Dallas Area Rapid Transit is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Richardson is one of the original members of DART, having joined along with 13 other cities in 1983.
In addition to its fleet of 692 buses that service more than 6,800 bus stops, the DART Rail System is one of the longest light rail systems in the United States at 93 miles. The system has four lines—Red, Blue, Green, and Orange—with all lines passing through downtown Dallas. DART Rail serves 65 stations in nine cities.
Richardson was the first Dallas suburb to receive DART Rail service, as trains began rolling into Richardson on July 1, 2002. Today, Richardson is home to four DART Rail stations and will be home to two Silver Line stations when service begins on that line in 2025 or 2026.
Looking forward at the next 40 years of Dallas area rapid transit
In June, DART President and CEO Nadine Lee updated the City Council on the progress of the Silver Line and also spoke about some of the future initiatives DART has planned.
The $2.1 billion Silver Line is expected to begin service between late 2025 and mid-2026. Delivery of Silver Line vehicles began last month, and construction continues on the bridges over US 75 and Renner Road, and the CityLine/Bush and UT Dallas stations.
DART is currently focused on ridership experience, particularly security, cleanliness, and reliability. Future initiatives to improve the rider experience include:
- Enhancing first/last mile access to transit
- Expanding funding for bus stop amenities like benches and bus shelters
- Technology improvements that provide more accurate and timely passenger information
- Improving system safety and security
With expectations for 4 million more people in the Metroplex by 2045, DART aims to be a regional transportation asset that provides best-in-class services to customers, moves more people efficiently and conveniently, and works to activate spaces around DART stations to integrate with the surrounding communities.
For more information, visit www.dart.org.
