The Texas Demographic Center predicts the Metroplex will add almost four million residents over the next 25 years, and Dallas Area Rapid Transit is planning for long-term growth. DART will hold a meeting Thursday evening to talk about its plans.
The meeting will be held virtually from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. People can watch online.
Short term changes will include the redesigned bus network which will begin in January of 2022. DART expects the Silver light rail line to launch by the end of 2024.
DART has identified five themes for plan for long-term growth: rider experience, mobility and innovation, service and expansion, land use and economic development, and collaboration with other organizations.
Included in rider experience is increased security.
"We will continue to strive to increase police visibility, add cameras at bus shelters and promote our 'Say Something' app," says DART's Joe Clemens.
Clemens says DART will also look at improvements to sidewalks and crosswalks between stations and popular destinations. DART will also look to enhance and call more attention to its "Go Link" service, an on-demand system that can shuttle riders from stations to their neighborhood.
"That experience of getting to and from our bus stops and rail stations is critical," he says.
Clemens says DART will also work with cities on "transit oriented development," to spark mixed-use development near stations.
"Fifty percent of our parking spaces are under-utilized," he says. "We can create station-adjacent plans that align with local goals for new housing, employment and mixed uses to better utilize that vacant asphalt."
DART's Kay Shelton says collaboration with other transit organizations like Trinity Metro and the Denton County Transportation Authority can help advance policies and funding to support public transit and develop regional plans.
"Being part of the solution from a regional perspective is going to continue to be important, too, because people living outside of our service area might work inside our service area," she says. "We're working with communities to try to address those challenges."
According to DART, 48-56% of users rely on the organization for all trips; 24-28% are people running errands or students; 18-22% are commuters who choose DART over other alternatives to get to work; 6-10% are people who only use DART to reach special events.
People can see a complete list of plans at DART.org/2045 and give feedback.
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