks Plaza opens in Downtown Dallas at the corner of Elm and Lamar creating a new type of bus passenger facility. The plaza, named after the iconic civil rights hero, offers a park-like setting featuring a 13-foot-high wall of water cascading over the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a drinking fountain and green spaces flanked by two bus bays and spacious passenger shelters. The focal point is a life-size bronze statue of Parks sitting on a bus bench that will welcome customers.

September 14, 2009

The first three miles and four new stations of the Green Line opened with service from MLK, Jr. Station in South Dallas to Victory Station near the American Airlines Center. The balance of the 28-mile Green Line, which will operate from Pleasant Grove to Farmers Branch and Carrollton is scheduled to open in December 2010. With the Green Line, Orange Line and expansion of the Blue Line, DART will double its light rail network to 90 miles and 63 stations by December 2013.

January 23, 2008

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) opens its newest transportation management center - DalTrans. DART is a partner in the $10 million facility located at 4625 East US Highway 80 in Mesquite. The new 54,000 square foot facility expands DalTrans' capabilities and becomes the central traffic operations center for all highway management and intelligent transportation system integration including approximately 200 TxDOT cameras along more than 100 miles of roadway. DART's HOV network is monitored at this location.

January 28, 2008

A 12-mile extension of the I-635 (LBJ Freeway) HOV lane -- from U.S. 75 (Central Expressway) to I-30 -- opens, roughly doubling the length of HOV lanes in one of the nation's busiest freeway corridors. The new LBJ lanes, which operate in both directions 24 hours a day, are the latest phase in the regional expansion of DART's HOV network, which will add about 50 miles to the existing 40-mile network.

January 30, 2008

Carrollton business owner Randall Chrisman becomes chairman of the DART Board of Directors. Chrisman, who has represented Carrollton and Irving since 2002, was elected vice chairman in 2007. He became chairman following the resignation of Lynn Flint Shaw of Dallas. Chrisman named Dallas member Robert W. Strauss vice chair, Irving member John Danish secretary and Dallas member Pamela Dunlop Gates assistant secretary. The officers will serve through the DART Fiscal Year, which ends in September.

May 2008

DART had its busiest month ever providing nearly 10.3 million trips in the month of May. Combined fixed route service (bus, DART Rail, Trinity Railway Express) was up more than 2.1% over May 2007. When adding ridership from the 75-mile High Occupancy Vehicle network, total system ridership was up 17.3% over May 2007. The increase was sparked by record gasoline prices (approaching $4 per gallon) and the expansion of the HOV network that concluded in January 2008.

June 2008

DART began updating its fleet of 115 light rail vehicles (LRV) by inserting a new, low-floor insert between the existing sections of the vehicle adding seating capacity and improving access through level boarding. The newly modified vehicles began service on June 23, 2008 with car #151. Known as Super Light Rail Vehicles (SLRV) because of the greater length and added passenger capacity, the SLRV will seat approximately 100 passengers compared with 75 on the current vehicles. Standing passengers on the vehicle can nearly double the capacity. The SLRVs - designed in partnership with rail vehicle manufacturer Kinkisharyo of Osaka, Japan - feature level boarding which will allow passengers with disabilities - plus people with strollers, bicycles and the like - to step or roll directly onto the trains without using mechanical lifts. This, in turn, enables faster and safer boarding and deboarding. The $190 million light rail vehicle conversion is scheduled for completion before the end of 2010.

June 2008

With 10.3 million total trips on those modes, June 2008 was the transit agency's biggest month ever, topping last month's record of 10.28 million trips. Both DART Rail (69,861 trips) and the Trinity Railway Express (11,105 trips) posted their highest-ever average weekday ridership totals. DART Rail was up 14.2% over June 2007 and the TRE was up 19.8% over the same period. Commuters continue sharing the ride in the HOV lanes. There were more than 4.5 million trips made in the expanded HOV-lane system. That number, when combined with ridership on other DART services, yielded a 20.1% increase in ridership over June 2007.

March 2007

For the second consecutive year, the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber (GDHCC) honors DART with the Unidos Award for its contribution to the growth of Hispanic businesses in North Texas.

May 2007

DART launches a comprehensive two-year Downtown Transit Study, which could result in a second Central Business District (CBD) rail line, as well as bus and streetcar improvements. The agency will focus on a broad transit corridor extending from Victory Park to Deep Ellum and target areas currently not directly served by DART Rail.

May 2007

The University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research release a study estimating billions in economic activity from the North Texas region's investment of $4.86 billion to build DART's current 45-mile light rail system and the planned 48-mile expansion.

July 31, 2007

DART kicks off the 50-mile HOV lane system expansion to its 31-mile HOV lane network when it opens the first six miles of a new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane that eventually will stretch between Dallas and Fort Worth on Tom Landry Freeway (I-30). The first section open is between the Dallas/Tarrant County Line and Loop 12. The lanes are available to vehicles with two or more occupants, buses, motorcycles and other eligible vehicles, Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Other lanes set to open throughout Fall 2007 are on Central Expressway (U.S. 75), LBJ Freeway (I-635), and East R. L. Thornton (I-30).

August 30, 2007

Farmers Branch officials break ground for the future Farmers Branch Station, scheduled to open in December 2010 as part of the Green Line. Located at the site of the present Farmers Branch Transit Center, city officials plan to create a town center environment around the station with transit-oriented development featuring a mix of retail, professional services, restaurants and residential projects.

September 8, 2007

The City of Carrollton hosts a groundbreaking near the site of the future Downtown Carrollton Station, one of three Carrollton stations scheduled to open on the Green Line in December 2010. The other stations are Trinity Mills Station and North Carrollton/Frankford Station. The North Carrollton Station will mark the northern terminus of the Green Line and is planned to serve as a connection with rail service operated by the Denton County Transit Authority.

December 4, 2007

Citing escalating costs of construction materials and services worldwide, DART officials announce plans to trim up to $900 million in projected costs for future light rail extensions to North Irving, DFW International Airport and Rowlett. The $900-million figure is a "preliminary" target identified during a project update at the 10% design stage -- an early point in the cost estimation of DART's rail projects. Additional project updates are performed as planners and engineers complete 30%, 65% and 90% levels of design in preparation for actual construction. The 20-Year Financial Plan included $988 million for the Irving/Rowlett rail extensions, and the $900 million escalation would bring the actual cost closer to $1.9 billion. The Irving/Rowlett review would not affect construction of DART's $1.7 billion, 28-mile Green Line, which begins opening with service to Fair Park in September 2009. The Green Line will stretch from Pleasant Grove in Southeast Dallas, through Deep Ellum and downtown Dallas, to the Medical/Market District, Love Field Airport, Farmers Branch and Carrollton.

December 17, 2007

DART adds six miles of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-30 (East R.L. Thornton Freeway) extending the lanes from Jim Miller Road in East Dallas, past LBJ Freeway, to Northwest Drive in Mesquite. The current I-30 (East R. L. Thornton) lane runs five miles from downtown Dallas to Jim Miller Road. This reversible lane - which supports westbound commuters during morning rush hours and eastbound commuters during afternoon rush hours - opened in 1991 and features Barrier Transfer Vehicles (BTVs) or "zipper machines" to open the lanes to traffic.

December 21, 2007

A new 14-mile HOV lane on US 75 extending north from the "High Five" interchange to Exchange Parkway in Allen is scheduled to opens. The US 75 HOV lane extends 14 miles northward from the High Five interchange and features a direct "connector" between the HOV lane on LBJ Freeway and the new Central Expessway HOV lanes, enabling motorists to transfer easily from one to the other.

June 14, 2006

DART marks the 10th anniversary of the start of light rail service. Customer events are held throughout the month to celebrate. The rail line began with an 11-mile network linking downtown Dallas with the West and South Oak Cliff sections of the city. Today it is a 45-mile network extending from Plano in the north, Garland in the northeast, through downtown Dallas and on to the West and South Oak Cliff sections of the city.

July 3, 2006

The Federal Transit Administration approves a $700-million Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) to kick-start a $2.5-billion expansion that will lead to the doubling of the DART Rail System to 90 miles by 2013. The grant is the largest ever awarded to DART. The FFGA - in which the federal government makes a commitment to fund a transportation project over a number of years - will support a 21-mile northwest/southeast "connector" linking Farmers Branch and the Pleasant Grove section of Dallas. When complete in 2010, the Green Line will serve several regional destinations including Deep Ellum, Baylor University Medical Center, Fair Park, Victory Park, the Dallas Market Center, the Southwestern Medical District, Love Field Airport and downtown Farmers Branch.

October 24, 2006

The DART Board of Directors unanimously approves the blueprint for the next generation of bus, rail and high occupancy vehicle services in North Texas with the passage of the 2030 Transit System Plan. The plan covers projects to be undertaken by the transit agency through 2030 in the 13-city DART Service Area. The 2030 DART Transit System Plan approved by the board identifies, schedules and budgets system improvement projects that will more precisely respond to changing regional land use and development patterns. The projects will be funded primarily by revenues from the one-cent sales tax levied in DART's 13 member cities. The plan also extends DART's reach with rail service to the outlying areas of the DART Service Area, paving the way for potential new member cities.

December 30, 2006

DART marks the 10th anniversary of the Trinity Railway Express. The southwest's first commuter rail line — a 10-mile route linked Union Station in Downtown Dallas to Irving when it debuted — now connects Dallas and Fort Worth on a 35-mile-long route running parallel to the Trinity River. The TRE is a joint service of DART and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T).

February 21, 2005

DART opens the J. B. Jackson, Jr. Transit Center near Fair Park. The transit center, which is scheduled to become part of the DART Rail System as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Station, is rich with art and architecture expressing the history of the South Dallas neighborhood and the African heritage claimed by most of its residents. Special care was also taken to create a focal point for the community and a fitting tribute to Jackson, a political activist and a board member in DART's early years

January 2004

DART marks 20 years of service to north Texas with a month-long customer celebration. Customers receive special discounts at participating merchants and compete for prizes. Customer appreciation events are held at DART facilities throughout the service area.

May 2004

The Malcolm X Bus Shelter opens. The shelter is the first facility of its kind in the DART system, and it will serve as a model for bus shelters to come. The off-street enhanced shelter features air ventilation, infrared heaters, landscaping, telephones and passenger information. The facility is part of the Malcolm X Bus Corridor development - the first of several planned DART Bus Corridors, which will incorporate successful elements of DART Rail, such as increased speeds and frequencies, as well as attractive and convenient waiting environments.

June 2004

DART continues to modernize its fleet and to increase its environmental friendliness. Having retrofitted 360 of its older buses to run on ultra-low-sulfur-diesel, the agency rolls out 80 more brand-new buses made by North American Bus Industries. The buses, which also use ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel, are more than three times cleaner than the buses they replace. DART has replaced 710 buses since 1996.

November 2004

DART opens Victory Station at American Airlines Center, the first station of the Northwest Corridor rail expansion.