1. DART officials approve 2026 service changes, cut some bus routes
DART’s board of directors voted Sept. 9 to approve service changes, including reduced train and bus route frequencies that will take effect Jan. 19.
What it means
The approved changes will eliminate several routes that mainly serve the cities of Irving, Dallas and Addison.
Route 254, which connects the Northwest Plano Park and Ride to the Parker Road Station along Legacy Drive, is among the routes that will be discontinued.
However, an additional Plano GoLink zone covering west Plano and three Legacy District shuttle services were approved, with DART and the city of Plano splitting the operational costs for the shuttles.
Some context
DART is facing increased cost pressures due to inflation, requests for new services and a new general mobility program that will launch in fiscal year 2025-26, as previously reported by Community Impact.
2. Silver Line to open Oct. 25, DART officials announce
DART CEO Nadine Lee announced the upcoming Silver Line, a heavy commuter train, will open Oct. 25.
The new 26-mile rail service will connect seven cities across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, including Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson and Plano, with a final stop at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.
What you need to know
The Silver Line will be a heavy rail, meaning that the trains have a higher passenger capacity and run on diesel fuel, as previously reported by Community Impact.
“The Silver Line opening is a realization of a promise kept to our riders and our region,” Lee said in a news release. “This line shows our riders that we heard them, and we delivered.”
To celebrate the opening, DART will offer free rides on the Silver Line from Oct. 25-Nov. 8, according to the release.
3. DART announces new bus fleet, anticipated fall rollout
DART riders can expect to see new, upgraded buses begin replacing the agency’s existing fleet this fall.
The new 30-foot and 40-foot buses feature upgraded passenger amenities, operating facilities and a unified signaling system, according to a DART news release.
What happened
DART officials announced Oct. 1 that the agency has received the first delivery of the new buses, which will help modernize the agency’s 476-bus fleet, according to the release.
The initial buses arrived Oct. 1, with additional deliveries expected in November. Prior to the full rollout, DART officials are inspecting and testing the vehicles to ensure they meet the agency’s standards.
Zooming in
As DART’s current buses reach around 500,000 miles or become less reliable, they will be replaced with the new models, according to the release.
In total, DART plans to purchase 76 of the 30-foot buses and 400 of the 40-foot buses. The agency expects to receive between 20 to 30 new buses each month, according to the release.
Once rollout begins, the first routes featuring the new buses are expected to launch in mid-to-late November.
One more thing
DART received a $103 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration, which helped cover a third of the total cost of the buses, according to the release.
