The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will take you all around the Dallas area, and the twelve surrounding cities. The public transportation system is designed to keep you in comfort and get you to your destination fast. You can ride the bus, or take the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) around the 700-square-mile service area.
Figure Out Where You're Going
For your convenience, there are DART express bus routes serving parts of the Dallas area. Call 214-979-1111for information. The travel operators are standing by to help you get to your destination on time. You just need to provide information on where you are starting from, where you are going and what time you are planning on traveling. The operators will give you all the information you need including times, fare costs and transfers so you can have a worry free trip. If you prefer doing things online, you can go to DART’s website and use the online trip planner to map out your journey. Maps with schedules and routes are available at the downtown DART store at Akard Station or at most libraries and government centers in the area.
Riding the Rails
Fast, convenient train service is available for commuters and those who wish to shop or reach entertainment destinations quickly. The rail service is provided Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Garland, Irving, Plano, Richadson and Dallas. The TRE is available for those who need to get to and from the DFW International Airport and downtown Fort Worth. Most train stations have free parking provided, and nearly all are served by DART bus service that is timed between buses and trains for a smooth and easy transition. The Train system also goes to popular shopping and entertainment destinations such as NorthPark Center, Upper Greenville Avenue, West Village (Cityplace/Uptown Station), Mockingbird Station, The Dallas Museum of Art, American Airlines Center, Historic District, Fair Park, the Dallas Convention Center and the Dallas Zoo. Other popular destinations are in the area as well. You won’t need to worry about parking at the American Airlines Center if you hop a ride on the DART. As long as your event is not on a Sunday, if you live in Fort Worth you can use the TRE to get there with no hassles with driving or parking. Go to www.DART.org/Victory for more information. The DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field are also available by train. Seven days a week with most trips connecting to TRE service at CentrePort/DFW Airport Station, you can hop the train and avoid the airport traffic. During rush hour, buses depart every 15 minutes. They leave every 20 minutes at mid-day, and every 30 minutes in the later evening. Get your specific information at www.DART.org/DFWAirport. Save your taxi money for something fun and fabulous, and take the TRE to and from DFW airport for a lot less than a taxi ride or long term parking fees. There’s airport bus service to meet each train, and buses depart every 15 minutes, every day except Sunday. You’ll be glad to know that service between the airport terminals and rail station is free. Check out the DART website for more information about service to Dallas airports.
Fares
There are two basic fares for two hour passes. $2.50 will get you a ride on all DART buses and trains, and TRE service between Union Station and CentrePort/DFW Airport station. For $5 you can ride between stations in Dallas County and Tarrant County. A five dollar local day pass is available, and a ten dollar regional pass is also available for further savings. You can save even more by buying a monthly pass. These can be purchased at Albertsons, El Mercado Azteca, Fiesta, Jerry’s Supermarket, Malone’s Cost Plus, Minyard and Tom Thumb food stores throughout the area served by DART. For just $80, you can get a monthly local pass and forget about parking and driving headaches. You may want to find out if your employer offers DART annual passes for commuters. If not, consider requesting that they look into the program. DART can create a pass program to fit any size firm. It helps the firm, the employees, and all of Texas since it means fewer cars on the road and few emission polluting the air. The two-hour, midday and day passes are available on the buses, but be sure to bring exact change since bus drivers do not provide any. Rail fares are available at the Ticket Vending Machines located at the rail stations. Make sure you keep track of your ticket so that you can show it to the DART Fare Enforcement Officer, DART Police Officer or other uniformed DART or TRE personnel. Failure to provide proof of fare may result in hefty fines. The DART Store Online has Monthly Passes, 31 Day Passes, 7 Day Passes and Paratransit Coupons available. Go to DART.org for more information.
Resources:
http://www.dart.org/about/aboutdart.asp
http://dallascityhall.com/services/Transportation.html
