View source for Dallas Area Rapid Transit

{{Short description|American transit agency}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox public transit
| name = Dallas Area Rapid Transit
| image = Dallas Area Rapid Transit logo.svg
| imagesize = 125
| image2 = Westmoreland Station August 2019 5.jpg
| image3 = Dallas Area Rapid Transit New Flyer Xcelsior (50981664862).jpg
| area served = [[Dallas, Texas]] and 12 nearby suburbs<ref name="dart.org">{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2011 |title=About DART |url=https://www.dart.org/about/aboutdart.asp |access-date=April 29, 2021 |website=www.dart.org}}</ref>
| transit_type = Bus, light rail, commuter rail, modern streetcar, curb-to-curb, paratransit
| lines = 91 bus<br />32 on-demand zones<br /> 4 light rail<br />3 commuter rail<br />2 modern streetcar<ref name="refbook">{{Cite web |date=March 2020 |title=Dallas Area Rapid Transit Reference Book |url=https://dartorgcmsblob.dart.org/prod/docs/default-source/dart-facts/dartreferencebook.pdf?sfvrsn=fba0cc81_6 |access-date=Aug 4, 2023 |publisher=Dallas Area Rapid Transit}}</ref>
| daily_ridership = {{American transit ridership|TX Dallas total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|TX Dallas total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| chief_executive = Nadine Lee
| headquarters = 1401 Pacific Avenue<br />Dallas, Texas
| website = {{URL|https://www.dart.org/|dart.org}}
| began_operation = 1983
}}

'''Dallas Area Rapid Transit''' ('''DART''') is a [[transit agency]] serving the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]] of [[Texas]]. It operates [[bus]]es, [[light rail]], [[commuter rail]], and [[high-occupancy vehicle lane]]s in [[Dallas]] and twelve of its suburbs. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|TX Dallas total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|TX Dallas total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}.

DART was created in 1983 to replace a municipal bus system and funded expansion of the region's transit network through a [[sales tax]] levied in member cities. [[DART light rail]] began operation in 1996 and operates over {{convert|93|mi|km|1}} of track. It was the longest light rail system in the United States until 2023, when it was surpassed by [[Los Angeles Metro Rail]] with the consolidation of the [[A Line (Los Angeles Metro)|A Line]].<ref name="KTLALongest">{{cite web |last1=Schlepp |first1=Travis |title=The world’s longest light rail line is about to get even longer |url=https://ktla.com/news/california/the-worlds-longest-light-rail-line-is-about-to-get-even-longer/ |website=KTLA |access-date=18 September 2025 |date=28 July 2025}}</ref>

DART jointly operates the [[Trinity Railway Express]] commuter rail line between [[Dallas]] and [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], with [[Trinity Metro]]. The agency also operates the [[Dallas Streetcar]] and provides funding for the non-profit [[M-Line Trolley]].

== History ==
=== Precursor agencies ===
The '''Dallas Transit System''' (DTS) was a [[public transit]] service operated by the city of Dallas, from 1964 to 1983. DTS was formed by the consolidation of [[Former Transit Companies in Dallas, Texas|various privately owned transit companies and streetcar lines]]. Prior to DTS, the company was formerly known as the Dallas Railway and Terminal Company when [[Dallas]] had an extensive streetcar system that spanned from [[Oak Cliff]] to [[North Dallas]]. The name was changed shortly after the last streetcar ran in January 1956. DART formally took over operations of the DTS in 1988.

In 2000, DART employees restored a 1966 DTS bus to its original state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DART Breathes Life into Retired Dallas Transit System Bus |url=https://www.dart.org/news/news.asp?ID=15 |access-date=April 29, 2021 |website=www.dart.org}}</ref>

=== Creation of DART ===
DART was created on August 13, 1983, as a regional replacement for the DTS (Although the name "Dallas Area Rapid Transit" was intended to reflect the new agency's coverage of the greater [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]], its acronym DART almost immediately evoked comparisons to [[San Francisco]]'s [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]] system, known as BART). Citizens of 15 area cities had voted to levy a 1% [[sales tax]] to join the system by the time it began transit services in 1984 (though the formal acquisition of the Dallas Transit System wouldn't be complete until 1988).<ref name="DARTRefBook">{{Cite book |url=http://www.dart.org/about/dartreferencebookapr12.pdf |title=Dallas Area Rapid Transit Reference Book (Version 3.0) |date=April 2012 |publisher=Dallas Area Rapid Transit}}</ref><ref name="DARTFTA2012Review">{{Cite book |url=http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/DART_Final_Report_DBE_Review-POST.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520144924/http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/DART_Final_Report_DBE_Review-POST.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 20, 2013 |title=Dallas Area Rapid Transit Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Final Compliance Review Report |date=September 2012 |publisher=Federal Transit Administration}}</ref>

In 1985, member cities [[Carrollton, Texas|Carrollton]] and [[Farmers Branch, Texas|Farmers Branch]] held elections to pull out of DART, though the measures failed.  But shifting suburban politics and a loss of confidence in DART management after voters declined to support DART's measure to incur long term debt in 1988 led to seven more pullout votes, two of which ([[Flower Mound, Texas|Flower Mound]] and [[Coppell, Texas|Coppell]]) were successful. Just one suburb joined DART – the tiny community of [[Buckingham, Texas|Buckingham]], which was later annexed by DART member city [[Richardson, Texas|Richardson]].

=== Financial scandal ===
In December 2007, DART revealed it was facing a $1 billion shortfall in funds earmarked for the Blue Line rail service to [[Rowlett, Texas|Rowlett]] and Orange Line rail service to [[Irving, Texas|Irving]], and the DFW Airport.

In January 2008, DART announced it would divert monies from rail lines being built in Dallas. When Dallas officials protested, DART president and executive director Gary Thomas—who had known about the shortfall for at least eight months—announced the agency would borrow more money.

In late January 2008, DART Board chair Lynn Flint Shaw, who was also treasurer of Dallas Mayor [[Tom Leppert]]'s "Friends of Tom Leppert" fund-raising committee, resigned from her DART post. In February, she surrendered to the police on charges of forgery. On March 10, Shaw and her husband, political analyst Rufus Shaw, were found dead in their home in what turned out to be a [[murder suicide]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 18, 2010 |title=Ex-DART Chair Apparent Victim In Murder-Suicide |work=[[KTVT]] |url=http://cbs11tv.com/local/couple.found.dead.2.674457.html |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218104849/http://cbs11tv.com/local/couple.found.dead.2.674457.html |archive-date=February 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 18, 2010 |title=Prominent Dallas Couple May Have Had Suicide Pact |work=[[KTVT]] |url=http://cbs11tv.com/local/Rufus.Shaw.Lynn.2.676817.html |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218145548/http://cbs11tv.com/local/Rufus.Shaw.Lynn.2.676817.html |archive-date=February 18, 2010}}</ref>

=== 2016 shooting ===
{{Main|2016 shooting of Dallas police officers}}
On July 7, 2016, one DART officer was among several people shot in a [[mass shooting]] targeting police officers providing security at a [[Black Lives Matter]] protest.<ref name="NYTimes.Identified">{{Cite news |last1=McGee |first1=Patrick |last2=Fernandez |first2=Manny |last3=Bromwich |first3=Jonah Engel |date=July 7, 2016 |title=Snipers Kill 5 Dallas Officers at Protest Against Police Shootings |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/08/us/dallas-police-officers-killed.html |access-date=July 7, 2016 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="LATimes.Journal">{{Cite news |last1=Hennessy-Fiske |first1=Molly |last2=Wilber |first2=Del Quentin |last3=Pearce |first3=Matt |date=July 8, 2016 |title='Loner' Dallas gunman had bomb materials and kept journal of combat tactics |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-dallas-police-shooting-20160708-snap-story.html |access-date=July 8, 2016}}</ref> One of the officers, identified as seven-year veteran Brent Thompson, died from his injuries and became the first DART officer to be killed in the line of duty since the department's inception.<ref name=NYTimes.Identified /><ref name="DallasNews.Standoff">{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2016 |title=What we know so far about deadly ambush in downtown Dallas |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20160707-hundreds-expected-at-downtown-dallas-rally-following-shooting-deaths-of-alton-sterling-philando-castile.ece |access-date=July 8, 2016 |website=The Dallas Morning News |archive-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829064902/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20160707-hundreds-expected-at-downtown-dallas-rally-following-shooting-deaths-of-alton-sterling-philando-castile.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== New bus network ===
On January 24, 2022, DART's bus network, which had dated back to DART's 1983 incorporation, was completely overhauled. The overhaul, branded as DARTzoom, was intended to improve the bus system's service reach, frequency, and hours of operation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Quillen |first1=Alanna |last2=Kalthoff |first2=Ken |date=2022-01-24 |title=DART Kicks Off New Bus Network With Free Rides |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dart-kicks-off-new-bus-network-next-week-with-free-rides/2862345/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |language=en-US}}</ref> All DARTzoom local routes would be available 5 AM to midnight, seven days a week. The centerpiece of the system was 22 "core frequent" routes, which would be available from 4 AM to 1 AM with 20-minute headways for most of the day and 15-minute headways during peak periods.

DARTzoom saw many short or low-use routes consolidated or removed, and bus stops were re-organized to be a constant distance apart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAQs/Resources |url=https://dartzoom.org/en/resources/faq |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=DARTzoom |language=en}}</ref> Eliminated routes were usually replaced with GoLink zones. The system also introduced a new route numbering scheme, which assigned route numbers and colors based on a route's frequency, rather than the previous network's type designations. Only one route (883, a shuttle route sponsored by the [[University of Texas at Dallas]]) retained its original designation.

To celebrate the new network and allow riders time to adjust, all rides on the new network were free for the first week of operation.<ref name=":0" />

== Light rail ==
{{Main|DART light rail}}
[[File:Akard Station July 2015 10.jpg|thumb|right|DART Blue Line train at [[Akard station]] in downtown Dallas heading towards [[Downtown Rowlett station]]]]
DART's [[light rail]] system comprises {{convert|93|mi|km|1}} between four lines, which connect northern suburbs, South Dallas neighborhoods, and [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport]] to [[Downtown Dallas]]. The system utilizes custom-built [[Kinki Sharyo SLRV]] vehicles, which are electrically powered and feature level boarding in the center segment of the car.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facts: SLRV |url=https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/slrv |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit }}</ref>

As of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}, DART light rail has {{American transit ridership|TX Dallas LR daily}} average weekday boardings, making it the [[List of United States light rail systems|7th-most ridden light rail system in the U.S.]]{{American transit ridership|dailyref}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+DART light rail lines
!Line
!Description
!Length
!Stations
!Opened
!Last extended
|-
|{{rint|dart|red|showtext=yes}}
|[[Plano, Texas|Plano]] to [[Oak Cliff|West Oak Cliff]]
|{{Convert|27.7|mi|km|abbr=on}}
|25
|1996
|2002
|-
|{{rint|dart|blue|showtext=yes}}
|[[Rowlett, Texas|Rowlett]] to [[Oak Cliff|South Oak Cliff]]
|{{Convert|26.8|mi|km|abbr=on}}
|23
|1996
|2016
|-
|{{rint|dart|green|showtext=yes}}
|[[Carrollton, Texas|Carrollton]] to [[Pleasant Grove, Dallas|Pleasant Grove]]
|{{Convert|27.5|mi|km|abbr=on}}
|24
|2009
|2010
|-
|{{rint|dart|orange|showtext=yes}}
|[[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|DFW Airport]] to [[Plano, Texas|Plano]]
|{{Convert|37|mi|km|abbr=on}}
|30
|2010
|2014
|}
Before the 1983 membership election, DART created a plan for {{convert|160|mi|km|1}} of rail.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Myerson |first=Allen R. |date=1983-08-07 |title=The $8.75 billion question: Voters to decide fate of Dallas area's most ambitious public works project |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Aimage%252Fv2%253A0F99DDB671832188%2540EANX-NB-1344984BEF2535BD%25402445554-1344900E62A0B59F-1395D40E674D6A37/hlterms%3A%2522dallas%2520area%2520rapid%2520transit%2522%2520rail%2520plan%2520map%2520miles |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=1A, 29A |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> After several cities (specifically [[Duncanville, Texas|Duncanville]], [[Grand Prairie, Texas|Grand Prairie]], and [[Mesquite, Texas|Mesquite]]) voted not to join the agency and a 1988 bond plan to fund the system failed, DART settled on a pared-down system, consisting of {{convert|66|mi|km|1}} of light rail and {{convert|18|mi|km}} of commuter rail. The first two light rail lines in the system, the Red and Blue Lines, opened in 1996.{{Clear}}

== Streetcars ==
=== Dallas Streetcar ===
{{Main|Dallas Streetcar}}
The Dallas Streetcar is a {{Convert|2.45|mi|km|adj=on}} modern streetcar connecting downtown Dallas to [[Methodist Dallas Medical Center]] and [[Bishop Arts District, Dallas|Bishop Arts District]] in northern [[Oak Cliff]]. The line connects to DART's {{DART R}} and {{DART B}} at [[Dallas Union Station|EBJ Union Station]]. The line is owned by the city of Dallas and operated by DART under a joint funding agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dallas Morning News Editorial Board |date=2024-03-14 |title=DART and city must collaborate on Bishop Arts streetcar |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/03/14/dart-and-city-must-collaborate-on-bishop-arts-streetcar/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation]] |language=en}}</ref>

The streetcar line was built in two phases from May 2013<ref name="taut-2013jul">{{Cite magazine |date=July 2013 |magazine=[[Tramways & Urban Transit]] |page=311}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 17, 2013 |title=Ground Breaking for Dallas Streetcar Project |work=Passenger Transport |publisher=American Public Transportation Association |url=http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/aptapt/issues/2013-05-17/6.html |access-date=January 10, 2015 |archive-date=January 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110211046/http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/aptapt/issues/2013-05-17/6.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> to August 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-29 |title=Expanded Bishop Arts District Streetcar Service Begins |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/expanded-bishop-arts-district-streetcar-service-begins/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=[[KTVT]] |publisher=[[CBS News and Stations|CBS Television Stations]] |language=en-US}}</ref> An extension of the line further into downtown, which would allow for a direct connection to the [[M-Line Trolley]], has been proposed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peña |first=Pablo Arauz |date=2023-10-19 |title=Dallas weighs options for new downtown streetcar line |url=https://www.keranews.org/news/2023-10-19/dallas-weighs-options-for-downtown-streetcar-line |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=[[KERA (FM)|KERA News]] |publisher=North Texas Public Broadcasting |language=en}}</ref>

=== M-Line Trolley ===
{{main|M-Line Trolley}}

The M-Line Trolley is a {{Convert|4.6|mi|km|adj=on}} [[heritage streetcar]] line in Dallas's [[Uptown, Dallas|Uptown]] neighborhood. The trolley connects to DART light rail at the [[Cityplace/Uptown station|Cityplace/Uptown]] and [[St. Paul station (DART)|St. Paul]] stations.

The trolley service is owned and operated by the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, a private nonprofit, but DART and the Uptown Improvement District provide a joint operating subsidy that allows the service to be [[Free public transport|fare-free]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tipping |first=Joy |date=2012-09-06 |title=Ding! Ding! Ding! Take a ride on a M-Line trolley in Uptown |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/2012/09/06/ding-ding-ding-take-a-ride-on-a-m-line-trolley-in-uptown/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Commuter rail ==
=== Trinity Railway Express ===
[[File:TRE@FWITC.jpg|thumb|Trinity Railway Express at [[Fort Worth Central Station]].]]
{{Main|Trinity Railway Express}}
Trinity Railway Express (TRE) is a {{Convert|34|mi|km|adj=on}} commuter rail service connecting downtown Dallas with [[Downtown Fort Worth|downtown]] [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]. The service is jointly operated by DART and [[Trinity Metro]], Fort Worth's transit operator. It was first opened in 1996 and was extended to Fort Worth in late 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dickson |first=Gordon |date=2016-11-29 |title=20 years later, there's plenty to love (and not) about the TRE |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/traffic/your-commute/article117201988.html |website=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] }}</ref>

TRE connects to all four of DART's light rail lines, Fort Worth's [[TEXRail]] line, and [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport]] (via bus). Service is available on weekdays and Saturdays with 30–60 minute headways. Sunday service is only available during the [[State Fair of Texas]] and other major events.

As of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}, the TRE has {{American transit ridership|TX Dallas-Fort Worth total daily}} average weekday boardings, making it the [[List of United States commuter rail systems|17th-most ridden commuter rail system in the U.S.]]{{American transit ridership|dailyref}}

=== Silver Line ===
{{Main|Silver Line (DART)}}
The [[Silver Line (DART)|Silver Line]] is a {{Convert|26|mi|km|adj=on}} commuter rail service that runs between [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport]] and [[Plano, Texas|Plano]] along a former [[St. Louis Southwestern Railway|St. Louis Southwestern]] corridor. The line, first proposed as part of DART's original 1983 rail plan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peña |first=Pablo Arauz |date=2025-09-12 |title=DART's new Silver Line to begin service in October |url=https://www.keranews.org/news/2025-09-12/dart-silver-line-start-date-dallas-transit |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=KERA News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Vandergriff |first=Caroline |date=2023-07-31 |title=North Texans seeing more DART Silver Line construction as completion date nears |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/north-texans-more-dart-silver-line-construction-completion-nears/ |access-date= |work=[[KTVT|CBS News Texas]] |publisher=[[CBS News and Stations]] |agency=}}</ref> opened to passenger service on October 25, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holguin |first1=Briseida |title=DART rolls out Silver Line with free rides and rider praise |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dart-silver-line-launch-free-rides-connects-seven-cities/ |access-date=October 27, 2025 |work=[[KTVT]] |publisher=[[CBS News and Stations]] |date=October 26, 2025}}</ref> Service operates seven days a week with 30–60 minute headways.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=8 things to know about the Silver Line Regional Rail Project |url=https://dartdaily.dart.org/home/8-things-to-know-about-the-silver-line-regional-rail-project |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=DARTDaily |publisher=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref> The Silver Line connects with the DART's [[Orange Line (DART)|Orange]], [[Green Line (DART)|Green]], and [[Red Line (DART)|Red]] lines providing access to [[Dallas Love Field]], [[Downtown Dallas]] via [[Downtown Carrollton station|Downtown Carrollton]] or [[CityLine/Bush station|CityLine/Bush]] station.

=== A-train ===
[[File:Denton A train at Downtown Denton.JPG|thumb|A-train at [[Downtown Denton Transit Center]].]]
{{Main|A-train (Texas)}}
The A-train is a {{Convert|21|mi|km|adj=on}} commuter rail service connecting [[Denton, Texas|Denton]] and [[Lewisville, Texas|Lewisville]] to DART member [[Carrollton, Texas|Carrollton]]. The line is operated by the [[Denton County Transportation Authority]] (DCTA) on a former [[Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad|Missouri–Kansas–Texas]] corridor it leases from DART.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roman |first=Alex |date=2012-04-18 |title=Denton County Commuter Rail Line Breaks the Mold |url=https://www.metro-magazine.com/10007898/denton-county-commuter-rail-line-breaks-the-mold |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=[[Metro Magazine]] |publisher=Bobit Business Media |language=en-US}}</ref>

The A-train connects with DART's {{DART G}} at [[Trinity Mills station]], which allows further travel to downtown Dallas. Both DART and DCTA sell regional-fare passes which enable travel on both lines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fares |url=https://www.dart.org/fare/general-fares-and-overview/fares |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fare Information |url=https://www.dcta.net/fares-passes/fare-information |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=[[Denton County Transportation Authority]]}}</ref>

== Buses ==
As of 2025, DART operates 75 bus routes, as well as several express routes and shuttle buses.

Most trips in the DART system are carried by the bus network. In the 2022 fiscal year, DART had 72,400 bus trips per average weekday, 54% of the system's total 134,810 trips.<ref>{{cite web |title=DART Reference Book - March 2023 |url=https://dartorgcmsblob.dart.org/prod/docs/default-source/dart-facts/dartreferencebook.pdf?sfvrsn=fba0cc81_6 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit }}</ref>

=== Fleet ===
[[File:DART Irving Conv Ctr Sta NABI Bus 39010.jpg|right|thumb|DART NABI bus awaiting departure from [[Irving Convention Center (DART station)|Irving Convention Center Station]].]]
DART's fleet initially consisted of [[Diesel engine|diesel]] buses. In 1998, the agency began using [[liquefied natural gas]] buses alongside them as part of a broader environmental initiative.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |date=December 4, 2000 |title=DART Takes Next Steps in Clean Fuels Fleet Program |url=https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dart-takes-next-steps-in-clean-fuels-fleet-program-172 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2012, DART introduced a new fleet of 123 low-floor 14-to-17-passenger buses for On-Call, FLEX, and low-capacity routes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |date=October 22, 2012 |title=New, Smaller Buses Make Neighborhood Debut During October |url=https://www.dart.org/rideralerts/fullra.asp?id=1512 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028015123/https://www.dart.org/rideralerts/fullra.asp?id=1512 |archive-date=October 28, 2012 |access-date=April 29, 2021 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit}}</ref> The buses were manufactured by [[ARBOC Specialty Vehicles]].

From 2013 to 2017, DART would replace most of its bus fleet with 459 [[NABI]] 40LFW buses running off [[compressed natural gas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |date=March 12, 2012 |title=New DART buses on display at Dallas Auto Show |url=https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/new-dart-buses-on-display-at-dallas-auto-show-1001 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref> The CNG fleet was further bolstered in 2019 with the addition of 41 [[New Flyer Xcelsior]] XN40 buses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |date=May 8, 2019 |title=DART to hit the streets with 41 new buses |url=https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dart-to-hit-the-streets-with-41-new-buses-1392 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref> In 2025, DART announced the purchase of 476 [[Gillig]] buses to replace the NABI fleet.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peña |first=Pablo Arauz |date=2025-10-01 |title=DART rolls out new buses to replace aging fleet |url=https://www.keranews.org/news/2025-10-01/dallas-area-rapid-transit-dart-new-buses-aging-fleet |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=[[KERA (FM)|KERA News]] |publisher=North Texas Public Broadcasting |language=en}}</ref>

DART introduced [[electric bus]]es to its fleet in 2018. The seven [[Proterra Catalyst]] buses were originally used for the DLink shuttle in downtown Dallas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Payne |first=Minnie |date=2018-07-11 |title=DART rolls out electric buses |url=https://greensourcedfw.org/articles/dart-rolls-out-electric-buses |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=GreenSource DFW |language=en}}</ref> When the shuttle was eliminated in 2019, the electric buses were moved to normal routes; they are currently used on route 28 (Singleton).<ref name="Dearmore 2023">{{Cite web |last=Dearmore |first=Kelly |date=March 16, 2023 |title=DART's First Electric Long-Range Bus May Be the Future of Local Mass Transit, or Maybe Not |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/darts-first-electric-long-range-bus-might-be-the-future-of-local-mass-transit-or-it-might-not-be-16145359 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Dallas Observer |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, DART ordered an additional Proterra bus, this time a [[Proterra ZX5|ZX5 Max]], as a trial for long-range electric buses; it is currently used on route 20 (Northwest Highway).<ref name="Dearmore 2023"/> Electric buses are denoted with a unique yellow-and-green livery.

=== Routes ===
{{Main|List of DART bus routes}}
Since the 2022 system redesign, DART has three types of routes: local, express, and shuttle. Routes are further color-coded by mid-day frequency.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Category
! rowspan="2" |Route Numbers
! rowspan="2" |Active routes
! colspan="3" |Frequency (min.)
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
!Peak
!Mid{{Non breaking hyphen}}day
!Off{{Nbhyph}}Peak
|-
| style="background:#ffd800;" |
|Local
|1–9
|4
|15
|15
|30
|
|-
| style="background:#ffd800;" |
|Local
|10–99
|17
|15
|20
|20–30
|
|-
| style="background:#7f5990;" |
|Local
|100–199
|10
|15
|30
|30
|
|-
| style="background:#6ecbef;" |
|Local
|200–299
|44
|30
|40–60
|30–60
|
|-
| style="background:#ff86b4;" |
|Express
|300–399
|5
|{{nowrap|15–30}}
| colspan="2" |N/A
|Express routes connect suburban bus-only facilities, such as [[Red Bird Transit Center]], to [[Downtown Dallas]] using local highways and express/HOV lanes. These routes operate only during peak times.
|-
| style="background:#8bc63e;" |
|Shuttle
|400–499, 883
|11
| colspan="3" |Varies
|Shuttle routes are created on behalf of a sponsor, such as [[NorthPark Center]] or [[Texas Instruments]]. The sponsor determines the route's path, hours, and ridership base. Most shuttle routes are operated by a third party, Echo Transportation.
|}

=== Facilities ===
[[File:DART N Irving TC.jpg|Buses awaiting departure at [[North Irving Transit Center]].|thumb]]DART runs its bus system similar to the [[hub and spoke|hub-and-spoke]] model some airlines use, with specified bus-only facilities that serve as timepoints and transfer locations for multiple routes. Many (though not all) of these facilities include park-and-ride lots, air-conditioned waiting areas, vending machines, and bathrooms. Most rail stations also serve as transfer locations for bus routes, albeit with fewer connecting routes and amenities.
* [[Addison Transit Center]] (Addison)
* [[Bernal/Singleton Transfer Location]] (West Dallas)
* [[Cockrell Hill Transfer Location]] (Cockrell Hill)
* [[East Transfer Center]] (Downtown Dallas, near [[Pearl/Arts District station|Pearl/Arts District]])
* [[Glenn Heights Park & Ride|Glenn Heights Park and Ride]] (Glenn Heights)
* [[Jack Hatchell Transit Center]] (Plano)
* [[MLK Jr. station (DART)|J. B. Jackson Transit Center]] (Fair Park)
* [[Lake Ray Hubbard Transit Center]] (Garland)
* [[Malcolm X Boulevard Transfer Location]] (South Dallas)
* [[North Irving Transit Center]] (Irving)
* [[Northwest Plano Park & Ride|Northwest Plano Park and Ride]] (Plano)
* [[Red Bird Transit Center]] (South Dallas)
* [[South Garland Transit Center]] (Garland)
* [[West Transfer Center]] (Downtown Dallas, near [[West End station (DART)|West End]])

== On-demand services ==

=== DART On-Call (2003–2021) ===
In 2003, DART launched a premium on-call shuttle service to replace many low-use DART bus routes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DART News Release Regarding Bus Changes on October 6, 2003 |url=https://www.dart.org/news/news.asp?ID=523 |access-date=September 22, 2003 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit}}</ref> The service allowed riders to schedule trips to and from any location within designated zones, though it required trips to be scheduled one hour in advance. DART On-Call operated only on non-holiday weekdays.

It was first opened in some North Dallas and Plano neighborhoods and, in late 2005, was expanded to Glenn Heights. When the service was retired in 2021, DART On-Call served north central [[Plano, Texas|Plano]], eastern [[Rowlett, TX|Rowlett]], [[Farmers Branch, TX|Farmers Branch]], [[North Dallas]], [[Lakewood, Dallas, TX|Lakewood]], [[Richardson, TX|Richardson]], [[Lake Highlands]], and [[Glenn Heights, TX|Glenn Heights]].

=== FLEX (2008–2021) ===
[[File:DART New Flex Bus 2012.jpg|right|250px|thumb|DART introduced smaller buses in October 2012 for On-Call, FLEX, and less-traveled routes.]]
Introduced in 2008, FLEX was a hybrid of on-call and fixed-route services. The service augmented six routes in [[Irving, Texas|Irving]], [[Plano, Texas|Plano]], southeastern [[Dallas]], and the [[Garland, Texas|Garland]]/[[Rowlett, Texas|Rowlett]] area with designated FLEX areas surrounding the route. A bus could be diverted to any location within its corresponding area, so long as time permitted.

In order to request FLEX service, a passenger needed to pay System fare, which cost double the typical fare. Pickups within a FLEX area needed to be scheduled an hour in advance, though drop-offs within an area could be requested at time of boarding.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2008 |title=DART Service Change Information – Section I: New Flex Service |url=http://www.dart.org/about/servicechange/servicechange.asp?zeon=03mar08flex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305231733/http://www.dart.org/about/servicechange/servicechange.asp?zeon=03mar08flex |archive-date=March 5, 2008 |access-date=April 29, 2021 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref>

=== GoLink (2018–present) ===
In February 2018, GoLink was introduced as a modernized [[Demand-responsive transport|on-demand service]], similar to [[Ridesharing company|ridesharing]] apps. While similar to DART On-Call, GoLink allows booking through DART's GoPass app (over-the-phone booking is still available), and it does not require trips to be scheduled one hour in advance. GoLink trips are included in DART passes. By default, riders are provided trips by DART-owned minivans and minibuses; riders can also opt-in to riding [[Uber]] and [[Lyft]] vehicles at no extra cost.<ref name="GoLink">{{Cite web |title=GoLink |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/transit-and-use/golink |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref>

GoLink gradually replaced DART On-Call and FLEX services, which were eventually discontinued in 2021. The service was further expanded in 2022 to complement the revised bus network, replacing many less-traveled routes that were not carried over from the previous network.

{{As of|2025|September}}, GoLink trips can be scheduled in 23{{Efn|DART officially operates 29 zones, but 10 of them are grouped into "pilot areas", which allow free travel among multiple neighboring zones. This number includes the 4 pilot areas and excludes their 10 constituent zones.}} zones throughout DART's service area, each of which connect to designated rail and bus stations. Service is available daily from 5&nbsp;AM to midnight. Travel between zones is not permitted, though some zones overlap.<ref name="GoLink" />

== Paratransit ==
DART provides [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|ADA]]-compliant [[paratransit]] for its member cities. Patrons with physical, cognitive, or visual disabilities can schedule curb-to-curb trips to nearby passenger facilities, such as park-and-rides or rail stations. If the disabilities are severe enough that the patron cannot use DART's rail or bus services at all, they are able to schedule trips to any location within the member cities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |title=Paratransit Eligibility |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/transit-and-use/paratransit-services/paratransiteligibility |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref>

DART previously operated two alternative services for elderly and disabled residents that did not qualify for ADA paratransit.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-21 |title=DART launches Rider Assistance Program with Spare |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/paratransit/press-release/21287895/dallas-area-rapid-transit-dart-dart-launches-rider-assistance-program-with-spare |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=Mass Transit |publisher=[[Endeavor Business Media]] |language=en}}</ref> DART Rides serviced residents of [[Addison, Texas|Addison]], [[Carrollton, Texas|Carrollton]], [[Dallas]],  [[Farmers Branch, Texas|Farmers Branch]], [[Irving, Texas|Irving]], [[Plano, Texas|Plano]], and [[Rowlett, Texas|Rowlett]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=DART Rides |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/supporting-services/rider-assistance-program/dart-rides |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232105/https://www.dart.org/guide/supporting-services/rider-assistance-program/dart-rides |archive-date=2023-08-10 |access-date= |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref> while Collin County Rides serviced residents of [[Allen, Texas|Allen]], [[Fairview, Texas|Fairview]], and [[Wylie, Texas|Wylie]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collin County Rides |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/supporting-services/rider-assistance-program/collin-county-rides |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804035350/https://www.dart.org/guide/supporting-services/rider-assistance-program/collin-county-rides |archive-date=2023-08-04 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit}}</ref> Both services were operated by the microtransit company Spare.<ref name=":1" /> Collin County Rides was transferred to the [[Denton County Transportation Authority]] in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farr |first=Colby |date=2023-07-14 |title=Denton County Transportation Authority to take over Collin County Rides program |url=https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/mckinney/transportation/2023/07/14/denton-county-transportation-authority-to-take-over-collin-county-rides-program/ |access-date=2025-08-06 |website=[[Community Impact|Community Impact Dallas-Fort Worth]] |language=English}}</ref> and DART Rides was discontinued in 2025 in favor of standard GoLink service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruthe |first=Hans-Michael |date=2025-03-25 |title=Public Hearing on 2025 Service Changes |url=https://dartorgcmsblob.dart.org/prod/docs/default-source/about-dart/(item-4)-public-hearing-for-2025-service-change_board-presentation.pdf?sfvrsn=7cb890bc_1 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |pages=13}}</ref>

=== Collin County Transit ===
Collin County Transit provides curb-to-curb service to elderly, disabled, and low-income residents of [[Celina, Texas|Celina]], [[Lowry Crossing, Texas|Lowry Crossing]], [[McKinney, Texas|McKinney]], [[Melissa, Texas|Melissa]], [[Princeton, Texas|Princeton]], and [[Prosper, Texas|Prosper]] for a fixed fare. DART operates this service on behalf of the McKinney Urban Transit District (MUTD).<ref name="Collin County Transit">{{Cite web |last=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |title=Collin County Transit |url=https://www.dart.org/guide/supporting-services/rider-assistance-program/collin-county-transit |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref>

== Ridership and financial performance ==
Average daily ridership for DART has been in the vicinity of 200,000 riders per day over the last couple decades. In the 1st quarter of 1998, DART's weekday ridership averaged 211,000 riders per day system-wide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP REPORT – First Quarter 1998 |url=http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/1998_q1_ridership_APTA.pdf |access-date=April 9, 2013 |publisher=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref> Ridership has risen and fallen since then; total ridership, including {{DART TRE}} ridership, has been as high as 248,500 average weekday riders in the 3rd quarter of 2008,<ref name="apta2008">{{Cite web |title=PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP REPORT – Third Quarter 2008 |url=http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2008_q3_ridership_APTA.pdf |access-date=April 9, 2013 |publisher=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref> and as low as 194,700 average weekday riders in the 1st quarter of 2010.<ref name="apta2010">{{Cite web |title=PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP REPORT – First Quarter 2010 |url=http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2010_q1_ridership_APTA.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704121336/http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2010_q1_ridership_APTA.pdf |archive-date=July 4, 2010 |access-date=April 9, 2013 |publisher=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref>  However, after a year-long study in 2012 that counted passenger counts through both the existing manual method and a new automated counting system, DART concluded it has been underreporting rail ridership by more than 15 percent each year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=inMotion – The official newsletter of Dallas Area Rapid Transit – Spring 2013 |url=http://www.dart.org/about/inmotion/spring13/7.htm |access-date=April 9, 2013 |publisher=DART}}</ref> In the 4th quarter of 2012, DART reported an average weekday ridership of 252,900.<ref name="apta2012">{{Cite web |title=PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDERSHIP REPORT – Fourth Quarter 2012 |url=http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2012-q4-ridership-APTA.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513000820/http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2012-q4-ridership-APTA.pdf |archive-date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=April 9, 2013 |publisher=American Public Transportation Association}}</ref> In the fourth quarter of 2014, DART reported total ridership had declined to 233,900 weekday riders.

Overall, DART is one of the lowest-performing transit systems in the U.S., when measured against comparable peer cities, for number of passenger trips, operating cost per mile, and [[Farebox recovery ratio|fare recovery rate]].<ref name=DMag>{{Cite news |last=PETER SIMEK |date=July 2016 |title=DART Might Destroy Downtown Dallas |language=en |work=[[D Magazine]] |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2016/july/dart-downtown-dallas-light-rail/ |access-date=April 7, 2021 |quote=In a peer-to-peer comparison study compiled by a Chicago-based transit agency, Dallas ranked at or near the bottom in terms of passenger trips, operating cost per mile, and fare recovery rate among 10 major U.S. cities. In terms of total miles ridden by passengers, the longest light rail system in the country came in dead last.}}</ref> In 2016, in addition to rider's fare payments, taxpayers paid $5.90 for each trip taken.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schutze |first=Jim |date=2017-06-22 |title=DART Worst Transit Agency in America, Thanks to Dallas' Suburban In-Laws |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-has-the-worst-regional-transit-agency-in-america-bar-none-9588268 |website=[[Dallas Observer]] }}</ref> In 2022, about 3% of DART's operating income came from passenger fares, compared to 61% from local sales taxes and 18% from COVID-19 relief grants.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Pacheco |first1=María |last2=Adriano |first2=José |date=2023-08-14 |title=DART claws its way back after COVID, crime and other setbacks hit ridership hard |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2023/08/14/dart-claws-its-way-back-after-covid-crime-and-other-setbacks-hit-ridership-hard/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation]] |language=en}}</ref>

In addition to fares and sales tax revenue, DART has raised funds by issuing bonds. Following a referendum in 2000, DART was given the authority to issue $2.9 billion in bonds over a 15-to-20 year period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-02-06 |title=DART Board Approves $2.9 Billion Debt Program |url=https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dart-board-approves--2-9-billion-debt-program-197 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Dallas Area Rapid Transit |language=en}}</ref> In 2012, a court ruled that DART could exceed this limit so long as the debt is not solely backed by sales taxes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-24 |title=FY 2022 Statement |url=https://www.dartbonds.org/dart-investor-relations-tx/documents/view-file/i1016?noXdRedir=1&mediaId=717826 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=DART Investor Relations |publisher=BondLink |page=22 |language=en}}</ref> The most recent bond issue occurred in 2021, consisting of two series for a total of $1 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williamson |first=Richard |date=2021-11-08 |title=Dallas transit to issue $1 billion of bonds as sales tax revenues rise |url=https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/dallas-transit-to-issue-1-billion-of-bonds-as-sales-tax-revenues-rise |website=[[The Bond Buyer]] |publisher=[[Arizent]]}}</ref>

== Member cities ==
In addition to the cities that voted to join DART at its creation, any city that adjoins a DART member city is eligible to join.

Member cities fund DART with a 1% [[sales tax]] earmarked to the Dallas Metropolitan Transit Authority (the legal name of the DART's tax district). Texas law limits municipal sales taxes to 2% total,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Sales and Use Tax Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/sales/faq/local.php |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=comptroller.texas.gov}}</ref> which prevents many cities from joining without sacrificing local sales taxes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DART Rail Service {{!}} Allen, TX - Official Website |url=https://www.cityofallen.org/1045/DART-Rail-Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406041926/https://www.cityofallen.org/1045/DART-Rail-Service |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=www.cityofallen.org}}</ref>

DART is capable of establishing service to locations in non-member cities through special agreements. For example, DART serves [[Eastfield College]], which is within the city limits of non-DART member [[Mesquite, Texas|Mesquite]], as it is a part of the [[Dallas College]] system.

=== List of member cities ===
All current members of DART are charter members, having joined during the 1983 vote.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Municipality
!DART facilities
!GoLink zones
!Notes
|-
|[[Addison, Texas|Addison]]
|
* [[Addison station (DART)|Addison]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|silver}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}}}
|None
|Addison planned a vote to withdraw from DART but cancelled the measure in January 1990.
|-
|[[Carrollton, Texas|Carrollton]]
|
* [[Downtown Carrollton station|Downtown Carrollton]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|silver}}}}
* [[North Carrollton/Frankford station|North Carrollton/Frankford]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}
* [[Trinity Mills station|Trinity Mills]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}
|
* Keller Springs
* Northwest Carrollton
|Carrollton voted to remain a DART member in January 1985 by a 69–31 percent margin, again voted in August 1989 to remain a member, and yet again voted to remain a member in August 1996 by a 77–23 percent margin.
|-
|[[Cockrell Hill, Texas|Cockrell Hill]]
|
* [[Cockrell Hill Transfer Location|Cockrell Hill]] {{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}
|None
|Cockrell Hill is one of only two suburbs south of the Trinity River that is a DART member, the other being Glenn Heights.
|-
|[[Dallas]]
|47 rail stations and 6 bus facilities, including:
* [[Akard station|Akard]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}}}
* [[Buckner station|Buckner]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}
* [[Cityplace/Uptown station|Cityplace/Uptown]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}}}
* [[Cypress Waters station|Cypress Waters]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|silver}}
* [[Fair Park station|Fair Park]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}
* [[Inwood/Love Field station|Inwood/Love Field]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}}}
* [[Knoll Trail station|Knoll Trail]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|silver}}
* [[Medical/Market Center station|Medical/Market Center]] {{Rail-interchange|texas|tre}}
* [[MLK Jr. station (DART)|MLK Jr.]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}}}
* [[Pearl/Arts District station|Pearl/Arts District]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1|link=East Transfer Center}}}}
* [[Red Bird Transit Center|Red Bird]] {{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}
* [[SMU/Mockingbird station|SMU/Mockingbird]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}}}
* [[St. Paul station (DART)|St. Paul]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}}}
* [[Dallas Union Station|Union Station]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|texas|tre}}}}
* [[UNT Dallas station|UNT Dallas]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}
* [[Victory station|Victory]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|texas|tre}}}}
* [[West End station (DART)|West End]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1|link=West Transfer Center}}}}
* [[Westmoreland station (DART)|Westmoreland]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}
|
* Inland Port
* Lake Highlands
* Lakewood
* Mountain Creek
* North Dallas Pilot{{efn-ua|group=cities|Cross-zone pilot consisting of the North Dallas, North Central Dallas, and Preston Hollow zones}}
* Park Cities
* Preston Hollow
* Rylie/Kleburg Pilot{{efn-ua|group=cities|Cross-zone pilot consisting of the Rylie and Kleburg zones}}
* South Dallas
* West Dallas
|
|-
|[[Farmers Branch, Texas|Farmers Branch]]
|
* [[Farmers Branch station|Farmers Branch]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|green}}
|
* Farmers Branch
|Farmers Branch voted to remain a DART member in January 1985 by a 61–39 percent margin, and again voted in November 1989 to remain a member.
|-
|[[Garland, Texas|Garland]]
|
* [[Downtown Garland station|Downtown Garland]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}}}
* [[Forest/Jupiter station|Forest/Jupiter]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}
* [[Lake Ray Hubbard Transit Center|Lake Ray Hubbard]] {{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}
* [[South Garland Transit Center|South Garland]] {{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}
|
* Eastern Pilot{{efn-ua|group=cities|name=eastern-pilot|Cross-zone pilot consisting of the Rowlett and Southeast Garland zones}}
|Garland voted to remain a DART member in November 1989 and again in January 1996 (the latter by a 2–1 margin).
|-
|[[Glenn Heights, Texas|Glenn Heights]]
|
* [[Glenn Heights Park & Ride|Glenn Heights]] {{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}
|
* Glenn Heights
|Glenn Heights is one of only two suburbs south of the Trinity River that is a DART member, the other being Cockrell Hill.<br />Because Glenn Heights does not border a DART member city, it would be ineligible for membership today had it not joined in 1983.
|-
|[[Highland Park, Texas|Highland Park]]
|None
|
* Park Cities
|
|-
|[[Irving, Texas|Irving]]
|
* [[Belt Line station|Belt Line]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}
* [[Dallas College North Lake Campus station|Dallas College North Lake Campus]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}
* [[Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing station|Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|texas|tre}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}}}
* [[Hidden Ridge station|Hidden Ridge]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}
* [[Irving Convention Center station|Irving Convention Center]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1|link=North Irving Transit Center}}}}
* [[Las Colinas Urban Center station|Las Colinas Urban Center]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}
* [[University of Dallas station|University of Dallas]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}
* [[West Irving station|West Irving]] {{Rail-interchange|texas|tre}}
|
* Central Irving
* Cypress Waters
* East Irving
* Passport Park/Bear Creek
* South Irving
|Irving voted to remain a DART member in August 1989, and again voted to remain a member in August 1996 by a 57–43 percent margin.
|-
|[[Plano, Texas|Plano]]
|
*[[12th Street station (DART)|12th Street]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|silver}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}}}
*[[Downtown Plano station|Downtown Plano]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}}}
*[[Jack Hatchell Transit Center|Jack Hatchell]] {{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}
*[[Northwest Plano Park & Ride|Northwest Plano]] {{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}
*[[Parker Road station|Parker Road]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}}}
*[[Shiloh Road station|Shiloh Road]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|silver}}
|
* East Plano
* Plano Pilot{{efn-ua|group=cities|Cross-zone pilot consisting of the Far North Plano, Legacy West, and North Central Plano/Chase Oaks zones}}
* South Central Plano
|Plano voted to remain a DART member in August 1989, and again voted to remain a member in August 1996 by a 77–23 percent margin.
|-
|[[Richardson, Texas|Richardson]]
|
* [[Arapaho Center station|Arapaho Center]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}{{Rail-interchange|bus|1}}}}
* [[CityLine/Bush station|CityLine/Bush]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|silver}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}}}
* [[Galatyn Park station|Galatyn Park]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}}}
* [[Spring Valley station (DART)|Spring Valley]] {{nowrap|{{Rail-interchange|dart|red}}{{Rail-interchange|dart|orange}}}}
* [[UT Dallas station|UT Dallas]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|silver}}
|
* East Telecom
|
|-
|[[Rowlett, Texas|Rowlett]]
|
* [[Downtown Rowlett station|Downtown Rowlett]] {{Rail-interchange|dart|blue}}
|
* Eastern Pilot{{efn-ua|group=cities|name=eastern-pilot}}
|Rowlett voted to remain a DART member in August 1989, and again voted to remain a member in August 1996 by a 67–33 percent margin.
|-
|[[University Park, Texas|University Park]]
|None
|
* Park Cities
|
|}
{{notelist-ua|group=cities}}

=== Former member cities ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Municipality
!Joined
!Left
!Reason for departure
!Current transit
!Notes
|-
|[[Buckingham, Richardson, Texas|Buckingham]]
|1985
|1996
|Annexed by Richardson
|N/A
|To date, Buckingham is the only city to have joined DART since the initial 1983 election.<br>A withdrawal vote scheduled for July 1989 was cancelled before it occurred.
|-
|[[Coppell, Texas|Coppell]]
|1983
|1989
|Withdrawal election
|[[Special Programs for Aging Needs|SPAN]] (paratransit)
|DART's [[Cypress Waters station|Cypress Waters]] station is in a Dallas exclave that borders Coppell.<br>Coppell is eligible to re-join DART, as it borders three member cities (Carrollton, Dallas, and Irving).
|-
|[[Flower Mound, Texas|Flower Mound]]
|1983
|1989
|Withdrawal election
|[[Special Programs for Aging Needs|SPAN]] (paratransit)
|Flower Mound is not eligible to re-join DART, as it does not border a current member city. It is eligible to join the [[Denton County Transportation Authority]], but a 2003 measure to do so failed.
|}

=== Declined membership ===
These cities have participated in at least one DART membership election and declined service. Unless otherwise noted, they are still eligible to join DART.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Municipality
!Election year(s)
!Current transit
!Notes
|-
|[[The Colony, Texas|The Colony]]
|1983
|
|The Colony is also eligible to join [[Denton County Transportation Authority|DCTA]], as it is in Denton County.
|-
|[[Duncanville, Texas|Duncanville]]
|1983
|[[STAR Transit#On-demand service|STARNow]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=declined|transfer to DART available at [[UNT Dallas station]], [[Red Bird Transit Center]], and [[Glenn Heights Park & Ride]]<ref name="STAR transfers">{{Cite web |title=Connections to DART |url=https://www.startransit.org/how-to-ride/connections-to-dart/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=[[STAR Transit]]}}</ref>}}
|
|-
|[[Grand Prairie, Texas|Grand Prairie]]
|1983
|[[Via Transportation|Via Grand Prairie]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=declined|transfer to the TRE available at [[West Irving station]]}} 
|
|-
|[[Hutchins, Texas|Hutchins]]
|1992
|[[STAR Transit#On-demand service|STARNow]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=declined|name=hutchins-lancaster-wilmer|transfer to DART available at [[Camp Wisdom station|Camp Wisdom]] and [[UNT Dallas station|UNT Dallas]] station<ref name="STAR transfers" />}}
|The 1992 ballot measure to join DART was rejected by 50 votes.
|-
|[[Lancaster, Texas|Lancaster]]
|1983
|[[STAR Transit#On-demand service|STARNow]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=declined|name=hutchins-lancaster-wilmer}}
|
|-
|[[Mesquite, Texas|Mesquite]]
|1983
|[[STAR Transit#On-demand service|STARNow]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=declined|transfer to DART available at [[Lawnview station]] and [[Lake Ray Hubbard Transit Center]]<ref name="STAR transfers" />}}
| 
|-
|[[Murphy, Texas|Murphy]]
|2002<ref>{{Cite news |last=Howell |first=Curtis |date=2002-05-08 |title=2-to-1 loss shocks DART supporters - City would have been first to join authority since it was formed |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0FC00B934DD580D0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F369C1C03AF6ACA |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |publisher=[[DallasNews Corporation|A. H. Belo Corporation]] |pages=1P |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>
|
|
|-
|[[Wilmer, Texas|Wilmer]]
|1983
|[[STAR Transit#On-demand service|STARNow]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=declined|name=hutchins-lancaster-wilmer}}
|Wilmer is no longer eligible to join DART, as it does not border a DART member city.
|}
{{notelist-ua|group=declined}}

=== Other cities eligible for membership ===
These cities are eligible to join DART because they are adjacent to at least one DART member city.

{| class="wikitable"
!Municipality
!Bordering<br>DART Member(s)
!Current transit
!Notes
|-
|[[Allen, Texas|Allen]]
|Plano
|[[Denton County Transportation Authority#Access (Paratransit)|Collin County Rides]] (paratransit)
|
|-
|[[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]]
|Irving
|[[Via Transportation|Arlington On-Demand]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=eligible|transfer to the TRE available at [[CentrePort/DFW Airport station]]}}
|From 2013 to 2017, DART and [[Trinity Metro]] jointly operated the [[Metro Arlington Xpress]] (MAX) bus route.
|-
|[[Balch Springs, Texas|Balch Springs]]
|Dallas
|[[STAR Transit]] (bus, microtransit){{efn-ua|group=eligible|name=balch-springs-seagoville|transfer to DART available at [[Buckner station]]<ref name="STAR transfers" />}}
|
|-
|[[Cedar Hill, Texas|Cedar Hill]]
|Dallas<br>Glenn Heights
|[[STAR Transit#On-demand service|STARNow]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=eligible|name=cedar-hill-desoto|transfer to DART available at [[UNT Dallas station]], [[Red Bird Transit Center]], and [[Glenn Heights Park & Ride]]<ref name="STAR transfers" />}}
|
|-
|[[DeSoto, Texas|DeSoto]]
|Dallas<br>Glenn Heights
|[[STAR Transit#On-demand service|STARNow]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=eligible|name=cedar-hill-desoto}}
|
|-
|[[Euless, Texas|Euless]]
|Irving
|NETS (paratransit)
|
|-
|[[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]
|Irving
|[[Trinity Metro]] (bus, paratransit, microtransit)<br>[[Trinity Railway Express]]/[[TEXRail]] (rail)
|
|-
|[[Frisco, Texas|Frisco]]
|Plano
|[[Denton County Transportation Authority#Access (Paratransit)|Frisco Demand-Response]] (paratransit)
|A [[commuter rail]] route between Irving and Frisco has been proposed.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://nctcog.org/getmedia/6d9a4734-e5a7-446b-b3d5-d3e1856c09e0/I2F-Rail-Corridor-Report-09302021.pdf |title=Collin County Transit Study Task 3.3 Part I: Irving to Frisco/Celina Regional Rail Corridor Land Use Analysis |date=2021-09-30 |publisher=[[North Central Texas Council of Governments]] |volume= |pages=41-46 |access-date=2025-10-18}}</ref>
|-
|[[Grapevine, Texas|Grapevine]]
|Dallas
|[[TEXRail]] (rail){{efn-ua|group=eligible|transfer to DART available at [[DFW Airport North station]]}}<br>[[Grapevine, Texas#Bus|Grapevine Visitors Shuttle]] (bus)<br>NETS (paratransit)
|
|-
|[[Heath, Texas|Heath]]
|Dallas<br>Rowlett
|[[STAR Transit]] (paratransit)
|
|-
|[[Lewisville, Texas|Lewisville]]
|Carrollton
|[[A-train (Texas)|A-train]] (rail){{efn-ua|group=eligible|transfer to DART available at [[Trinity Mills station]]}}<br>[[Denton County Transportation Authority#GoZone|DCTA GoZone]] (microtransit)
|
|-
|[[McKinney, Texas|McKinney]]
|Plano
|[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit#Collin County Transit|Collin County Transit]] (paratransit)<ref name="Collin County Transit" />
|A [[commuter rail]] route between Plano and McKinney has been proposed.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.nctcog.org/getattachment/123b845b-8fee-44b1-9dbc-c47f5b2e8592/McKinneyCEFS.pdf?lang=en-US |title=McKinney Corridor: Conceptual Engineering and Funding Study |date=July 2010 |publisher=[[North Central Texas Council of Governments]] |volume= |pages= |access-date=}}</ref>
|-
|[[Oak Leaf, Texas|Oak Leaf]]
|Glenn Heights
|CTS (paratransit)<ref name="CTS">{{cite web |title=Community Transit Service (CTS) |url=https://www.csicorsicana.org/community-transit-services/ |website=Community Services, Inc. |access-date=2025-11-19}}</ref>
|
|-
|[[Ovilla, Texas|Ovilla]]
|Glenn Heights
|CTS (paratransit)<ref name="CTS" />
|
|-
|[[Parker, Texas|Parker]]
|Plano
|
|
|-
|[[Red Oak, Texas|Red Oak]]
|Glenn Heights
|CTS (paratransit)<ref name="CTS" />
|
|-
|[[Rockwall, Texas|Rockwall]]
|Dallas<br>Rowlett
|[[STAR Transit]] (paratransit)
|
|-
|[[Sachse, Texas|Sachse]]
|Garland<br>Richardson<br>Rowlett
|
|
|-
|[[Seagoville, Texas|Seagoville]]
|Dallas
|[[STAR Transit#On-demand service|STARNow]] (microtransit){{efn-ua|group=eligible|name=balch-springs-seagoville}}
|
|-
|[[Sunnyvale, Texas|Sunnyvale]]
|Dallas<br>Garland
|
|
|}
{{notelist-ua|group=eligible}}

== Executive directors ==
* Maurice Carter 1982–1984
* George Bonna (Interim) 1984–1985
* Ted Tedasco 1985–1986
* John Hoeft (Interim) 1986
* Charles Anderson 1986–1992
* Tony Venturato (Interim) 1992
* Jack Evans 1992
* Victor Burke (Interim) 1993
* Roger Snoble 1993–2001
* Gary Thomas 2001–2021
* David Leininger (Interim) 2021
* Nadine Lee 2021–Present<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-28|title=DART Board announces Nadine Lee as new president and CEO|url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/management/press-release/21220501/dallas-area-rapid-transit-dart-dart-board-announces-nadine-lee-as-new-president-and-ceo|access-date=2022-01-28|website=www.masstransitmag.com}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[List of Dallas Area Rapid Transit rail stations]]
* [[M-Line Trolley]]
* [[Light rail in the United States]]
* [[List of United States light rail systems by ridership]]
* [[List of tram and light rail transit systems]]
* [[Dublin Area Rapid Transit]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Dallas Area Rapid Transit}}
* [http://www.dart.org/ DART – official site]
* [http://www.transportedart.org/ DART – official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819193732/http://www.transportedart.org/ |date=August 19, 2008 }} {{in lang|es}}
** [http://www.dart.org/maps/systemmap.asp System Map]
** [http://www.dart.org/maps/currentandfutureservicesmap.asp Expansion Plan Map]
** [http://www.dart.org/about/history.asp DART History]
** {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150630003235/http://www.transit-oriented.com/ Transit-Oriented Development]}}

{{Dallas Area Rapid Transit}}
{{USLightRail}}
{{Dallas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dallas Area Rapid Transit| ]]
[[Category:Transportation in Dallas]]
[[Category:Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Bus transportation in Texas]]
[[Category:Passenger rail transportation in Texas]]
[[Category:Light rail in Texas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Dallas County, Texas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Tarrant County, Texas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Irving, Texas]]
[[Category:Transportation in Plano, Texas]]