With the help of a $103 million Federal Transit Administration grant, which was made possible by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, DART will begin to “modernize” its bus fleet with low- and no-emission vehicles.
“Because of our rapid growth, we need investments to bolster our local infrastructure and create more options for Texans to get where they need to go,” said U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, who signed a letter of support to the FTA for the grant, in a news release.
In total, DART expects to replace 186 buses, focusing on the oldest vehicles in the fleet, DART President and CEO Nadine Lee said in the news release. While not part of the recent grant, DART launched its first long-range electric bus in April, adding to its fleet of seven short-range electric buses.
Over the next five years, Texas is expected to see at least $35 billion in investments via the infrastructure law with $15 billion already allocated.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was the single largest investment in transit ever, and this grant will help DART and other transit agencies modernize and upgrade their bus fleet to keep our cities healthier and thriving for generations to come,” Allred said.
The new grant funding comes on the heels of a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Grant the local transit agency received from the U.S. Department of Transportation on June 23. With that funding, DART is planning to construct around 5.2 miles of shared-use trails to connect multiple Silver Line rail stations from Meandering Way in Dallas to Shiloh Road in Plano.
Expected to be completed by mid-2026, the 26-mile Silver Line will span seven cities to connect from Plano to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
“With our region’s ... growth, these types of investments are critical, and I will keep working with local leaders to ensure we can create jobs, reduce congestion and grow our economy by investing in our infrastructure,” Allred said in a June 23 news release.
