(Special to The Dallas Examiner) – Dallas Area Rapid Transit is set to replace 476 buses as part of a $2.5 billion 10-year modernization program.
The Federal Transit Administration awarded the local transit agency a $7.094 million grant to support the purchase of the new buses as the agency phases out its fleet of older model vehicles.
DART provides economical public transit services to more than 171,000 passengers daily across a 700-square-mile, 13-city region including Addison, Carrollton, Cockrell Hill, Dallas, Farmers Branch, Garland, Glenn Heights, Highland Park, Irving, Richardson, Rowlett, Plano and University Park.
“The timing of this grant couldn’t be better as we begin to receive early delivery of new, state of the art vehicles from Gillig and as we move ahead with preparations to provide service to the massive crowds we expect next year with the FIFA World Cup,” DART President/CEO Nadine Lee said.
The Gillig-manufactured vehicles are Compressed Natural Gas – or CNG-powered, a near-zero emission option, which was a key component in DART qualify for the grant. Gillig delivered the first buses ahead of a Spring 2026 timeline, ensuring North Texas DART riders will experience upgraded buses on routes beginning by the end of December 2025.
This new grant is in addition to the $103 million initial federal grants, bringing the total federal support for DART’s purchase of new buses to more than $110 million – reducing the overall cost to DART and member cities. U.S. congressional delegates, representing communities across Texas, were instrumental in securing the funding for the grant.
“We are grateful to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FTA Administrator Marcus Molinaro, and our entire congressional delegation for valuing their strong federal partnership with DART, recognizing the need to find additional funding to support transit programs in one of the fastest growing metro areas in the nation,” Lee said.
The grant is one of 165 transit projects across the U.S. funded with more than $2 billion in federal grants.
DART purchased 476 buses earlier this year. The complete phase-in of the new vehicles is expected through 2027.