Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons
October 16, 2002 Tuesday, November 12
DART Board sets public hearing on fare increase DART's Board of Directors has scheduled a November 12 public hearing to receive comments on a proposed fare increase for rail and bus service.
The public hearing is part of an extensive community outreach process that will include more than two dozen community informational briefings beginning later this month. The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed increase on November 26. If approved, the fare increase would take effect in March.
For its first proposed fare increase since 1995, DART is considering increasing its local fare from $1 to $1.25, and its local day pass from $2 to $2.50. DART also is considering raising the price of its discount employer EPass by 15% to 25%. DART funds about 10% of its operating budget from transit fares and approximately 80% with proceeds from a one-percent transit sales tax collected in its 13 member cities. The need for a moderate fare increase is attributed to declining sales tax returns following the economic recession and the rising cost of operating DART's fast-growing transit system, including new light rail service to North Dallas, Richardson, Plano and Garland. Major fare changes under consideration include:
Fare Type |
Current
Fare |
Proposed
Fare |
| Local Fare |
$1 |
$1.25 |
Premium Fare (Express bus service, one way TRE service
to Fort Worth) |
$2 |
$2.25 |
| Local Day Pass |
$2 |
$2.50 |
Premium Day Pass (Round trip express bus service,
round trip TRE service to Fort Worth) |
$4 |
$4.50 |
| Monthly Local Pass |
$30 |
$40 |
| Monthly Premium Pass |
$60 |
$70 |
| Reduced Monthly Pass |
$10 |
$15 |
| Paratransit Fare |
$2 |
$2.50 |
The reduced fare for seniors, non-paratransit disabled customers, high school students with valid ID and children (elementary through junior high) would remain 50 cents.
Other changes under consideration include increasing the downtown Dallas fare from 50 cents to $1, increasing the cost of the 10-ride paratransit coupon book from $20 to $25 and increasing the cost of a daily convention pass from $2 to $2.50.
DART also plans to introduce a high school semester program that will provide students with discounted fares and a 7-day pass that allows customers to purchase a week's worth of service at a time.
Information on the briefings will be published on the agency's website, DART.org, and distributed on DART buses, trains and stations. Customers may also call 214-749-2543.
DART Fare Modification Meetings
Senior Citizen Outreach
Meeting Times and Locations:
Wed., October 16, 2002, 11:00 a.m.
Park South YMCA Seniors
2500 Romine, Dallas 75215 |
Wed., October 23, 2002, 10:00 a.m.
The Brady Senior Center
4009 Elm Street, Dallas 75226 |
Wed., October 23, 2002, 11:00 a.m.
Martin-Weiss Senior Center
1111 Martindale, Dallas 75211 |
Wed., October 23, 2002, 11:15 a.m.
Plano Senior Center
401 West 16th Street, Plano 75086 |
Tue., October 29, 2002, 11:00 a.m.
Janie Turner Senior Center
6424 Elam Road, Dallas 75217 |
Wed., October 30, 2002, 11:00 a.m.
Marillac Social Center
2843 Lapsley, Dallas 75212 |
Wed., November 6, 2002, Noon
Downtown Garland Senior Center
600 West Ave. A, Garland 75040 |
Thur., November 7, 2002, 10:00 a.m.
Carver Senior Center
222 Carver, Garland 75042 |
Thur., November 7, 2002, 11:30 a.m.
Lively Senior Center
915 N. O'Connor, Irving 75061 |
Fri., November 8, 2002, 11:00 a.m.
MLK Senior Center
2910 Pennsylvania, Dallas 75210 |
Wed., November 20, 2002, 11:00 a.m.
Concord Senior Center
6808 Boulder, Dallas 75237 |
Wed., November 20, 2002, 12:45 p.m.
Farmers Branch Senior Center
14055 Dennis Lane, Farmers Branch 75234 |
Mon., January 6, 2003, 10:30 a.m.
The Deaf Action Senior Center
3115 Crestview, Dallas 75235 |
Tue., January 7, 2003, 11:00 a.m.
Pleasant Grove Senior Center
7224 Umphress, Dallas 75217 |
Thur., January 16, 2003, 10:00 a.m.
Carrollton Senior Center
2625 Old Denton, Carrollton 75007 |
Thur., January 16, 2003, 11:30 a.m.
Casa Trevino Apartments
1901 W. Davis, Dallas 75208 |
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