The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board of directors has approved a major investment to upgrade bus stop infrastructure across North Texas, aiming to improve safety, accessibility and comfort for riders.
The board approved a $71.5 million contract with Tolar Manufacturing Company to design, build, and install new passenger amenities across the DART service area. The five-year contract includes options to extend for an additional two years. The project will add and replace key infrastructure at bus stops, including about 1,350 bus shelters equipped with benches, lighting and real-time arrival displays. There are plans for up to 1,500 new steel benches, 3,000 trash cans and 500 bus stop blade lights.
DART officials said the upgrades are designed to make bus stops more accessible and comfortable, while also providing riders with better information and protection from the weather. The agency also plans to install 350 new shelters, upgrade more than 1,000 existing shelters and improve accessibility with new concrete pads, sidewalks and curb ramps.
“Investing in modern bus stop amenities is about improving the daily experience for our riders,” DART Chief Executive Officer Nadine Lee said in a statement. “These upgrades will make our system more accessible, safer, and more comfortable while delivering the reliable travel information our customers expect. This investment reflects DART’s commitment to enhancing transit infrastructure and improving mobility across North Texas.”
The initiative follows years of planning and pilot programs that tested new shelter designs and gathered rider feedback. In a survey of more than 4,200 respondents, 90% said the updated shelters would be an improvement over existing stops.
The upgrades will take place in phases through 2030 as part of DART’s broader effort to modernize its transit system and enhance customer experience.
