For those living in the suburbs of Dallas, the most common way to reach the city is by car, however, on Saturday, an alternative mode of transportation was established as DART’s (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) Silver Line, a train route that links six adjacent cities to Dallas, officially opened for public use. The line connects Plano, Richardson, Addison, Carrollton, Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, and DFW airport.
“This project connects neighborhoods, employers, and the world’s third-busiest airport in one seamless ride,” DART president and CEO Nadine Lee said in a KERA news article. “It’s a catalyst for economic growth and a step toward a more connected North Texas.”
Every day, service will run from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m, with trains arriving in thirty minute increments during peak hours and hourly increments at other times of the day. Passengers have the option to purchase either a three-hour pass for three dollars or an all-day pass for six, and there are a number of ways to buy a pass: through the GoPass App, a GoPass card, which can be bought at many retail stores, or a DART ticket vending machine. From Oct. 25 to Nov. 8, though, all rides on the Silver Line will be free of charge.
The creation of the Silver Line was a long-term project, with the idea for it originally coming up in the 1980s, the land needed for the route being purchased in the 1990s, and construction finally beginning in 2021. The line was originally supposed to open in March of 2023, but due to supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, there was a delay.
As someone who travels to Plano, Richardson, and Dallas often, senior Tamia Temple anticipates using this new form of transportation in the future due to the benefits train travel provides over commuting by car.
“I travel a lot both during the week and the weekend, especially to Plano, Richardson, and Dallas,” Temple said. “It will be super helpful to be able to ride the train because I don’t drive. I also go to the airport often, and the train will help me get there quicker because I won’t have to worry about traffic.
Senior Anagha Konuru doesn’t currently make frequent visits to the cities the Silver Line stops at and therefore doesn’t plan on using the service, however, she’s open to using it in the future and is
Supporters of public transportation such as senior Anagha Konuru see the addition of another DART line as a positive.
“I think it will be helpful in my future and I think there should be more train routes in Texas and America in general,” Konuru said. “I personally would like to push for public transport more.”
