METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

DART budget includes expanded light rail

Smaller than the FY 2012 budget of $1.15 billion, the new budget supports the December 2012 opening of two light rail projects: the second phase of the Orange Line to Irving and the Blue Line extension from Garland to Rowlett.

September 26, 2012
2 min to read


The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board of directors approved a $1.07 billion budget for fiscal year 2013 that supports expanded Orange and Blue Lines as well as the continued construction toward a direct rail connection to DFW Airport in 2014.

Smaller than the FY 2012 budget of $1.15 billion, the new budget supports the December 2012 opening of two light rail projects: the second phase of the Orange Line to Irving and the Blue Line extension from Garland to Rowlett. The lower overall budget includes a decrease in capital spending as the expansion of light rail slows; however, the operating budget is up as DART adds more service to more places.

Ad Loading...

The FY 2013 budget is the latest in a multi-year effort to manage the impact of a decade of flat sales tax receipts. That effort saw the number of employees at the agency remain unchanged despite the addition of nearly 14 miles of new Orange and Blue light rail service along with an increased level of police presence throughout the system.

The budget also supports the approved introduction of new fares beginning in December, the changeover to a new mobility management/paratransit service provider in October, and the introduction of a new fleet of 123 smaller 17-seat buses.

Additionally, it includes the introduction in December of a new fleet of 459 full-size compressed natural gas buses.

Improving local economic conditions and the success of DART's multi-year financial and budgetary initiatives will benefit the southern portion of the service area by making possible the acceleration of the South Oak Cliff Blue Line extension to the University of North Texas campus from 2019 to 2016.

More Rail

A man sits in a passenger rail seat and looks at his phone.
Railby Elora HaynesJune 8, 2026

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow

What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.

Read More →
Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →
Alstom purchasing site for Acela network manufacturing
Railby StaffJune 4, 2026

Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet

The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
World Cup Crowds Will Test Transit Systems
ManagementJune 3, 2026

When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.

Read More →
A rendering of a California High-Speed Rail vehicle
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract

The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.

Read More →
Sound Transit Sounder train
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service

Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline

The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.

Read More →
Managementby StaffJune 1, 2026

Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin

Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.

Read More →
Managementby StaffMay 29, 2026

Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan

The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An EMBARK bus going down the street.
Managementby Alex RomanMay 28, 2026

Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership

The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.

Read More →