The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently awarded Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) a $70 million rail replacement grant.
DART will use funding to support the replacement of 53, more than 30-year-old light rail vehicles as part of the agency’s 10-year system modernization and asset management program. The agency already has begun the procurement process to purchase the new vehicles and included the light rail vehicles in its 20-year financial plan.
“This grant award complements the $25 million U.S. DOT Build grant award we received earlier this summer for platform modifications in anticipation of the new light rail fleet,” Trey Walker, DART interim executive vice president and chief development officer, said. “The grants generously awarded by the FTA support our Transform program and allow DART to reinvest in aging infrastructure to ensure safe, reliable, and innovative transit options for the coming decades.”
The DART Transform program aims to turn the agency into North Texas’ preferred mobility provider by making investments in passenger and operating facilities, resiliency, vehicles, and system infrastructure.
The new rail cars will help DART meet current ridership needs while accommodating future growth, strengthen system resilience, support more reliable service delivery, and provide a more comfortable ride.
DART moves passengers in a 12-city region.