Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons, DART
Mark A. Ball, DART
Dee Leggett, DCTA
Joan Hunter, The T

May 28, 2013

Transit agencies urge commuters to "Dump the Pump" in June at locations regionwide

North Texas commuters can swap a gasoline receipt for a week of free transit thanks to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), The T in Fort Worth, and the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA).

The agencies are working together to encourage commuters to try transit the week of June 16-22 and on the 2013 National Dump the Pump Day, Thursday, June 20. This effort is the local version of the eighth annual "dump the pump" campaign of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which emphasizes the economic and environmental benefits of transit.

The three transit agencies will be meeting non-transit users at a variety of locations starting June 3. Commuters will be offered a free weekly regional transit pass in exchange for a gasoline receipt. The passes are good for any DART, The T or DCTA fixed route bus and rail service. The idea is not only to entice customers to try transit, but to help them calculate the cost of commuting in a single-occupant vehicle. For example, a daily Regional Pass is $10, which provides access to all DART, The T and DCTA bus and train services, including the Trinity Railway Express.

Using data from AAA, APTA researchers determined that North Texas commuters who switch to the region's transit network might save more than $9,000 in the annual cost of driving to work (based on data from AAA). Transit also encourages environmental sustainability. DART, The T and DCTA buses run on either clean diesel or natural gas and DART's electric light rail fleet produces zero emissions.

Ticket exchange locations cover the region
Commuters interested in making the switch are invited to bring a gasoline receipt to one of these locations.

Monday, June 3:
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
McDonald's
632 South RL Thornton Fwy.
Dallas 75203

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Half Price Books - Hulen/Remington Park
5417 S. Hulen St.
Fort Worth 76132

Tuesday, June 4:
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Food Truckin' Tuesdays
Downtown Denton Transit Center
604 E. Hickory
Denton 76205

Thursday, June 6:
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Denton Twilight Tunes
Downtown Historic Courthouse Square
115 W. Hickory St.
Denton 76201

Friday, June 7:
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Half Price Books - Ridgmar/Westover Village
475 Sherry Lane
Fort Worth 76114

Saturday, June 8:
12 noon to 2 p.m.
Half Price Books
5803 E. Northwest Hwy.
Dallas 75231

3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Half Price Books - Preston Towne Crossing
2440 Preston Rd.
Plano 75093

Tuesday, June 11:
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Chick-fil-A
2617 Lakeview Pkwy.
Rowlett 75088

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sounds of Lewisville with Brave Combo
MCL Grand Theater
100 North Charles St.
Lewisville 75057

Wednesday, June 12:
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Half Price Books - Watauga Pavilion
7620 Denton Hwy.
Watauga 76148

New date added!
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
McDonald's
632 South RL Thornton Fwy.
Dallas 75203

Thursday, June 13:
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
McDonald's
5220 N. MacArthur Blvd.
Irving 75038

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Summer Concert Series
Shops at Highland Village
1701 Shoal Creek
Highland Village 75077

Saturday, June 15:
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mockingbird Station Shops
5321 E. Mockingbird Lane
Dallas 75206

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Hawaiian Falls - Garland
4550 N. Garland Ave.
Garland 75040