Westward Expansion Crosstown travel in Plano became easier once DART introduced Express Bus Route 211 in March. The new route travels nonstop between Parker Road Station in East Plano and the Northwest Plano Park & Ride in 26 minutes. Buses continue to stop near major employers along Communications Parkway and Headquarters Drive, including the One Legacy West office tower, Liberty Mutual, JPMorgan Chase, FedEx Office, Toyota and Frito-Lay. Commuters will shave 17 minutes off their transit commute by riding Express service, and enjoy a faster and more comfortable ride (see Page 6). During peak hours, Express Route 211 buses depart every 15 minutes. Existing bus routes extend to employment centers Also in March, the agency extended existing Express Bus Route 208 so commuters from Downtown Dallas could get to more Legacy West companies. Buses continue from the Northwest Plano Park & Ride on select trips during the morning and afternoon rush hours. The agency reworked Local Bus Route 346 to serve employment destinations that other routes do not reach, such as Granite Park, Yum! Restaurants International and two Bank of America corporate offices. Route 346 operates during peak periods only. 8Continued from front page Collaboration is key DART is working with city staff, employers, developers and other stakeholders to identify ways to increase public transportation use in Plano’s Legacy area. Their goal: decrease the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road during peak traffic hours. “You can’t fix traffic with money and concrete alone,” Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere said at his annual “State of the City” address given in January. “The only way to improve mobility in Plano, and in our region, is a shift in mind-set. As the northernmost city with DART, we will continue to leverage that asset.” Creating a Complete Trip In addition to expanding bus service, Plano and DART are exploring how to expand use of other first-mile/last-mile transportation options, including: • Bike sharing • Car sharing • Circulator shuttles • Ride sharing • Vanpools • Walking or cycling Rail customers now can transfer to Express Route 211 buses, which travel nonstop between Parker Road Station (pictured above) and the Northwest Plano Park & Ride, then go to stops near several Legacy West employers. 2
3 Publizr Home