Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) could soon make the “largest cuts” in history.
DART officials discussed options like cutting routes and reducing service frequency in a virtual “pre-public hearing” on July 1.
These are part of the “largest service cuts in agency history,” according to the agency’s website. Meanwhile, multiple cities have requested new DART services.
“We did not do this quickly or easily. We did it over the course of a long period of time,” DART Senior Manager Hans-Michael Ruthe said in the meeting. “In looking at which ones to identify, we considered, first and foremost, what alternative services would be left behind.”
The state House considered HB 3187 earlier this year, which would have enabled 25 percent of a city’s sales tax to go toward a “general mobility program.”
DART Representative Jeamy Molina told The Dallas Express, “It would have killed DART.”
Though the bill ultimately stalled in the state House, Molina said DART engaged in a “good faith” effort to find a solution in the meantime.
The DART board of directors approved a general mobility program in March, which would redistribute 5 percent of the agency’s sales tax revenue among seven “eligible member cities” for two years. This $42-43 million drop in funds, according to Molina, combined with cities’ requests for new services, led DART to make these cuts.
Cities have sunk $17 billion into DART since 1984, and the agency faced criticism in 2008 for a $900 million accounting error. Since DART passed the recent general mobility plan, it is tightening its belt with the recent cuts.
Molina said DART has had 15 “pre-public” community meetings so far, with an upcoming public hearing at DART headquarters on July 8. Molina said the agency will officially decide on the cuts at the end of August budgeting.
Cutting Bus Routes
DART is considering cutting the following bus routes:
- 209 – McKinney/Cole
- 225 – Nursery
- 234 – Parker Road
- 242 – Walnut Hill
- 254 – Legacy
- 255 – Story Road
- 305 – Addison Express
- 378 – Red Bird Express
- 383 – Lake Ray Hubbard Express
Prolonging Wait Times
DART could also reduce service frequency, which would increase passenger wait times.
Ruthe said the agency tried to focus its “frequency reductions” on the mornings and afternoons, which he said are “traditionally considered rush hour periods,” but ridership has recently been growing faster midday and on weekends. He also said officials tried their best to keep the current hours of operation.
For the light rail, the current maximum wait is 15 minutes, and it can sometimes be up to 20 minutes after 7 p.m. Under the proposed changes, the maximum wait during the midday “peak” would be 20 minutes, and 30 minutes after 7 p.m. For the silver line specifically, the wait time is currently a maximum of 30 minutes, which would become an hour.
For frequent bus routes, most wait times would be adjusted to 20 minutes during the midday “peak,” while routes 28, 41, and 47 would increase to 30 minutes. After 7 p.m., wait times would increase from 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
For local bus routes, the wait times would increase from a maximum of 15 minutes during the “peak” to 20 minutes. After 7 p.m. and on weekends, they would increase from 30 minutes to 1 hour.
For local “coverage” bus routes, the wait times during weekday “peaks” would remain at 30 minutes. During the week, and on weekends, they would increase from 40 minutes to an hour at midday.
For express buses, route 306 – currently with a wait time of 15 minutes – would increase to 20 minutes.
Changing Fares
DART may also change its fare program.
For regional fares, officials proposed replacing the TRE one-way pass with a 3-hour pass – $6 for regional, and $3 for regional reduced. The day pass would decrease from $12 to $9 for regional passes and increase from $3 to $4.50 for regional reduced passes.
DART could add a $96 regional reduced monthly pass and cut the annual pass.
For corporate annual passes, officials proposed keeping the local monthly pass at $126 and raising the local annual pass to $945. They could reduce the discount to 37.5 percent.
Cutting Back Disability Rides
DART could reduce the number of paratransit rides for disabled passengers.
Patrick McCurley, DART’s director of fare policy and revenue, said the Americans with Disabilities Act only requires paratransit rides within three-quarters of a mile of fixed routes, so the agency would cut back accordingly. DART estimates this would affect 17 percent of paratransit trips.
If DART doesn’t make service area cuts, it may double the paratransit fees from $3 to $6. For trips beyond a three-quarters-of-a-mile radius, the agency could charge a $10 fare.
Carrollton City Councilman Richard Fleming said in the meeting that he is concerned about these paratransit fare increases. “We have to be mindful of the fare increase for our most vulnerable population,” he said.
After a DART paratransit driver sexually assaulted a disabled woman in 2022, her family sued the agency, as The Dallas Express previously reported. Her lawyer pointed to a history of sexual assault by paratransit drivers and called for accountability.
“We do everything to make sure that our customers feel safe when they’re riding any part of our system, and so we’ll continue to make sure that we’re looking at different ways to do that,” Molina said.
Reworking Curb-To-Curb
DART could also make changes to GoLink – its on-demand, curb-to-curb service.
Officials could change the service to use “rally points” for pickups and drop-offs, requiring a “distance-based premium fare” for curb-to-curb service. Or, if the agency keeps curb-to-curb service, it would charge per mile.
The agency is considering cutting GoLink in South Dallas, which covers nine square miles. This will still leave four light rail stations and five bus routes in place.
Officials may cut GoLink “zone to zone” pilot services in Rylie/Kleberg, Rowlett/Southeast, Garland, North Dallas, and Plano. The agency is also considering cutting “all existing” GoLink zones in Plano, replacing them with a citywide GoLink.
New Services
Multiple cities have contacted DART requesting new services, DART officials said. The agency could offer new services in Addison, Carrollton, Highland Park, Plano, Rowlett, and University Park.
DART is considering an Addison GoLink zone, which would cover approximately five square miles and operate daily from 5 a.m. to midnight. It is also considering a shuttle route, with 15-minute service on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. During other times, service would be every 30 minutes.
The agency is considering a citywide Plano GoLink zone, covering 72 square miles. This would replace the multiple existing zones. Officials are also considering two shuttle routes, running every 15 minutes on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Another shuttle route could run every 30 minutes on weekdays from 7 p.m. to midnight, and on weekends from 5 a.m. to midnight.
In Carrollton, DART could expand the Keller Springs and Northwest Carrollton GoLink zones.
In Highland Park, the agency could expand services to Love Field, Ruthe said. The plan suggests “worker access locations” in Highland Park Village, the Dallas Country Club, and “construction sites.”
University Park requested expanded services for “day laborers,” according to Ruthe. He said parking is limited, so DART is considering a “new parking program” to help them get around. The plan suggests “worker access locations” in Snider Plaza and “construction sites,” as well as parking at Mockingbird Lane and Inwood Road, accessible by GoLink.
Maintenance Issues
DART has recently been struggling to maintain buses, with drivers reporting breakdowns, mechanical issues, and poor conditions. Molina said earlier this year that the board approved the purchase of 400 new buses to replace the existing fleet, which will be phased in starting in 2026.
“We understand that we have an aging system, and our employees do everything they can to try to maintain our current fleet. But we did approve the purchase of new buses,” Molina said.
Molina asked residents to attend the upcoming hearing on Tuesday, July 8, at 6 p.m. at DART headquarters. “Everyone that shows up will have two minutes to speak and provide their input as to what they think of these cuts and their priorities.”