8 Continued Page 4

New Routes to Bush Center 2

Ridership Report 3

union at Carrollton square Connects 3

Excellence Honored 4

MAy 2013 DART.ORG

Ask Gary!How can DART afford to replace so many buses at once? We work hard to plan ahead, track when our vehicles will become obsolete, and build asset replacement into the 20-year Financial Plan.

Exercising that level of discipline ensures we can afford to replace our buses when they reach the end of their useful life, which is 12+ years for a transit bus.

Irving’s Big Ride on CampusFor students and staff at Irving’s

University of Dallas and North

Lake College, the Orange Line’s

the new way to get to class.

The inside track from President/Executive Director Gary Thomas

FY 2012

FY 2013

* March FY 2013 sales and use tax revenue not yet available

$60$50$40$30$20$10$0

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar*

In M

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Sales and Use Tax Revenue

INFOTAINMENT sYsTEM utilizes LCD monitors to display next stop information and rider alerts.

DEsTINATION sIGNs with large LED letters are easier to read; front sign has a full-color display.

Fleet for the Future ELECTRIC HVAC sYsTEM maintains a consistent temperature, can pre-cool the cabin, and purifies air with ultraviolet light.

DART’s new large bus fleet is loaded with features.

LARGE WINDOWs let in more natural light and increase visibility.

LOW FLOOR allows for easy entry and exit with one-step boarding.

FLIP-OuT RAMP eases boarding for passengers with mobility devices, strollers or luggage.

suRVEILLANCE CAMERAs record passenger areas and allow DART Police live look-in ability.

COMPREssED NATuRAL GAs (CNG) ENGINE reduces fuel costs and emissions.

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Short Trips

DART has a major bus order in progress that’s Big D worthy, and the new larger and smaller buses are big on features that pay attention to the little details.

The fleet replacement provided the perfect opportunity to capitalize on advancements of the past decade and address the lessons learned from previous orders. The agency also found it financially and environmentally advantageous to transition its primary fuel source to compressed natural gas (CNG).

Customers and operators alike have welcomed the new amenities. Some benefits, though, are unseen: a 60 percent cut in fuel costs over diesel and an answer to obsolescence challenges that come with maintaining an older fleet.

An Order of MagnitudeThe fleet replacement began in late 2012 with the delivery of 123 smaller, 26-foot ARBOC buses in use on Flex, On-call and lower ridership routes. In January, the first lot of 459 larger buses arrived from North American Bus Industries (NABI), part of a three-year contract valued at more than $210 million. The NABI order – a mix of 40-foot and 31-foot vehicles – will be complete by the end of 2015.

In 2009, the solicitation was the largest in the marketplace at a time when the bus manufacturing industry was suffering

Customers began riding the new NABI buses on select routes in late January.

Fleet for the Future 8 Continued from Front Page

DART Bus

Transit Centers 15

Routes 120+

Buses 642

Bus Operators 992

Bus Stops 12,500

FY 2012 Bus Ridership 38.7 million passenger trips

By The

NUMBERS

because of the economic downturn. DART’s longstanding policy of prioritizing good repair ensured that the agency could make a major capital reinvestment when other agencies’ financial restraints were delaying purchases.

“The large DART order provides stability and enables NABI to ramp up our low-floor model manufacturing operations at our Anniston, Ala., facility, which we had recently relocated from Hungary,” said NABI CEO/President Jim Marcotuli.

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Massive bus order puts

technology in motion

8 Continued on Page 3

The Bush Library and Museum is filled with artifacts and interactive exhibits.

New Routes to Bush CenterAs part of a minor service change effective March 25, DART adjusted weekend routing on Route 521 to transport visitors to the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University, which opened to the public on May 1. Route 521 – which links Mockingbird and Cityplace/Uptown stations – now loops through SMU on Saturdays and Sundays to serve the Bush Center and the future Residential Commons

at SMU, a residence hall under development. Route 768-Mustang Express will provide weekday service to the Bush Center and the new student housing.

SMU also sponsors a new shuttle, Route 743, which began May 1. The shuttle operates continually to the Meadows Museum, the Bush Center and Mockingbird Station, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. There is no Monday service.

Tracking Progress

Leader in Alternative FuelsDART is one of many U.S. transit agencies transitioning their fleets to natural gas to save money, improve air quality and reduce dependence on foreign oil. As a good steward of both the environment and taxpayer dollars, DART has been a forerunner in the use of cleaner fuels.

“When other entities announce they are using a ‘new’ alternative fuel, DART has already been there,” said President/Executive Director Gary Thomas. “We’ve been ahead of that curve for a long time.”

Better by DesignThe incoming buses boast features that operators and customers now expect: spacious interior, comfortable seating, efficient air

Union at Carrollton Square ConnectsIdeally located between downtown Carrollton and its namesake DART Rail station, the Union at Carrollton Square community links suburban living with big-city destinations. Phase I of the mixed-use, transit-oriented development – which opened in July 2012 – is 97 percent leased.

Union at Carrollton Square is a joint venture by High Street Residential (a subsidiary of

Trammell Crow Company), the city of Carrollton and Frost Bank to catalyze downtown revitalization. The successful project sparked the interest of Twisted Root Burger Company, which has signed a long-term lease for ground-level restaurant space.

High Street Residential announced it has broken ground on Phase II of the Union at Carrollton Square community. Phase II is expected to begin leasing this fall with units ready for move-in by early 2014.

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Fleet for the Future 8 Continued from Page 2

conditioning, low-floor boarding and the like. But it’s the upgrades, like real-time travel information and purified air, which provide a great ride for DART’s largest category of customers.

Input from operators was paramount, from the location of air vents to the placement of a cup holder. These transit buses incorporate a newly designed barrier door that gives the driver an option of a protective shield from entering patrons while still enabling fare collection.

The NABI buses are equipped with so many communications subsystems that Mike Hubbell, DART vice president of maintenance, refers to the vehicles as “mobile data transmission platforms.” Each bus houses a 4G cellular modem that can transmit data by both Wi-Fi and broadband connections.

“DART’s attention to detail and quality have simultaneously challenged us and inspired us to be better in what we do,” Marcotuli said.

The well-considered design of the new buses illustrates the leadership thinking the transit industry expects from the agency that’s also built the largest light rail system in the United States.

Yet as Thomas puts it, “Having additional information continues to make us more efficient. That’s not so much leadership but just good, common sense.”

Read additional content online at DART.org/publications.

Union at Carrollton Square Phase II is under construction

Note: LRT APC data used beginning October 2011

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Ridership: Fixed-Route and Systemwide

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

In M

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ns

Systemwide: April 2011- March 2012

Systemwide: April 2012- March 2013

Fixed-Route: April 2011- March 2012

Fixed-Route: April 2012- March 2013

Fixed-route: Bus, DART Rail, Trinity Railway Express Systemwide: Bus, DART Rail, Trinity Railway Express, Van Pool, Paratransit, HOV

Chris Williams and Megan Best are among the many UD students who use the Orange Line from the University of Dallas Station to explore Dallas.

University of Dallas Station opened in late July 2012, shortly before the academic year began. During the inaugural year, University of Dallas offered regional passes to all undergraduates for $20 per semester and subsidized the rest. In the fall semester, approximately 75 percent of the students purchased one.

Almost all UD undergrads live on campus, so DART Rail lets students leave the premises without a car. For many, transit helps them spend less on gasoline and travel more safely.

“My friends and I have taken the trains on the weekends to go to Uptown, the Dallas Museum of Art or the square in Denton,” said Coppell junior Megan Best. “I can go places with a large group of people without thinking about a designated driver or how many seats are in the car.”

For Chris Williams, a car-free freshman from Florida, exploring Dallas by DART is practice for the university’s signature semester abroad in Rome, which most UD students attend their sophomore year.

“It’s great preparation for when we go to Europe and travel. We are all learning public transport smarts from the upperclassmen that have been to Rome.”

A Rail EducationIn early December 2012, the Orange Line arrived at North Lake College Station. For the many students who already commuted to class by DART, the trains provide more flexibility. Tina Bullard, who’s earning a network engineering certificate with her veteran’s education benefits, likes the options that rail offers for getting her from Addison to the college, work and errands.

“Being from Detroit, I’m comfortable with taking public transportation and DART lets me live without a car and still gets me where I need to be,” Bullard said. “When I hear traffic reports, transit seems like a better choice.”

Alyssha Lewis lucked into her proximity to a rail station after moving near the Las Colinas Urban Center and discovered the stop at the college after she enrolled.

“The trains are clean, faster than a car or bus, and the scenery isn’t bad,” Lewis said. “Plus it’s cheaper than paying for gas. Public transportation has been a big help in going to North Lake.”

A Study in ValueMarianne Wilson, administrative manager at UD’s College of Business, was newly hired when the rail line opened. She drives from Sachse to take the Orange Line from Richardson on an employer annual pass.

Irving’s Big Ride on Campus 8 Continued from Front Page

Excellence HonoredThe agency’s capital projects are shining in the national spotlight, with colleagues in the engineering and construction industries bestowing several recent honors.

Engineering News-Record Texas & Louisiana named DART its 2013 Owner of the Year for the DART Rail expansion, particularly the opening of the Orange Line.

The Regional Hispanic Contractors Association presented DART with a Pillar Award as Public Entity of the Year. The contractors group also recognized DART’s Orange Line, Blue Line and Northwest Plano Park & Ride expansions, each as Project of the Year finalists.

DART earned a National Recognition Award for the DART Police Headquarters at Illinois Station in the American Council of

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Orange Line creates

campus connections

8 Continued on Page 6

Engineering Companies’ 2013 Engineering Excellence Awards competition.

Meanwhile, President/Executive Director Gary Thomas received the Ebby Halliday Executive Excellence Award from Executive Women International of Dallas. The professional women’s organization honored Thomas for his support of EWI and serving as an advocate for the group to other executives.

WhiteRockLake

Lake RayHubbard

Tr in i ty R iver

LOVE

DFW

President George Bush

Turnpike to I-20

GARLAND

ROWLETT

PLANO

RICHARDSON

IRVING

FARMERSBRANCH

ADDISON

CARROLLTON

UNIVERSITYPARK

COCKRELL HILL

GLENNHEIGHTS

HIGHLANDPARK

DALLAS

UNT-DALLAS

CAMP WISDOM

ROYAL LANE

WALNUT HILL/DENTON

TRINITY MILLS

FARMERS BRANCH

DOWNTOWN CARROLLTON

BACHMAN

BURBANK

SOUTHWESTERNMEDICAL DISTRICT/PARKLAND

MARKETCENTER

INWOOD/LOVE FIELD

NORTH CARROLLTON/FRANKFORD

CENTREPORT/DFW AIRPORT

WEST IRVING DOWNTOWN IRVING/HERITAGE CROSSING

UNION STATION

CEDARS

CONVENTION CENTER

8TH & CORINTH

MORRELL

PEARL/ARTS DISTRICT

ST. PAUL

AKARD

WEST END

ILLINOIS

KIEST

VA MEDICAL CENTER

LEDBETTER

DALLAS ZOOTYLER/VERNON

HAMPTON

VICTORY

MEDICAL/MARKET CENTER

WHITE ROCK

LAKE HIGHLANDS

PARK LANE

WALNUTHILL

FOREST LANE

SPRING VALLEY

ARAPAHO CENTER

GALATYN PARK

BUSH TURNPIKE

DOWNTOWN PLANO

LOVERSLANE

LBJ/SKILLMAN

FOREST/JUPITER

DOWNTOWNGARLAND

DOWNTOWNROWLETT

CITYPLACE/UPTOWN

MOCKINGBIRD

WESTMORELAND

PARKER ROAD

UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS

LAS COLINASURBAN CENTER

NORTH LAKECOLLEGE

BELT LINE

DFW

IRVING CONVENTION CENTER

LBJ/CENTRAL

HATCHER

LAWNVIEW

LAKE JUNE

BUCKNER

DEEP ELLUMBAYLOR UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

FAIR PARKMLK, Jr.

To Fort Worth

A-Train to Denton (operated by DCTA)

Da

llas

No

rth T

ollw

ay

President George Bush Turnpike

Rail System Legend

Currently Operating

DART Rail Red LineDART Rail Blue LineDART Rail Green LineDART Rail Orange LineDART Rail Orange Line

(Selected Weekday Trips Rush Hour Only)

Trinity Railway Express (TRE)DCTA A-train

Under Design/Construction

DART Rail Orange LineBelt Line to DFW opens 2014.

DART Rail Blue LineExtension to UNT Dallas opens 2016.

HOV System Legend

HOV LaneHOV Lane

(Outside DART service area – no DART funding)

Future HOV LaneFuture HOV Lane

(No DART Funding)

RED BIRDTRANSIT CTR.

GLENN HEIGHTS PARK & RIDE

ADDISONTRANSIT CTR.

JACK HATCHELLTRANSIT CTR.

NW PLANOPARK & RIDE

S. GARLANDTRANSIT CTR.

LAKE RAYHUBBARDTRANSIT CTR.

UNION STATIONCONVENTION

CENTER

PEARL/ARTS DISTRICT

ST. PAUL

AKARDWEST END

VICTORYDEEPELLUM

ROSA PARKS PLAZA

WESTTRANSFER

EASTTRANSFER

Downtown Dallas

DART Current and Future Services to 2016

– 5 –

John Carter Danish – Irving Chairman

Robert W. Strauss – Dallas Vice Chairman

Faye Wilkins – Plano, Farmers Branch Secretary

Richard Carrizales – Dallas Assistant Secretary

Jim Adams – Dallas

Michael T. Cheney – Garland

Randall D. Chrisman – Carrollton, Irving

Jerry Christian – Dallas

Pamela Dunlop Gates – Dallas

Mark C. Enoch – Garland, Rowlett, Glenn Heights

Gary Slagel – Richardson, University Park, Addison, Highland Park

William Tsao – Dallas

William Velasco II – Dallas, Cockrell Hill

Paul N. Wageman – Plano

Claude Williams – Dallas

DART Board of Directors:

Customer Information (routes & schedules) 214.979.1111

DART Administrative Offices 214.749.3278 Connect with DART

132-

010-

313

CW

DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS P.O. BOX 660163 DALLAS, TX 75266-7203

Address Service RequestedIrving’s Big Ride on Campus 8 Continued from Page 4

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“Financially, DART has made a $300-per-month difference in gas, wear and tear, and tolls,” Wilson said. “Although the train adds a half-hour to my commute, what it subtracts in stress provides so much value.”

Having lived in London, Brian Reinhart, a web writer employed at North Lake College, was no stranger to riding rail. He eagerly bought a 2013 employee annual pass through the Dallas County Community College District and estimates it will pay for itself by summer.

“DART’s safe and reliable and I count on it every day,” Reinhart said. “When I look at the freeway, I’m glad I’m not there.”

Adrianne Settles, North Lake College’s student programs development coordinator, rides the train from LBJ/Central Station in the mornings. In the evenings, she takes Route 234 from the Irving Convention Center Station to get home.

“DART chauffeurs me around while I relax, read or study for my master’s,” Settles said. “I also love taking the train to events in Fair Park or the Trinity Railway Express to Fort Worth.”

According to David Browning, vice president for business affairs at El Centro College, the new North Lake College Station makes it easier for students to take classes at both campuses. DART has been the answer to nonexistent parking at El Centro in downtown Dallas, he noted.

“Our students tell us that by riding DART, they don’t worry about getting to class on time. They even coordinate study groups that meet on the train,” Browning said. “Plus, we know from surveys that we’ve helped create transit converts.”

Higher Education Pass Programs 214.749.2783

www.DART.org/collegepass

Nevin Grinnell Vice President Chief Marketing Officer

Morgan Lyons Media Relations Director

Lyle Miller Senior Manager, Creative Services

Denise Johnson Manager, Customer Information/Production

Karen Ptacek Communications Representative

Christine Wilson Senior Graphic Designer

Thomas Santana Graphic Designer

Joe Swift Photography Photographer

To subscribe or update your subscription, contact us:

Online: www.DART.org/publications Phone: 214.749.3249Mail: Inmotion - Marketing Department

Dallas Area Rapid Transit P.O. Box 660163 Dallas, TX 75266-7203

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