DALLAS, October 1, 2025 -Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has welcomed the first two buses of its new 476-bus fleet, marking a major milestone in DART Transform—a comprehensive modernization program designed to improve the customer experience across the entire transit network. 

The new buses represent one of the first visible elements of DART Transform, which focuses on upgrading vehicles, stations, passenger facilities, operating facilities, and creating a unified signaling system so DART can grow transit opportunities with the needs of its riders. Together, these improvements advance DART’s Point B Strategic Plan, which is focused on delivering fast, convenient and easy public transit, fantastic spaces utilized by the community and placing DART as a key mobility and economic asset to North Texas. 

“We’ve made a strategic commitment to improving our entire transit network with DART Transform and the new buses will be the first major component that every rider will get to experience,” said Nadine S. Lee, DART President and CEO. “We can’t wait to see the positive impact these new vehicles will have on our customers as they travel to their next destination with DART.”  

Buses to pick up passengers later this fall 

The arrival of the first two buses will allow DART’s maintenance and operations team to inspect and test the vehicles before full production begins in October. Like its current fleet, the new buses will operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). These buses are being manufactured by California-based Gillig, one of only two bus manufacturers in the United States that build CNG buses and meet the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Buy America requirements.  

DART was awarded a $103 million competitive grant from the FTA’s Low or No Emission Grant Program, which provides funding for the purchase of low-emission and no-emission transit buses. The grant helps cover almost one third of the total cost of the buses, with DART saving an additional $15 million more by purchasing the 476 buses in one large order. 

The agency is ordering 76 30-foot buses and 400 40-foot buses to align with ridership capacity needs. Once the full production is established, DART anticipates receiving 20-30 buses per month with operators running the first routes later this fall, in mid- to late-November.    

Customers can expect amenities like vinyl seating, new on-board passenger information displays in English and Spanish, tinted windows, and upgraded bike racks on the new Gillig buses. 

Aging fleet nearing the end of its useful life   

DART replaces its vehicles when they reach the end of their useful life. FTA defines useful life of a heavy-duty transit bus as 12 to 14 years or 500,000 miles, whichever comes first. DART’s 476 new buses will begin to replace the current aging fleet as each bus begins to reach the 500,000-mile or useful lifespan mark.  

As the bus fleet has aged, reliability has decreased and maintenance has increased, including the most expensive repair categories like engine, HVAC, and transmission. The new buses will help lower the surge in maintenance and repair costs as well as make up for the shortage of parts for some of the oldest vehicles in the fleet. 

For more information about DART transit services or to view rail maps and bus schedules, visit www.DART.org.