DART News Release
Dec 30, 2021 | General
DART: 2021 Year in Review
Media Relations Contact: December 30, 2021 DART: 2021 Year in Review As 2021 comes to an end, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) looks back on the accomplishments of last year. March: DART Applauds Jonathan's Place for Service During National Safe Place Week The Safe Place program, operated locally by Jonathan's Place, partners with businesses and community organizations to provide immediate safety and support for local youth. DART began the collaboration with Safe Place in 2015 as part of its ongoing effort to address human trafficking. Local Safe Place locations include all DART trains and buses and Dallas County QuikTrips. As youth enter a designated Safe Place and ask for help, trained staff members connect them to the appropriate youth shelter for assistance. The national Safe Place program consists of a network of more than 22,000 partnering 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 windows. April: DART Celebrates Opening of 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: The DART Student Art Contest Celebrated Local North Texas Artists DART celebrated the accomplishments of local young artists at the DART Student Art Contest Awards Ceremony. Collin Chon, a 5th grade student at Greenhill School in Addison, was this year's Best of Show winner. Collin's artwork, based on this year's theme "Everyday Heroes Ride DART," was selected from 688 entries from students in kindergarten through 12th grade. June: DART Celebrated 25 Years of Rail Service in North Texas On June 14, DART celebrated 25 years of providing light rail service to the residents of North Texas.  The DART light rail system debuted on June 14, 1996. The original starter system was 11.2 miles long, 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 last 25 years, the DART light rail system has grown into a 93-mile, 65 station network - the longest light rail system in the country - improving the quality of life for all North Texas residents, and providing 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 held a memorial service honoring the sacrifice of the police officers from both the Dallas and DART police departments following a protest march in Dallas on July 7, 2016. Dallas Police Sergeant Michael Smith, Senior 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 Police Officer Thompson, 43, became the first DART police officer killed in the line of duty when he gave his life, saving the lives of countless civilians and fellow officers. August: The DART Discount GoPass Tap Card Supports Riders in Need DART launched the Discount GoPass® Tap Card pilot to ensure riders who qualify have access to jobs, health care and educational opportunities, reducing social and economic inequalities by making mobility financially feasible to more people. The program provides riders using any one of nine support assistance programs with a 50% discount on the regular price of a DART pass. September: DART Board of Directors Unanimously Approves Bus Network Redesign Plan The DART Board of Directors unanimously approved the DARTzoom Bus Network Redesign Plan. With the goal of providing greater frequency, longer service hours and improved access to destinations, the redesigned network goes into effect on January 24, 2022. As the North Texas region continues to experience unparalleled growth, becoming a national and international destination for both residents and corporations, DART has undertaken a complete blank-slate redesign of the existing bus system. Working with all 13 Service Area cities, employers, community leaders, and transit riders, DART has developed a new bus system that is designed to ensure passengers have safe and easy access to employment, education and entertainment areas across the DART service area. October: DART Named a Best-in-State Employer by Forbes
"We are honored to once again be named as a Best-in-State Employer by Forbes," said Nadine Lee, President & Chief Executive Officer. "DART is an incredible place to work and develop your career because of the fantastic people who have chosen to be part of the DART family. Our employees' dedication to DART's mission and values and determination to put our customers at the heart of everything we do, is the key to our success." November: DART Launches Three-Year On-Demand Service for Joppa Community Residents DART launched the Joppa Rides program, an on-demand transportation service for the neighborhood of Joppa for the next three years. Funded by the City of Dallas to mitigate the impact of closing the current Linfield Road at-grade crossing, the program will serve residents of the Joppa neighborhood, located six miles southeast of Downtown Dallas. December: DART Honors Civil Rights Icon Rosa Parks
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama when she refused to give up her bus seat to make room for a white passenger. Her act of defiance in the face of an unjust law led to the Montgomery bus boycott, which lasted several months and led to both the desegregation of public transportation in our country and the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. Rosa Parks' lifelong dedication to civil rights played a pivotal role in raising both national and international awareness of the unjust plight of African Americans and the civil rights struggle. -- 30 -- |
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