Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons
Mark A. Ball

July 23, 2012

DART Rail Orange Line starts July 30

Bus service shifts to serve rail, circulates the Urban Center

The opening of the Orange Line in Irving isn't the only major change coming to Dallas Area Rapid Transit on July 30. In addition to numerous bus and rail changes, three stations will be renamed and a new Park & Ride lot opens in Northwest Plano.

Twelve bus routes will begin supporting the new Orange Line, most serving the Las Colinas Urban Center Station on Lake Carolyn Parkway. The North Irving Transit Center will no longer be used for bus connections, but remains as a parking facility near the Irving Convention Center Station. Routes 305 and 306 will be modified to serve the new University of Dallas Station as well as the campus to safely transport riders across Highway 114.

DART also introduces a new weekday circulator bus service linking major points of interest near the Las Colinas Urban Center. Route 503 will operate in a counterclockwise loop, beginning at Las Colinas Urban Center Station, traveling north on Lake Carolyn Parkway, stopping at the entrance of Irving Convention Center, and then continuing back to Urban Center Station. Service will operate every 15 minutes during the morning and afternoon rush hours, and every 40 minutes at midday.

Additional details can be found in the service change brochures available on DART vehicles, inside transit centers, by visiting www.DART.org, or by calling 214-979-1111.

Rail stations rebranded to reflect nearby districts
Rail stations near the Dallas Arts District, Uptown Dallas and Irving's historic downtown Heritage Crossing will take the names of their adjacent destinations during the July 30 service change. This is the first station renaming since rail service began in 1996. Pearl Station becomes Pearl/Arts District Station; Cityplace Station changes to Cityplace/Uptown Station; and the TRE's South Irving Station becomes the Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing Station.

Location-specific station names make it easier for riders to navigate DART. And strengthening the relationship between the DART stop and the destination increases the appeal of the community to developers.

Northwest Plano Park & Ride opens
Also on July 30, DART opens the new Northwest Plano Park & Ride, located on Communications Parkway, just west of the North Dallas Tollway between Spring Creek and Tennyson parkways. Seven routes will serve the facility, including a new express, rush-hour service to downtown Dallas. Commuters from West Plano, as well as points north, will enjoy an efficient commute downtown, while reverse commuters, from the southern parts of the DART Service Area, gain a direct link north to this vibrant employment center. Fair Share Parking, DART's paid parking program, will be in operation with spaces for 564 vehicles.

The Northwest Plano Park & Ride opened on Monday, July 30. On hand were (left to right) Lee Dunlap (Plano City Council), Faye Wilkins (DART Board Member), Lissa Smith (Mayor Pro-Tem), Gary Thomas (DART President/Executive Director), Jamee Jolly (President/CEO Plano Chamber of Commerce), Andre' Davidson (Plano City Council) and Ben Harris (Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem) High resolution JPG (opens in a new window)