Dallas Area Rapid Transit Reviews 2021 Achievements

Despite a very difficult year 2021, Dallas Area Rapid Transit has completed a number of projects, both in the construction field and in the social field.

Projects range from line construction, youth programs, the opening of a new station, a student art competition, a 25th anniversary celebration and the agency’s fifth annual ceremony in honor of deceased members of the Dallas Police Department and DART.

While social achievements are unrelated to engineering, the DART report celebrates what went well in 2021 versus what went wrong. The DART progress report begins below.

January: DART asks young North Texas artists to share their heroes
The annual DART Student Art Competition started the year by asking all North Texas students to share their heroes through art. The theme for this year’s contest was “Everyday Heroes Ride DART”. Heroes come in many forms and this year’s art competition gave young artists the opportunity to salute the heroes from their hometowns who brought our community to life during the pandemic – ordinary people who had a positive impact on the lives of others.

February: DART Silver line construction continues with Josey Lane Bridge in Carrollton
Work continued on the DART Silver Line regional rail project with the start of construction of the Josey Lane Bridge in Carrollton.

The main objective of the Silver Line regional rail project is to provide passenger rail links and services which will improve mobility, accessibility and system links to the main centers of employment, population and activities in the region. north of the DART service area.

March: DART applauds Jonathan’s place of duty during National Safe Places Week
The Safe Place program, operated locally by Jonathan’s Place, partners with businesses and community organizations to provide immediate safety and support to area youth. DART began working with Safe Place in 2015 as part of its ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking. Local Safe Place locations include all DART trains and buses, and Dallas County QuikTrips. When young people enter a designated safe place and ask for help, trained staff members connect them to the appropriate youth shelter for help.

The National Safe Place Program consists of a network of more than 22,000 partner businesses and community locations, such as fast food restaurants, convenience stores, fire stations, public buses and libraries, which display the Safe Place sign in their stores. Windows.

April: DART celebrates the opening of the Hidden Ridge station in Irving
On April 9, DART celebrated the opening of the Hidden Ridge station at Carpenter Ranch in Irving, the 65th station in the DART network. Developed in partnership with the City of Irving and Verizon Communications, the new station is located on the Orange Line between North Lake College and Irving Convention Center stations.

May: DART Student Art Competition Celebrated Local North Texas Artists
DART celebrated the achievements of young local artists at the DART Student Art Competition Award Ceremony. Collin Chon, a 5th grade student at Greenhill School in Addison, was this year’s Best of Show winner. Collin’s work, based on this year’s theme “Everyday Heroes Ride DART,” was selected from 688 submissions from K-12 students.

June: DART celebrated 25 years of rail service in North Texas
On June 14, DART celebrated 25 years of light rail service to residents of North Texas.

The DART streetcar system debuted on June 14, 1996. The original starter system was 11.2 miles in length, with Blue Line service between Illinois Station and Pearl / Arts District Station, and Red Line service. between Westmoreland Station and Pearl / Arts District Station.

Over the past 25 years, the DART LRT system has grown into a 93 mile network of 95 stations (the longest light rail system in the country), improving the quality of life for all residents of the north. of Texas and offering access to greater mobility options. to jobs, health care and even educational opportunities.

July: DART honors police officers at 5th anniversary memorial service
On July 7, the DART Police Department hosted a memorial service in honor of the sacrifice of officers from the Dallas Police Department and DART following a protest march in Dallas on July 7, 2016.

Dallas Police Sgt. Michael Smith, Master Corporal Lorne Ahrens, Officer Michael Krol, Officer Patricio Zamarripa and DART Police Officer Brent Thompson sacrificed their lives to protect the lives of others.

DART Constable Thompson, 43, became the first DART cop to be killed in the line of duty when he gave his life, saving the lives of countless civilians and fellow police officers.

August: DART Discount’s GoPass Tap card supports passengers in need
DART launched the Discount GoPass® Tap Card pilot project to ensure that eligible passengers have access to employment, healthcare and education opportunities, thereby reducing social and economic inequalities by making mobility financially feasible for a larger number of people. The program offers passengers using any of the nine assistance programs a 50% reduction off the normal price of a DART pass.

September: DART’s board of directors unanimously approves the plan to overhaul the bus network
DART’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the DARTzoom bus network overhaul plan. In an effort to offer greater frequency, longer hours of service and better access to destinations, the redesigned network will come into effect on January 24, 2022.

As the North Texas region continues to experience unprecedented growth, becoming a national and international destination for residents and businesses, DART has embarked on a complete overhaul of the existing bus system. In collaboration with the 13 cities in the service area, employers, community leaders and transit users, DART has developed a new bus system designed to ensure passengers have safe and easy access to employment areas, education and entertainment in the DART service area.

October: DART named best employer in the state by Forbes

For the second year in a row, DART has been recognized as the state’s top employer by Forbes. The winners of the state’s top employer award, awarded by Forbes and Statista Inc., were chosen from a sample of 80,000 Americans working for companies with 500 or more employees in the United States.

“We are honored to be named one of the State’s Top Employers again by Forbes,” said Nadine Lee, President and CEO. “DART is an amazing place to work and develop your career thanks to the amazing people who have chosen to be part of the DART family. Our employees’ commitment to DART’s mission and values ​​and their determination to put our customers at the heart of everything we do is key to our success.

November: DART launches three-year on-demand service for residents of the community of Joppé
DART has launched the Joppa Rides program, an on-demand transportation service for the Joppa neighborhood for the next three years. Funded by the City of Dallas to mitigate the impact of the closure of the existing Linfield Road crossing, the program will serve residents of the Joppa neighborhood, located 10 kilometers southeast of downtown Dallas.

December: DART honors civil rights icon Rosa Parks

To honor the life and legacy of the late Rosa Parks, whose efforts sparked a national civil rights movement for racial equality, DART has reserved a seat on the front of every DART bus this week to commemorate her historic efforts and steadfast in favor of equality for all.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, as she refused to give up her bus seat to make room for a white passenger. His act of defiance in the face of an unjust law led to the Montgomery bus boycott, which lasted for several months and led to both the desegregation of public transport in our country and the start of the modern civil rights movement.

Rosa Parks’ lifelong dedication to civil rights has played a central role in raising national and international awareness of the unjust plight of African Americans and the struggle for civil rights.

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