by Gwyn Guthrie

Created on: May 03, 2009   Last Updated: August 13, 2009

A Guide to Public Transportation in Dallas, Texas

When you are ready to go, the public transportation system in Dallas can get you there! The city of Dallas is unique and benefits from having very few geographical hindrances for planning and implementing a state-of-art travel system.

The primary public transportation system in Dallas is the DART system (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) which was founded in August 1983. Using the website at

www.dart.org, you can search for detailed instructions on how to navigate your trip using local buses, express buses, and light rail elements of the overall transportation system. This internet technology has been in place since January 2003 and includes access to destination locations (museums, theaters, shopping) as well as address-to-address connection information, along with fare schedules. For reference, the daily DART rider passes are $3.00, currently. Many of the local residents enjoy an air-conditioned DART bus ride to the annual Texas State Fair each fall as one of many special event discount programs through the DART system.

DART is known for having the first light rail system in the Southwest United States. Within the DART system there are two important light rail routes linking much of the metroplex population. The first of these is the Red Line through Oak Cliff, downtown, uptown, north Dallas, Richardson and Plano. The second is the Blue Line covering south Dallas, downtown, Uptown, north Dallas and Garland. The connector stations are located in Oak Cliff at the 8th & Corinth Station and in north Dallas at the recently opened Mockingbird Station.

In addition to the DART system, you can travel from Dallas to Fort Worth by using the Trinity Railway Express through the historic Union Station, which was built in 1916 and is historically significant as architecture of early Dallas, but also an early hub transportation center for the South West region of the United States. With five scattered rail stations centering into the innovative Union Station, Dallas was an important train stop for the region early in the last century. The Trinity Railway Express now includes a stop at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, providing convenient access for visitors to the region.

Recent developments include the announcement by DART of new racking systems for the public transportation bus fleet. This allows travelers ability to combine biking with the bus and rail access for more convenience and increased access in their travel plans. DART On-Call Service is also available with convenient station-to-curb service for eight neighborhoods in the area.

Wherever you may travel in the Dallas area, keep DART's variety of transportation options in mind to get you there quickly and conveniently!

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