Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) new fare system makes it easier and cheaper to transfer from buses to trains and establishes a new money-saving midday pass. There are no changes to the reduced fare structure and the price of a paratransit fare remains at $3.

The new system takes effect December 3 when DART opens the second section of the Orange Line light rail from Las Colinas to DFW Airport property and the Blue Line extension linking Garland and Rowlett.

A two-hour pass for $2.50 replaces the current single-ride ticket that costs $1.75. With the new pass customers may ride any DART bus or rail service or the Trinity Railway Express between Union and CentrePort/DFW Airport stations during a two-hour period with the single pass. The new midday pass, good between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, is $1.75 for the Local and $3.50 for the Regional pass. It's designed to encourage ridership during the parts of the day when DART has additional capacity.

Other major changes include:

•    Consolidation of three general fare classes (local, system, and regional) into two classes (local and regional).

•    The local base fare and day pass increase from $1.75 and $4.00, respectively, to $2.50 and $5.00.

•    The current system base fare and day pass decrease from $3.50 and $7.00, respectively, to $2.50 and $5.00.

•    Simplification of corporate annual passes to reflect a price equal to 75% of the individual annual pass price.

The changes follow a board vote that was preceded by a public hearing and 18 community meetings on the proposed changes.