LRT in
Dallas

The transit system in Dallas (and 12 surrounding cities) is operated by an agency known as DART, Dallas Area Rapid Transit. In addition to the bus and LRT (DART Rail) system in Dallas, DART is responsible for the HOV lanes on expressways around Dallas and shares responsibility with Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) in operating Trinity Rail Express (TRE).

DART Rail currently operates three lines referred to by colour: Red, Blue, Green,and Orange. These three lines are interlined in downtown Dallas. The Red Line and Blue Line have an across-the-platform connection with TRE at Union Station, while the Green Line and Orange Line have a TRE connection at Victory station. Current transit facilities to DFW are served by a short shuttle bus between the airport and the Centre Port/DFW Airport station on TRE.

Contents

Toronto Comparison

DART Rail predates low floor technology, and uses high floor vehicles with steps to a low loading platform. In the past, wheelchair/stroller access had been provided by a high-level platform and bridge located at the front of the train behind the operator's cab. The LRV manufacturer has developed a new middle section that has been retro-fitted to provide low-level boarding. DART Rail does provide a good example of some ways that the right of way can be implemented:

• fenced-in surface ROW and elevated sections
• downtown transit mall
• short tunnel sections

System Highlights and Route Details

Item	Notes
Number of lines	4
Total length	115.2 km
Total stations	55
Loading	Low level platform, cars have steps Platform 20 cm above rails,   step up 20 cm to car, 3 more steps up Platforms raised 12 cm for level boarding   with low centre section of cars
Fleet	115 DART vehicles by Kinkisharyo   converted to SLRT configuration Seats 100 passengers, room for 100 standing 5 sliding doors per side (originally 4) 104 km/h top operating speed 37.7 m (124') long double articulated, 8-axle   (originally 28.25 m, 6-axle)
Fare collection	Self service, barrier free, proof of payment
Fare integration	Common fare throughout DART system Transfers valid on LRT and buses for 90 minutes Transfer valid on TRE with upgrade
Ridership	64,300 per weekday
Airport service	No direct service   (TRE station close to DFW has shuttle bus) Orange line under construction to serve DFW   starting December 15, 2014

Ride Descriptions

Due to interlining, providing a description of a trip on each line would repeat many portions. The descriptions will be broken up into corridors:

Northeast Red Line

Parker Road station.

The entire trip on the Red Line from Parker Road to Westmoreland takes approximately 66 minutes. The trip from Parker Road to Union Station takes about 47 minutes.

LRVs on tail tracks north of Parker Road station.

The northern terminus of the Red Line is Parker Road. This station is at-grade with an island platform and parking for 1555 cars. Prior to the opening of DART Rail to this station, the site was known as the East Plano Transit Center. The ticket scan in the Fares and Fare Collection section was issued at this station, though it says "East Plano" on it.

The next three stations are all side platform stations. Downtown Plano has no parking space on its property, though parking facilities in downtown Plano are within walking distance. Bush Turnpike has 778 parking spaces and two bicycle racks, while Galatyn Park has no parking for cars, but two bicycle racks.

The next two stations have an island platform. Arapaho Center has space for 1100 cars, and Spring Valley has space for 403 cars. They both have one bicycle rack and two bicycle lockers.

LBJ/Central station has side platforms and parking space for 568 cars. There is one bicycle rack and one locker.

Looking north at Mockingbird station - this station is situated in a trench below the surrounding grade.

The next three stations all have island platforms. Forest Lane has parking space for 271 cars, two bicycle lockers and one rack. Walnut Hill has 208 parking spaces, and one bicycle locker and one rack. Park Lane is an elevated station that has space for 1200 cars, and two bicycle lockers and one rack. The original Park Lane station that opened with the 1997 extension of the Red Line was an at-grade station. It was replaced by the current elevated station with a further extension in 2002.

The next station, Lovers Lane, has side platforms, no parking, four bicycle lockers and one bicycle rack.

Moving south, the Blue Line joins with the Red Line just before reaching Mockingbird station. It has a centre island platform and is located in a trench slightly below the surrounding grade. There is space for 708 cars along with six bicycle lockers and nine racks. This station has the highest population density within three miles of any mass transit station in Texas.

Some images at Mockingbird station.

 

Looking south from Mockingbird station towards the portals
to the tunneled section between here and Pearl.

 

 

Cityplace station

South of Mockingbird station, the line enters a tunnel and remains underground until just before reaching Pearl station downtown.

M-line streetcar.

Cityplace station is an infill station (i.e.: added to the line after it opened) and was the first public subway station in the southwestern USA. It is also the only DART Rail station where a transfer can be made to the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority's M-Line streetcar.

This older photo of Pearl station shows the platforms before being raised to provide level boarding with the new centre sections added to LRVs.

Compare this newer photo of West End station with the photo to the left of Pearl station. The platform height in this photo has been raised.

Red Line train departing of West End station.

After emerging from the tunneled section, the Green Line joins this line before entering the downtown area and reaching the next station, Pearl. Pearl was the original northern terminus of both the Red Line and the Blue Line. As this was a terminus at one time, it has a centre island platform. The next two stations are St. Paul and Akard.

Heading southwest, the West End station is the last station before the branch to Victory station, located next to the American Airlines Center. Prior to the opening of the Green Line in September 2009, Victory station was only served for special events but is now served full time by trains on the Green Line and Orange Line. Victory station is also served by TRE.

Red Line to Westmoreland arriving at Union Station.

The curves to the left where the branch to Victory station curves to the right and continues to the next station, Union Station. This station is also served by Trinity Rail Express, Amtrak's Texas Eagle, and the Greyhound bus terminal. The LRT is served by side platforms, but the southbound platform is an island platform that also serves as the western terminus of TRE.

Passengers have easy across-the-platform access to TRE trains heading west to connect downtown Dallas with downtown Fort Worth. Passengers may transfer to TRE with a valide System or Regional fare (see Fares and Fare Collection).

At Union station, on the left is a TRE train that will depart away from the camera to Fort Worth and on the right is an arriving Blue Line to Ledbetter.

Northeast Blue Line

The entire trip on the Blue Line from Downtown Garland to Ledbetter takes approximately 58 minutes. The northeast section from Downtown Garland to Mockingbird takes about 18 minutes.

The Blue Line begins at Downtown Garland station, northeast of Dallas. The station has a centre platform.

Beyond Garland station.	Garland station.	Pedestrian crossing at Garland.
Other views of Garland station.

The route travels west and then southwest stopping at Forest/Jupiter, LBJ/Skillman, Lake Highlands, and White Rock station before interlining with the Red Line just before reaching Mockingbird station.

Convention Center station.

 

Blue Line along Lancaster Road near Kiest station.

South Blue Line

The entire trip on the Blue Line from Downtown Garland to Ledbetter takes approximately 58 minutes. The south section from Union Station to Ledbetter takes about 21 minutes.

South of Union Station, the next station is Convention Center, which is within and beneath the Dallas Convention Center building. Following that is Cedars station which is an at grade station just south of the downtown core.

8th & Corinth station.

Just past this point, the line turns southwest and crosses the Trinity River. Speeds on this bridge are as high as 65 mph (or 104 kph). The next station is 8th and Corinth where just past this point, the Blue line trains turn south.

The line follows an electrical utility corridor, stopping at Morrell and Illinois station. Then a bridge takes the line over to the centre median of South Lancaster Road, stopping at Kiest and VA Medical Center station. Kiest is one of only two stations on this branch that has a centre island platform.

Just south of East Ledbetter Drive, the line crosses the southbound Lancaster lanes to Ledbetter station, located just west of the road. Ledbetter is the other station on this branch with a centre platform.

Southwest Red Line

The entire trip on the Red Line from Parker Road to Westmoreland takes approximately 66 minutes. The trip from 8th & Corinth to Westmoreland takes about 11 minutes.

Dallas Zoo station.

End of track at Westmoreland.

Westmoreland station.

From 8th & Corinth, the red line continues in a southwest direction through Oak Cliff to Dallas Zoo station.

After Dallas Zoo, the next station is Tyler/Vernon, followed by Hampton. The southern end of the Red Line is the next station, Westmoreland.

North Green Line

The entire trip on the Green Line from North Carrollton/Frankford to Buckner takes approximately 75 minutes. The trip from North Carrollton/Frankford to Victory takes about 37 minutes.

Description not available. Information and photos are welcomed - please email here.

Southeast Green Line

The entire trip on the Green Line from North Carrollton/Frankford to Buckner takes approximately 75 minutes. The trip from Pearl to Buckner takes about 26 minutes.

Description not available. Information and photos are welcomed - please email here.

Fares and Fare Collection

 

Older image of day pass.

Fares may be purchased from vending machines on platforms.

"Single ride" fares have been replaced with a 2-hour pass. A "Local" version of this (bus and rail within DART's operating zone) is US$2.50.

A local day pass is US$5.00.

A local mid-day pass, usable for unlimited rides between 9:30 am until 2:30 pm, sells for $1.75

A "regional" fare allows for travel within DART, FWTA, and DCTA service areas. It costs US$5.00 for a 2-hour pass, US$10.00 for day pass, or US$3.50 for a mid-day pass.

7-Day Passes are the cost of five days: US$25 for local, or US$50.00 for regional.

A 31-Day pass is available for US$80 for local, or US$160 for regional.

Random fare inspections take place on the LRT. Fare evaders are issued a citation that may be disposed of without a declaration of guilt if an "administrative fee" of US$100 is paid within 30 days. Otherwise, a Class C misdemeanor violation with a fine not to exceed US$500 may apply.

Accessibility

Original ramp and high level platform.

Originally, a high level platform positioned for the front door was used for accessible boarding. A few years ago, a small centre section with a low floor for the vehicles was developed and retro-fitted to the entire fleet. A slight raising of platforms was needed to accommodate a level boarding to the new sections of the vehicles.

Original DART LRT with "A" and "B" sections.

Current DART SLRT with "A", "C", and "B" sections.

Other Notes

Most DART Rail stations have side platforms. Ten stations have a centre island platform. Six of the island platforms are at stations on the northern branch of the Red Line. When parking is available at stations, it is free but overnight stays are not permitted.

Interior view from articulation towards end.	Interior view from one end.	Interior view from articulation towards low floor section.

Current and Planned Expansion

Orange Line

Construction is underway on the 22.4 km Orange Line branching westward from the Green Line at Bachman station.

The first 8.1 km section with three stations to Irving Convention Center opened on July 30, 2012. The next 6.2 km section to Belt Line opened December 3, 2012.

The final 7.5 km to DFW Airport is expected to open on December 15, 2014.

Blue Line South

Currently planned, a 4.8 km southern extension of the Blue Line will add two stations in 2019. Construction is expected to begin in 2013.