Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will close the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center Station beginning January 5, 2026, as part of City of Dallas redevelopment plans that officials say will last for three years, according to a December 30 agency announcement.
“DART is coordinating with the city to minimize impact on riders,” DART officials wrote in the release.
The city launched a $3.7 billion effort to revamp the convention center in 2024, as The Dallas Express reported. Notable projects include expanding beyond Lamar Street, revamping the former Dallas Memorial Auditorium for the future home of the Dallas Wings, and renovating the Black Academy of Arts and Letters.
During the closures, riders who used the Convention Center station will take detours to the nearby Cedars Station or EBJ Union Station, according to the release. “DART has prepared clear signage, rider alerts, and bus connections to support customers and make navigating the closure as easy as possible,” DART officials wrote.
DART is planning a new, on-demand GoLink zone for Convention Center Station customers, providing service for trips to and from Cedars Station, EBJ Union Station, or the bus layover at Akard Street and Marilla Street. This will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days per week.
“Customers using this GoLink Zone may only travel between these three designated points,” DART officials wrote.
DART will reflect these changes online and in the GoPass app during construction, according to the release. Residents with questions can contact the agency’s customer support at 214-979-1111.
Bus Route Detours
Routes 28 and 106
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Going downtown: Buses will no longer travel along Lamar Street to the convention center. Instead, they will turn left on Young Street, right on Akard Street, and right on Marilla Street, stopping at bus stop 2068.
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Leaving downtown: Buses will turn left on Young Street, right on Lamar Street, and resume their normal routes.
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Riders will have a layover at Akard and Marilla streets or can exit at Cedars Station and use South Dallas GoLink to reach Akard and Marilla streets or EBJ Union Station.
Route 224
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Going downtown: Buses will travel along Elm Street to Houston Street, turn left on Commerce Street, continue to Harwood Street, and then turn left to the East Transfer Center for a layover.
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Leaving downtown: Buses will depart from the East Transfer Center and follow the usual route.
For route 383, the East Transfer Center will be the final stop, according to the release. DART will discontinue this route on February 2, 2026.
DART executives received $2.4 million in bonuses from 2020 to 2024, as The Dallas Express exclusively reported. This fall, the agency made the largest service cuts in history, citing a $42 to $43 million budget shortfall.
Four DART member cities – Farmers Branch, Highland Park, Irving, and Plano – voted in November to hold withdrawal elections, citing long-standing frustrations with funding and services, as The Dallas Express also reported. Voters in these cities will decide whether to leave the agency on May 2, 2026.
