Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has launched the first phase of a security initiative focused on strengthening safety, increasing fare compliance and enforcing DART’s Rider Code of Conduct across the light rail system.
Operation Access aims to reinforce expectations for safe and respectful behavior and establish zero tolerance for fare evasion at the highest-incident locations.
“We have reduced crime against persons this year by 21 percent, but any crime on our system is unacceptable,” DART Board Chairman Randall Bryant said.
During the first phase, teams consisting of DART police officers, fare enforcement officers and transit security officers will conduct fare inspections and code of conduct enforcement at designated control points and aboard trains. In addition, a controlled access pilot will be introduced to simulate a fare-gated system at the stations with the highest rates of fare evasion.
Phase one will begin in late fall and continue for 90 days. When the period ends, DART will evaluate enforcement as well as staffing, passenger flow and technology needs.
The agency will provide more information on phase two Oct. 13. It also will provide the feasibility of placing a uniformed security resource in the first car of every train, fare gating rail platforms, and potential policy modifications.