Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons, DART
Joan Hunter, The T

December 4, 2006

Trinity Railway Express puts dash in D-FW

It was December 30, 1996 when more than 4,000 people jammed the southwest's first commuter rail line -- a 10-mile route linking Union Station in Downtown Dallas to Irving -- during its first day of operation, making the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) a hit from the beginning.

Ten years and more than 14.5 million passenger trips later, the TRE -- a joint service of DART and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) -- connects Dallas and Fort Worth on a 35-mile-long route running parallel to the Trinity River, delivering new work and entertainment destinations, and changing the lifestyles for commuters across North Texas.

A decade of growth
The TRE's success is an acknowledgment that Dallas and Fort Worth are no longer island cities; they're two halves of a whole that is getting larger - and more congested - every day. That became clear when the U.S. Census Bureau named Dallas/Fort Worth the nation's fourth-largest and fastest-growing metropolitan area.

What's more, the cooperation that created the TRE has helped ignite public interest in a truly regional transit system connecting people to economic opportunities and a great quality of life throughout North Texas.

As the cost of gasoline and parking - and the hassles of driving - increase, so does the bargain of riding the TRE. For just $4.50 a round-trip, commuters can spend their time working, reading, eating breakfast or just resting. Learn how to get on board by visiting www.TrinityRailwayExpress.org and by calling DART at 214.979.1111 or the T at 817-215-8600.

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