Planning Efforts Focus on the Future Financial and system plans outline growth and maintenance (Above) With the late-2016 arrival of 46 new coaches, which will be used primarily on Express routes, DART has replaced its entire fleet of buses with vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas. (Left) DART prioritizes repairs to the existing infrastructure, such as the replacement of worn-out light rail tracks in Downtown Dallas. For more than 30 years, DART has combined vision and prudence to become one of the largest and fastest-growing public transit systems in the country. DART’s Transit System Plan and 20-Year Financial Plan provide the framework by which the agency balances the scope of projects with available funding. DART updates its financial plan every year. The current Fiscal Year 2017 20-Year Financial Plan identifies funding for several key priorities for the agency, including: • Implementation of bus service changes based on the Comprehensive Operations Analysis • Platform extensions on the Red and Blue lines • Expediting development of regional rail service on the Cotton Belt rail corridor • Construction of D2: Dallas Central Business District Second Light Rail Alignment Planning and prioritizing projects The agency is updating its long-range transit system plan. Since DART’s adoption of the 2030 Transit System Plan in 2006, the region has continued to experience rapid growth. The 2040 Plan will focus on sustaining the DART System for current and future customers and provide a blueprint for projects and programs through 2040. Since regional growth trends and mobility needs extend beyond the DART Service Area, the 2040 Plan also will identify regional opportunities to expand transit and mobility choices. Maintaining a state of good repair DART has practiced key elements of transit asset management since it began in 1983. Board financial standards mandate that DART balance the expenses of operations, asset replacement and capital expansion with available revenues in the 20-Year Financial Plan. The financial standards also call for an asset condition assessment every five years. The 20-Year Financial Plan includes over $2.6 billion devoted to State of Good Repair asset maintenance and replacement, which constitutes almost 49 percent of the total 20-year capital expenditures. DART worked diligently with the Federal Transit Administration, other key transportation authorities and the American Public Transportation Association to craft national guidelines for transit asset management practices. FTA now has published its Transit Asset Management Final Rule, based substantially on the best practices DART has employed. The agency is developing a formal transit asset management plan and replacing its maintenance and project management systems. Learn more: DART.org/financialinformation DART.org/2040 2
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