DALLAS — It's a new year and a new DART, which means change is inevitable. With plans to focus heavily on frequency for its system and modifications to some of its Go-Link zones, riders should have already started to see some of the changes.
If you're one of the more than 36 million riders in the last few years on its system, there are some other big changes headed your way for 2024.
Twice a year, the agency makes changes in-part following feedback from riders.
They tell WFAA as part of those changes, they do not plan to remove any additional bus stops like what they saw in 2022.
There is however a major focus on frequency.
"We want to make sure that that bus service is available on a regular basis so that you're not concerned if you're running a little behind, or you need them to go somewhere quickly," said Gordon Shattles, who manages DART's external relations.
Another change, the expansion of their Go Link service, which uses its vehicles and partners with rideshare services to send a ride to you if you're inside what they call a designated zone.
"We're going to be actually expanding the boundaries of 11 of our 30 Go Link zones," Shattles added. "And we're also going to be piloting three new cross zone opportunities for our riders."
In a release, DART mentioned where those modifications will take place.
The zone-to-zone pilot program for GoLink, DART’s on-demand service, curb-to-curb microtransit service, which has proven popular in the City of Plano, will be increased to include three new service areas to improve accessibility and mobility between zones. These new pilot zones include:
In response to rider requests, there will be minor expansions to the following 11 DART GoLink zones:
DART is also testing out a feature to allow people to cross from one zone to another.
That's being rolled out in Garland and Rowlett, Rylie-Kleberg and North Dallas.
Another area where a lot of change is taking place: Plano.
Construction on the DART silver line, which people in DFW northern counties maybe looking forward to once it's completed.
It will stretch from Plano to DFW airport. That's expected to be done at the end of 2025 or early 2026.
Another major change: ZVinyl seat replacements on all DART buses.
DART says it is also working on finishing up work on it's more than 160 trains, something the organization hopes to have done by September.
DART Bus Route 216
A portion of DART Bus Route 216 will be extended along Second Avenue from Elsie Faye Heggins Street to Dixon Street, restoring direct service to Hatcher Station and the Dixon Circle neighborhood in South Dallas, as well as other points of interest previously served.
For more information about the changes that go into effect on January 22, please visit our website at dart.org/servicechange, or contact DART Customer Service at 214-979-1111.
NOTE: The following video was uploaded on Jan. 25, 2024