Source reporting: Dallas Express
Dallas Area Rapid Transit has received a $70 million Federal Transit Administration grant to help replace 53 light-rail vehicles that have operated for more than 30 years, according to the Dallas Express.
The award is part of $166 million in competitive federal grants divided among DART, Pittsburgh Regional Transit and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. The Dallas Express reported that DART’s share represents about 42 percent of the money made available through the rail-vehicle replacement program.
DART says the new vehicles are intended to improve reliability, performance, passenger comfort and system resilience. The agency has already begun procurement by issuing a request for proposals. The purchase is included in DART’s 20-year financial plan, although the report did not specify the project’s total cost, the amount of any local contribution or an expected delivery schedule.
The grant is tied to DART Transform, a 10-year modernization effort covering vehicles, infrastructure, passenger facilities, operating facilities and resilience projects. DART also received a separate $25 million federal BUILD grant earlier this summer for platform modifications needed for the future light-rail fleet, according to the report.
DART operates across a 700-square-mile service area covering 12 North Texas cities, including Dallas, Plano, Irving, Garland, Richardson and Carrollton. The agency reports carrying more than 171,000 passengers each day through light rail, commuter rail, buses, on-demand service and paratransit.
The size of the award makes the project significant for both North Texas riders and taxpayers. Replacing aging equipment could reduce service disruptions and maintenance pressures, but the public will still need clear information about the full acquisition cost, required matching funds, contract terms, delivery milestones and long-term operating expenses. Because procurement is underway, future board records and contract disclosures will show how far the federal grant goes and what financial obligations remain with DART and its member cities.