The Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority (or DART) is a transit agency in Dallas, Texas. It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs. With the extension of the Orange Line to DFW Airport station at DFW Airport on August 18, 2014 and the extension of the Blue Line to UNT Dallas on October 24, 2016, DART is the largest light rail operator in the United States, with 93 miles (149.7 km) of track.
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Ridership
Average daily ridership for DART has been in the vicinity of 200,000 riders per day over the last couple decades. In the 1st quarter of 1998, DART's weekday ridership averaged 211,000 riders per day system-wide. Total ridership numbers have risen and fallen since then; total ridership, including Trinity Railway Express ridership, has been as high as 248,500 average weekday riders in the 3rd quarter of 2008, and as low as 194,700 average weekday riders in the 1st quarter of 2010. However, after a year-long study in 2012 that counted passenger counts through both the existing manual method and a new automated counting system, DART concluded that it has been underreporting rail ridership by more than 15 percent each year. In the 4th quarter of 2012, DART reported total ridership of 252,900 weekday riders on average. In the fourth quarter of 2014, DART reported that total ridership had declined to 233,900 weekday riders.
DART reported the following ridership numbers in the 4th quarter of 2012:
- Bus: 136,500 average weekday riders
- Light rail: 103,100 average weekday riders
- Trinity Railway Express: 7,300 average weekday riders
- On-Call: 2,000 average weekday riders
- Vanpool: 4,000 average weekday riders
4th quarter of 2014 ridership numbers:
- Bus: 126,300 average weekday riders
- DART Light Rail: 101,800 average weekday riders (down from 2012 in spite of having added trackage and stations to the system
- DART TRE: 8,200 average weekday riders
- On-Call: 2,600 average weekday riders
- Vanpool: 3,200 average weekday riders
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History
Precursor agencies
The Dallas Transit System (DTS) was the publicly owned mass transit service operated by the city of Dallas, from 1964 to 1988. DTS resulted from a consolidation of various privately owned transit companies and streetcar lines. Prior to DTS, the company was formerly known as the Dallas Railway and Terminal Company when Dallas had an extensive streetcar system that spanned from Oak Cliff to north Dallas. The name was changed shortly after the last streetcar ran in January 1956. DART formally took over operations of the DTS in 1988.
In 2000, DART employees restored a 1966 DTS bus to its original state.
Creation of DART
DART was created on August 13, 1983 as a regional replacement for the DTS (Although the name "Dallas Area Rapid Transit" was intended to reflect the new agency's coverage of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, its acronym DART almost immediately evoked comparisons to San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit system, known as BART). Citizens of 15 area cities had voted to levy a 1% sales tax to join the system by the time it began transit services in 1984 (though formal acquisition of the Dallas Transit System wouldn't be complete until 1988).
In 1985, member cities Carrollton and Farmers Branch held elections to pull out of DART, though the measures failed. But shifting suburban politics and a loss of confidence in DART management after voters declined to support DART's measure to incur long term debt in 1988 led to seven more pullout votes, two of which (Flower Mound and Coppell) were successful. Just one suburb joined DART -- the tiny community of Buckingham, which was later annexed by DART member city Richardson.
Financial scandal
In December 2007, DART revealed that it was facing a $1 billion shortfall in funds earmarked for the Blue Line rail service to Rowlett and Orange Line service to Irving, and DFW Airport. In January 2008, DART announced that it would divert monies from rail lines being built in Dallas. When Dallas officials protested, DART president and executive director Gary Thomas--who had known about the shortfall for at least eight months--announced that the agency would borrow more money instead.
In late January 2008, DART Board chair Lynn Flint Shaw, who was also treasurer of Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert's "Friends of Tom Leppert" fund-raising committee, resigned from her DART post. In February, she surrendered to the police on charges of forgery. On March 10, Shaw and her husband, political analyst Rufus Shaw, were found dead in their home in what turned out to be a murder suicide.
2016 shooting
On July 7, 2016, four DART officers were among several people shot in a mass shooting targeting police officers at a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest. One of the officers, identified as seven-year veteran Brent Thompson, died from his injuries and became the first DART officer to be killed in the line of duty since the department's inception.
DART Light Rail
The DART light rail system comprises 93 miles (149.7 km) between its four lines -- the Red Line, the Blue Line, the Orange Line and the Green Line. According to NCTCOG transit statistics, DART's light rail system had a daily ridership of 109,511 average trips per weekday in October 2012 which is an increase of more than 81% since October 2010. The system utilizes light rail trains manufactured by Kinki Sharyo, with all trains being converted to "Super" LRVs (SLRVs) which feature level boarding (especially convenient for strollers and wheelchairs) and higher passenger capacity. All 163 of DART's light rail vehicles have been converted and are now SLRVs.
Before the 1983 election, DART had a plan for 160 miles (257.5 km) of rail. After the election, the plan was pared down to 147 miles (236.6 km) when Duncanville, Grand Prairie and Mesquite, which would have had rail lines, didn't opt to join the agency. DART chose light rail transit as its primary mode of rail transportation in 1984. The plan was pared down again to 93 miles (149.7 km) before the 1988 bond vote. After the vote, the agency again pared down the regional rail system to 84 miles (135.2 km); 66 miles (106.2 km) of light rail and 18 miles (29 km) of commuter rail. As of August 2014, DART boasts four lines, and the extension of the Orange line to DFW airport is complete.
The following lines are currently active:
- Red Line (Opened in 1996, completed in its current state in 2002)
- Blue Line (Opened in 1996, completed in its current state in 2016)
- Green Line (Opened in 2009, completed in its current state in 2010)
- Orange Line (Opened in 2012, completed in its current state in 2014)
On December 18, 2000, DART opened the first public subway station in Texas. Cityplace station is served by the Red, Blue, and Orange Lines.
Streetcars
McKinney Avenue Transit Authority
DART also assists in the operation of the M-line Trolley, with a joint operating subsidy given to the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority along with the Uptown Improvement District.
Dallas Streetcar
In May 2013, DART began construction on a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) streetcar line which will operate between downtown Dallas and Oak Cliff by way of the Houston Street Viaduct. Phase one of the streetcar line, running between Union Station in Dallas and Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Oak Cliff, opened on April 13, 2015. The line was expanded to its current length in August 2016 with the addition of the 6th Street and Bishop Arts stops.
Commuter rail
Trinity Railway Express
The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter rail line connects downtown Dallas with downtown Fort Worth. The TRE, created in 1996 by an interlocal agreement between DART and the Fort Worth Transit Authority, "The T", connected the cities' centers by rail for the first time since the 1930s, excluding Amtrak's Texas Eagle.
The TRE commuter line has an average weekday ridership of 7,300 passengers per day and is the fifteenth most-ridden commuter rail system in the country. In 2012, the TRE carried a total of 2.3 million passengers.
DCTA A-train
The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) built its A-train commuter rail service in partnership with DART and the TRE. The DCTA leases the right-of-way for its 21 miles (34 km) commuter line from DART, and coordinates with DART to provide connecting service between the A-train and DART's Green Line. The DCTA also leased Budd diesel rail cars from the TRE for its initial service. The A-train currently operates between downtown Denton and Trinity Mills station, where a transfer to the Green Line is available. Through its partnerships with DART and TRE, DCTA sells "Regional" fare passes which include access to DART and TRE service.
Buses
In 2015, DART operates 121 fixed-regular bus routes and several circular and shuttle routes. There are 27 local routes, which serve downtown Dallas. Some locals link the suburbs with downtown Dallas. There are 9 express routes which ferry passengers between two areas with limited or no stops in between. These utilize HOV lanes on freeways when possible. There are 15 suburban routes, which link the suburban neighborhoods of DART to transit centers. DART has 20 crosstown routes which run through Dallas and its suburbs, but not downtown. The final fixed route category are the 50 rail-feeder routes that start and/or end at rail stations.
Most trips in the DART system are carried by the bus system. In the 1st quarter of 2010, DART had 125,500 bus trips per average weekday out of a total of 194,700 trips.
DART numbers its bus routes according to the type of route:
- Local routes, serving downtown: 1-183 (routes numbered in the 100's operate via freeways for a portion of the route approaching Downtown Dallas)
- Express routes, limited-stop service using larger vehicles with reclining seats: 200s
- "Suburban" routes, local routes originating at a transit center: 300s
- Crosstown routes, local routes connecting widely separated areas: 400s
- Rail feeder routes, local routes originating at a rail station: 500s
In addition to the above regular fixed routes, DART will also contract with its neighbors or businesses and run circulators, like the Southern Methodist University or NorthPark Center circulators or shuttles for Texas Instruments or UT Southwestern Medical Center. The circulator routes are given number in the 700 range, while the shuttles are listed in the 800s.
DART runs its bus system similar to the hub and spoke model that some airlines use. DART has several bus-only facilities, which include transit centers, transfer centers, transfer locations, and Park & Rides.
DART has 7 transit centers, which are:
- Addison Transit Center in Addison, a future rail station on the Cotton Belt in the 2030 plan
- J.B. Jackson Transit Center in Dallas
- Lake Ray Hubbard Transit Center in Garland
- Downtown Irving/Irving Heritage Station in Irving
- North Irving Transit Center in Irving
- Red Bird Transit Center in Dallas
- South Garland Transit Center in Garland
- Jack Hatchell Transit Center in Plano
There are 5 transfer locations/centers in the DART bus system, which are:
- Bernal/Singleton Transfer Location in Dallas, a possible future rail station on the west rail line toward Grand Prairie in DART's 2030 plan
- Cockrell Hill Transfer Location in Cockrell Hill
- East Transfer Center in downtown Dallas
- Malcolm X Boulevard Transfer Location in south Dallas
- West Transfer Center in downtown Dallas
Finally, DART has two Park and Ride locations:
- Glenn Heights Park and Ride in Glenn Heights
- Northwest Plano Park and Ride off the Dallas North Tollway just north of Spring Creek Parkway in Plano
In addition, to make transfers easier, most rail stations act as hubs for DART buses.
On October 2012, DART introduced a new fleet of 14 to 17-passenger buses for its on-call & Flex services, and beginning on October 22, some select bus routes that are less-traveled. Beginning in 2013, DART would replace most of bus fleet with NABI 40LFW buses running off CNG fuel. Voted unanimously, by state government to rapidly revise to a clean-air fleet over their existing diesel buses.
On-Call service
Prior to the bus and rail changes on October 6, 2003, DART has launched its premium on-call shuttle service to replace many low-productive DART bus routes. It was first opened in some North Dallas and Plano neighborhoods and, in late 2005, it expanded to Glenn Heights in Northern Ellis County. DART On-Call currently operates on weekdays only (except on holidays).
The On-Call service currently serves north central Plano, eastern Rowlett, Farmers Branch, North Dallas, Lakewood, Richardson, Lake Highlands, and Glenn Heights.
Flex service
DART introduced a new service into its system called a "Flex" service in 2008. It is similar to DART On-Call but combines the advantages of a fixed bus route along with curbside pickup. It uses a local fare on stops at fixed routes and/or a premium fare on curbside pickups and dropoffs within the Flex zone if time permits. Customers in those areas who desire a pickup at a specific location may do so by calling DART 1 h before their destination time or at stop.
The Flex service currently serves the following areas:
- East Plano (replaced routes 570, 760, and DART On-Call East Plano.)
- Garland/Rowlett (replaced route 557.)
- Pleasant Grove (replaced route 342.)
- South Irving (Clockwise/Counter-clockwise. Replaced portions of routes 302 & 306)
- South Plano (to replace busiest portions of Telecomm Corridor Flex Service during peak hours.)
- Telecomm Corridor (Bi-directional, weekday rush hours only) (replaced portions of route 316)
= See proposed service changes for February 16, 2009.
Fares
Up to two children under 5 travel free if accompanied by a fare-paying rider.
* Reduced fares are applicable on bus and rail for seniors and non-paratransit riders with disabilities; children, elementary through middle school; designated bus circulators, all of which are charged at the local rate.
** Reduced high school fare is valid Monday through Friday for students with valid photo ID from a high school within the DART service area.
Fares effective: December 3, 2012
Member cities
In addition to the cities that voted to join DART at its creation, the legislation that created DART specifies that any city adjoining Dallas may join the agency. In addition, any city that adjoins a DART member city becomes eligible to join. Member cities fund DART with a 1% sales tax. This levy prevents some cities from joining, due to Texas laws that cap the total sales tax that may be charged.
In 2003, the Texas Legislature enacted new legislation enabling countywide transit districts in areas adjacent to major metropolitan areas (such as the Denton County Transportation Authority), but DART's membership rules were not affected.
List of DART member cities
In addition to the city of Dallas, the following cities are also DART members:
- Addison
- Carrollton
- Cockrell Hill
- Farmers Branch
- Garland
- Glenn Heights
- Highland Park
- Irving
- Plano
- Richardson
- Rowlett
- University Park
All the suburbs listed joined DART as charter members in 1983 (except for Buckingham, no other cities have joined DART subsequent to 1983, and two cities later withdrew as shown below). Glenn Heights is the only suburb which, had it not joined DART in 1983, would be ineligible for membership today, as it does not border either Dallas or another DART member city.
Original cities that declined DART
The cities of Duncanville, Grand Prairie, Lancaster, Mesquite, The Colony, and Wilmer had a proposal to join DART on the ballot in 1983, but voters declined to join. The Colony is the only suburb in the northern portion of Dallas which declined to join DART, yet is still eligible to join, as it borders Carrollton, a DART member. (The Colony is also eligible to join DCTA, as it is located in Denton County.) Wilmer is no longer eligible to join DART, as it is not bordered by a DART member city.
Former DART member cities
The cities of Coppell and Flower Mound were original members of DART. However, after voters in the DART service area rejected a 1988 ballot measure plan which would have allowed DART to take on long-term debt, the cities placed measures on the 1989 ballot to withdraw from DART, and the voters approved the measures.
Coppell remains eligible to rejoin DART, as it borders three DART member cities (Dallas, Irving, and Carrollton).
Flower Mound is no longer eligible to rejoin DART as it does not border a DART member city. Flower Mound voters were asked to join DCTA in 2003 but rejected that measure as well.
Eligible cities that are not members of DART
These cities are eligible to join DART as they are adjacent to either Dallas or another DART member city, but have not chosen to levy the required 1% sales tax required for membership and regular service. However, DART can establish service to non-member cities under certain conditions. In addition to the Trinity Railway Express interlocal agreements, DART serves destinations like Eastfield College, which is within the city limits of non-DART member Mesquite.
Executive directors
- Maurice Carter 1982-1984
- George Bonna (Interim) 1984-1985
- Ted Tedasco 1985-1986
- John Hoeft (Interim) 1986
- Charles Anderson 1986-1992
- Tony Venturato (Interim) 1992
- Jack Evans 1992
- Victor Burke (Interim) 1993
- Roger Snoble 1993-2001
- Gary Thomas 2001-present
Death from overwork
29 January 2016, 11.30 p.m, Zulita Walker was driving an empty bus during extra hours from Interstate 45 to the eastbound Interstate 30 ramp, Sabrina Offord was driving behind Walker's bus Friday night. She told KXAS-TV (NBC5) that the surface of the road where the bus crashed bounces a bit. "It will bounce a regular car about four or five times on that road," she said. "On that fifth bounce, she lost control, and hit the bridge pretty hard.". Walker was profiled by WFAA-TV (Channel 8) in October after she stopped her bus on the High 5 at Interstate 635 and U.S. Highway 75 and was able to talk down a man sitting with his legs dangling off the High 5 overpass.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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