• We have been engaging with cities on their strategic objectives for mobility and have received requests for new services that are currently not funded.
• Growth limitations and inflationary cost pressures on our annual budget mean we need cost reductions in areas across the agency, including potentially to service.
• We anticipate opening the Silver Line early and need one-time funding to cover four extra months of operating costs.

General Information

DART completed a Comprehensive Fare Study in 2024 which included extensive public input. The fare changes were divided into phases.

 Phase 1 became effective in March 2025. The proposed Phase 2 includes changes to regional, and paratransit fares and introduces distance-based fares for GoLink trips.

Note: DART is combining the public hearings for service and fare changes because of timing; the fare changes are not required due to the budget constraints or items such as the GMP and new service requests. However, fare changes will support long term financial sustainability benefits for DART and simplify fares for customers.

General Information
If implemented in full, the service changes would be the largest service cut in DART’s history. The potential service reductions will impact all modes of transportation in all cities. DART staff are working diligently on a plan to minimize impacts on our riders and employees. This is why public input is important. It gives staff an understanding of the key priorities of our customers.

Funding Information

The GMP allocation is equivalent to 5% of DART’s annual sales tax collections. Funding sources for the GMP are under discussion and will need to be from DART sales tax revenue unless other funding sources are identified. The FY 2026 GMP allocation is the equivalent of 5% of FY2024 sales tax collections; this amounts to $42.59 million.

Funding Information

For the first two years of the program, GMP funds will be distributed based on the methodology developed independently by Ernst & Young and directed by the 13 service area cities. The study quantified the “cost of services” as operating, capital depreciation, and interest expenses within their cities, that each city received in FY 2023 compared to that city’s sales tax collections in the same year. For the first year of the GMP, seven cities would be eligible for funds (Addison, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Highland Park, Richardson, Plano, and University Park). 

The EY study represents a “snapshot in time,” and does not reflect the Silver Line completion in FY 2026. The study noted that DART could potentially capture other measures of value through supplemental analysis to better inform future cost allocation analyses, which DART plans to do in 2026.

Impact of Service Changes

If approved, the potential service changes will take effect in January 2026. The proposals are subject to change based on community feedback, and the Board will make its final decisions in August 2025.

Impact of Service Changes

Almost every route in the system will be impacted. Potential changes include:

• Service reductions for bus, light rail, and commuter rail
• Discontinuation of nine bus routes, one GoLink zone, and three GoLink zone to zone pilot programs
• Reduction of paratransit service from the entire service area to within ¾-mile of fixed-route services
• Shifting GoLink from curb-to-curb service to operate from predetermined “rally points,” with curb-to-curb only an option for customers paying a fare premium

Impact of Service Changes

Dallas

• Route 242 Walnut Hill
• Route 209 McKinney / Cole
• Route 378 Red Bird Express
• South Dallas GoLink
• GoLink zone to zone pilots in North Dallas, Rowlett/Southeast Garland, and Rylie/Kleberg
  (Plano will become part of a new zone)

Irving

• Route 255 Story
• Route 225 Nursery

Plano

• Route 254 Legacy
• Route 234 Parker Rd

Addison

• Route 305 Addison Express

Garland

• Route 383 Lake Ray Hubbard Express

Impact of Service Changes

Rail + Frequent Bus

• Light Rail
  • 20 minutes during peak and midday (currently 15 minutes during peak)
  • 30 minutes after 7 p.m. and on weekends (currently 20 minutes)
• TRE / Silver Line
  • 60 minutes all day, every day (currently 30 minutes during peak)
• Frequent Bus
  • 20 minutes during peak and midday for most routes
  • 30 minutes during midday on Routes 28, 41, and 47
  • 30 minutes after 7 p.m. and on weekends (currently 20 minutes for most)

Local Bus + Local Bus Coverage + Express Bus

• Local Bus (Routes 101 – 122)
  • 20 minutes during peak (currently at 15 minutes)
  • 60 minutes after 7 p.m. (currently at 30 minutes)
  • 60 minutes on weekends (currently at 30 minutes for most)

• Local Coverage Bus (Routes 200 – 255)
  • Peak weekday service remains at 30 minutes
  • 60 minutes during midday (currently at 40 minutes for most)
  • 60 minutes on weekends (currently at 40 minutes for most)
• Express Bus (Routes 305 – 378)
  • 20 minutes on Route 306 (currently 15 minutes)
  • Route 308 remains at 20 minutes
  • All other express routes are eliminated

Impact of Service Changes

DART currently offers paratransit service throughout the entire service area. The proposed changes could reduce service to within ¾-mile of fixed-route service only. Such a change is expected to eliminate up to 17% of current paratransit trips, primarily in Plano, Irving, southern Dallas, and Rowlett.

Fare Changes

The fare changes were divided into phases. Phase 1 became effective in March 2025. The proposed Phase 2 includes changes to regional, and paratransit fares and introduces distance-based fares for certain GoLink trips

Fare Changes

• Replace the TRE one-way pass with a 3-hour regional pass
• Reduce the regional day pass to $9 and adjust the regional reduced day pass to $4.50
• Establish a regional reduced monthly pass at $96
• Eliminate the retail regional annual pass
• Increase the paratransit fare up to $6
• Eliminate the paratransit “feeder” fare (connection to fixed-route service) of $1
• If paratransit service is reduced to a ¾-mile radius, implement a “non-ADA” fare of $10 for out-of-zone travel
• Introduce GoLink distance-based fares

Fare Changes

If approved by the Board, the proposed fare changes will take effect on March 1, 2026.

Community Involvement & Feedback

You can provide feedback by using a comment card found on all buses and trains, via the GoPass app, and by emailing [email protected].

 Additionally, DART is hosting 16 pre-public hearing community meetings from June 9 through July 1, 2025. At these meetings, riders, stakeholders, and advocates can share their feedback and learn about city-specific impacts.

 *Not in person