|
|
Article: Dart takes light rail to the people: in just 12 years Dallas has developed one of the most successful light rail systems in the United States, and has ambitious plans for expansion. Gary Thomas, president of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Dart), and vice chair, light rail, of the American Public Transportation Association (Apta) talks to Keith Barrow about the challenges of increasing passenger numbers, rising costs, and new lines.(North America)
- Article from:
- International Railway Journal
- Article date:
- October 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
IN 1983 the citizens of Dallas, Texas, voted in favour of a 1% sales tax that would allow the city to create a modern public transport system. Twenty-five years on, the decision to establish Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Dart) looks an increasingly astute one. The average Dallas car commuter now spends around 60 hours a year in gridlock, a seven hour increase since 2004 and a 24-hour increase over the previous decade. And the cost of sitting in traffic is rising rapidly too--oil prices hit $US 139 a barrel in June, which has translated into petrol prices of more than $US 4 per gallon.
Upon its inception in 1983, Dart quickly instigated a network of frequent bus ...