Dallas Area Rapid Transit serving fewer riders than expected

7,200 daily passengers

Roha Teferra, Jun 29, 11.

DART projected that about 12,200 passengers would use the 20 stations along the new Green rail line per day, but only 7,200 passengers use the line per day. As gas prices increased, DART ridership still managed to decrease, which suggests that there are other factors contributing to this drop in numbers, according to reports from the Dallas Morning News as covered in Green Technology World.

The Orange Line, currently under construction, will most likely be the final addition to the rail system for at least ten years. The best way for DART to improve ridership is by becoming “more service-oriented, improving the system it has and relying less on new service to add riders,” according to Todd Piesko, DART vice president for planning and development. Although this plan will be costly, Piesko suggests “the region must find a way to pass on some of the cost of transit to nonmember cities.” Until then, DART is proposing a fare increase in 2012.