Letter to the Editor

DART building bridges

I am writing in response to Sarah Hodges’ article, Rolling Through the Park Cities on Bus 237 (December issue, Page 2), which thoughtfully highlighted the experiences and perspectives of public transportation in Highland Park and University Park.

At Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), we appreciate such insights, as they provide a valuable opportunity to engage with the communities we serve and explore how we can enhance our services. DART board members have also made it a priority to champion the needs of their respective cities.

Highland Park and University Park are key partners in our mission to provide accessible and efficient transit solutions for all of North Texas. 

While the article focused on Bus 237, DART also offers a variety of services to these communities, including Light Rail Transit (LRT), the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) connecting Tarrant County, the Dallas Streetcar, GoLink on-demand service, and Paratransit for residents with specific mobility needs. 

In fiscal year 2023, these services supported 15,977 ridership opportunities for University Park and 44,702 for Highland Park. In 2024, as the region grew, these numbers increased to 47,400 for University Park and 17,500 for Highland Park.

Our goal at DART is to build stronger relationships with all our member cities by ensuring they understand and benefit from the breadth of services we provide. 

Public transportation is essential for reducing road congestion, managing environmental emissions, and creating sustainable connections that strengthen our regional economy.

 With the average cost of vehicle ownership in 2024 exceeding $10,000 annually, DART’s services offer residents an opportunity to save thousands of dollars each year while enjoying convenient and reliable transit options.

We are grateful to Mrs. Hodges for taking the time to explore and share her experiences with Bus 237. Her article highlights areas where we can continue to improve and better meet the needs of Park Cities residents. 

We invite the residents of Highland Park and University Park to experience our services and provide feedback on how we can make them even more accessible and beneficial for their communities.

Thank you, Park Cities People, for the opportunity to share DART’s ongoing efforts and dedication to the Park Cities. We look forward to working together to ensure that our transit system supports the unique needs of your readers and the broader community.

Warm regards,

Jasmyn Carter 

Director of Public Relations.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)