DART police to take over rail maintenance facility
Opened in 1914, the building has long been recognized as a historic treasure, but efforts to redevelop it for retail or other transit-oriented uses were unsuccessful, and the maintenance facility for the former Texas Interurban Railway has sat vacant for years.
The Monroe Shops building, located at Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) Blue Line Illinois Station, will become the home of the DART Police Department, beginning Monday.
Opened in 1914, the building has long been recognized as a historic treasure, but efforts to redevelop it for retail or other transit-oriented uses were unsuccessful, and the maintenance facility for the former Texas Interurban Railway has sat vacant for years.
With the rail system slated to grow to 90 miles over the next few years, the number of police personnel will need to expand beyond its current force, according to DART.
The new $20 million facility now includes three floors of modern workspace, meeting rooms, staff offices, showers, lockers and an exercise facility. DART is applying for recognition of Monroe Shops as the agency's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified building.
More Bus
New York MTA Plans Largest Bus Fleet Upgrade in More Than a Decade
The agency is seeking manufacturers for 650 new CNG buses to replace aging vehicles, improve reliability, and advance its broader fleet modernization strategy.
Read More →
Building a Flexible Path to Transit Electrification
John Hroncich discusses BAE Systems’ modular and scalable approach, lessons learned from decades of real-world operations, and how agencies can identify electrification strategies that fit their fleets.
Read More →
Bus Tech Talk: Keeping Transit Technicians Ahead of the Technology Curve
LA Metro’s Obed Mejia discusses technician training, evolving maintenance technology, fleet replacement, and strategies for getting the most out of today’s transit fleets.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: RIPTA Unveils New Frontrunners, Clevland RTA Adds New Siemens, and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Siemens, Prevost, Dodge, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
People Movement: Holly Arnold Joins Transdev and More
In this edition, we also cover recent appointments and announcements at Pace, CamTran, MCI, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
Read More →
The High Cost of Transit Buses: Industry Leaders Look to Procurement Reform
Transit leaders and policymakers examine how standardized bus designs, streamlined procurement, and predictable funding could help agencies stretch budgets and deliver better service.
Read More →
The Business Voice Behind Public Transportation
As chair of APTA’s Business Members Board of Governors, Ray Melleady explains how more than 850 business members are partnering with transit agencies to advance funding, innovation, and industry-wide collaboration.
Read More →
From Surviving to Thriving: Building Stronger Transportation Organizations
Bus Business Consultants founder Brian Dickson shares lessons on leadership, organizational health, and creating options for long-term success in a changing transportation industry.
Read More →
Finding the ‘Happy Medium’: Optimizing Maintenance Without Sacrificing Reliability
The key to maintenance optimization isn’t doing less work—it’s doing the right work at the right time on the right assets.
Read More →
LA Metro, City of West Hollywood, and Partners Advance Smarter Bus Lane Enforcement
The award-winning partnership combines AI-powered detection with human oversight to improve bus reliability, accessibility, and enforcement efficiency.
Read More →