DART, DFW dedicates new airport station

Officials from Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Dallas/Fort International Airport gathered Aug. 15 to celebrate the completion of the newest stop on the Orange Line at Terminal A, which will open to the public on Aug. 18.

The five-mile addition to the route makes DFW Airport the world's third-busiest airport with direct rail access, said Cynthia Vega, manager of media relations for DFW Airport.

The new station provides access to a hub of connections that is helpful for both the region as well as Plano in particular, said Frank Turner, deputy city manager for Plano.

"It's especially important to have intermodal connections ... where you can go from one mode of transportation to another," he said.

The Orange Line extends through Dallas and continues to Plano with stops in downtown Plano and at Parker Road. Turner said the new airport station will benefit a number of Plano residents who currently commute to their jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth or at the airport.

He also said the DFW Airport station provides an alternative to parking for people wishing to take long-term trips.

"[The city of Plano] supports continued expansion of the regional rail system," he said. "It provides service to the whole region."

A trip to the airport on DART Rail can be covered by a two-hour pass for $2.50, but longer-range travel options are available.