As of Oct. 25, riders can hop on the train and travel to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in less than an hour. The Silver Line has two stations each in Plano and Richardson, and six additional stations that touch Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Grapevine.
What you need to know
DART CEO Nadine Lee called the Silver Line’s opening the “realization of a promise kept to our riders and our region.”
“This moment captures what we mean when we talk about moving [DART] from being seen as just a transit system to becoming a regional economic and mobility asset,” Lee said.
Gary Slagel, former DART board of directors chair, added that the Silver Line is a major piece in providing “rail connectivity across the entire metroplex.”
“We have a vision to get you from your house to anywhere you need to go in the Metroplex using DART,” Slagel said. “The only way that happens is to continue to build services. The milestone today is one that I will remember for a long time. ... We went through some difficult times to get here, but we are here today.”
Another thing
The Silver Line becomes the third train option that runs to DFW Airport.
“It brings another direct rail option to DFW, making the airport more accessible to residents and visitors across the region,” said Dean Ahmad, DFW vice president of parking. “It’s another connection point into the global network of DFW’s airline partners.”
DART’s Orange Line was the first, debuting in 2014 and Trinity Metro’s TEXRail started service in 2019. TEXRail’s 27-mile stretch from Fort Worth T&P Station to Terminal B cost $39 million and was completed in 19 months, according to a news release.
In 2024, Trinity Metro changed trips from every hour to every 30 minutes to DFW Airport due to demand, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Something to know
Four DART member cities—Plano, Irving, Farmers Branch and Highland Park—have initiated special elections allowing voters to decide if they remain with the transit system. Addison may also join them, with a Dec. 2 special meeting set to consider a special election of its own.
Potential withdrawals could impact around $267 million in sales tax revenue for DART, which Lee said would impact the whole system.
Lee said Oct. 29 that all services in Plano would stop the day after the election if voters approved the withdrawal, including service at Plano’s Silver Line stations, and that the entire DART system would be impacted.
Plano officials point to a 2023 study from Ernst and Young Infrastructure Advisors as one reason for calling the election. It found Plano contributed about $109.6 million in sales tax and saw $44.6 million in expenses within the city in fiscal year 2023.
Plano Director of Government Andrew Fortune added that Plano officials have “repeatedly” tried negotiating to receive more Plano-specific DART services, submitting five reform plans dating back to last December, including one earlier this month.
Looking ahead
Richardson City Manager Don Magner said that city staff are working with DART and the other cities to identify a “regional solution” prior to any withdrawals.
”We continue to believe that there is a win-win solution, and we’re dedicated to doing our part to realize that resolution,” he said.
Magner added that rethinking the types of service provided in cities considering leaving DART is one possible solution.
“The assumption is if a city leaves, there’s revenue that leaves and services would have to be cut,” Magner said. ”What if these cities don’t need to cut services, they just need different services? ... We’re really pushing for that right now.”
