Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is advancing a major new security initiative to strengthen safety, increase fare compliance, and enforce DART’s Rider Code of Conduct across the light rail system.

The first phase, Operation Access, will be the largest coordinated security engagement in DART’s history. The 90-day demonstration is expected to begin in late fall and continue into the winter, initially focusing on five stations. DART selected the locations based on incident data and their ability to provide coverage across rail lines entering and exiting downtown Dallas.

DART will introduce a controlled-access pilot at specific stations. The goal is to simulate a fare-gated system at the stations with the highest rates of fare evasion.

“Safety is fundamental to everything we do at DART,” said DART's Interim President/CEO David Leininger. “Operation Access significantly increases our visible security presence while allowing us to gather the data necessary to determine what works and where we need to invest next. Every customer should be able to ride DART safely, comfortably, and with confidence.”

Operation Access

Teams consisting of DART Police Officers, Fare Enforcement Officers, and Transit Security Officers will conduct fare inspections and enforce the Code of Conduct at designated control points and aboard trains. The goal is to establish zero tolerance for fare evasion at the highest-incident locations while reinforcing expectations for safe and respectful behavior throughout the system, according to the agency.

“We have reduced crime against persons this year by 21%, but any crime on our system is unacceptable,” said DART Board Chair Randall Bryant. “The DART board approved $35 million for a camera system overhaul and improved cleaning, and another $32 million for diversion programs to reduce repeat offenders on the system. Operation Access builds on those investments by putting resources where the data tells us they are needed most.”

DART said it will use the 90-day demonstration to gather data and evaluate enforcement, staffing, passenger flow, and technology needs to help shape future security investments.

DART will brief the board on the second phase. It will include a comprehensive review of the feasibility of fare gating rail platforms, placing a uniformed security resource in the first car of every train, and potential modifications to DART’s fare policy, Rider Code of Conduct, and related policies.

A Growing Trend in Transit

As reported previously in METRO, transit agencies are placing renewed emphasis on fare enforcement as they look to address safety, security, and quality-of-life concerns across their systems. Rather than treating fare collection solely as a revenue issue, agencies are increasingly connecting fare compliance with broader efforts to enforce codes of conduct and create a more predictable environment for riders and employees.

The approaches vary by system. Agencies are exploring strategies that include more frequent fare inspections, dedicated enforcement teams, controlled station access, fare gates, and increased deployment of security personnel. Data is also playing a larger role in determining where those resources go, allowing agencies to concentrate enforcement at stations, routes, or locations with higher levels of fare evasion or other incidents.

The trend represents a move toward more integrated fare enforcement strategies. Instead of viewing fare evasion, security, and rider behavior as separate challenges, agencies are increasingly considering how enforcement, technology, station design, security personnel, and codes of conduct can work together to improve the overall transit environment.