InSUMMERmotion 2020 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT Moving Onward DART’s Coronavirus Response AT A GLANCE • DART is committed to maintaining The coronavirus has dramatically altered every aspect of our daily service for riders – including many transit-dependent first responders and lives and every facet of DART’s operations. The agency continues essential workers – who rely to provide transit service while safeguarding its customers and on public transit. employees in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. • The agency expanded cleaning and safety protocols, began new boarding During the rapidly changing situation, the agency has updated procedures, and added physical its processes based on the latest guidance. Staff has remained in barriers to help increase social direct contact with local, state and federal authorities and distancing and decrease the spread of monitored the public health situation closely. the coronavirus on board vehicles. • New partnerships allow DART to Through news media and its own communications channels, utilize temporarily available assets DART regularly updates the community on changes to service and capabilities to help North Texans or procedures and conveys its measures to keep vehicles and in need. facilities clean. DART.ORG/HEALTH The agency also is using its buses and staff to help care for the DART.ORG/NEWS people and communities it serves. Through several partnerships, DART.ORG/DARTSERVES DART is delivering food and supplies to families and seniors who need assistance during this challenging time. TIMELINE OF DART’S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE March 9-13 March 23-28 • Suspended in-person public meetings • Emphasized social distancing with new marketing • Limited vendor and contractor visits campaign on DART assets • Suspended nonessential DART employee • Closed transit center waiting areas business travel • Required bus customers to board at rear doors • Authorized remote work for office staff March 16-20 March 30-April 4 April 6-10 • Expanded vehicle • Closed DART Headquarters Began modified DART weekday service cleaning protocols lobby, including DARTmart • Launched the corporate social responsibility and Lost & Found • Began modified TRE platform called "DART Serves" weekday service • Installed aisle chains on all Started delivering weekly meals for buses with two doors to • Launched Dallas ISD students and care packages enforce rear door entry/exit DART.org/health to Dallas seniors 2 DART installed plexiglass respiratory droplet shields on all buses to help protect operators and passengers. The new shield leverages DART’s initial investment in the operator barrier door by expanding the clear barrier forward toward the windshield and upward toward the ceiling. April 13-17 April 27 • Strongly recommended face coverings when • Began sanitizing and disinfecting riding DART trains and buses with Halosil • DART Serves expanded outreach efforts foggers, which use a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning solution Began grocery pickup and delivery service with antimicrobial silver ions for paratransit customers Helped deliver meals for Catholic Charities Dallas April 20-24 June 1-5 • DART Serves assisted more communities • Began installing plexiglass Started delivering weekly meals for Garland ISD students respiratory droplet shields on all buses Helped deliver food and supplies to families in food deserts in southern Dallas Started delivering meal packages for Network of Community Ministries to Richardson ISD and Richardson families 3 CARES Act Allocation DART’s priorities for the new federal DART received $229 million from the Coronavirus Aid, surface transportation authorization bill Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, enacted on March 27. GROW 8 CARES Act funding can be used for capital, operating and Increase funding for the Capital other expenses incurred to prevent, prepare for and respond Investment Grant program that to the COVID-19 pandemic. DART has provided transit supports Core Capacity projects service through the pandemic to ensure North Texans have like the D2 Subway through access to essential jobs and medical facilities. downtown Dallas. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration has distributed $25 billion in federal funding MAINTAIN 8 to the nation’s public transportation systems. Increase formula funding for transit programs, such TRANSIT.DOT.GOV/CARES-ACT as State of Good Repair, Bus & Rail Facilities, and Workforce Development. Federal Priorities INNOVATE 8 for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill Increase funding for transit research that supports innovative projects like DART’s award-winning The DART System has grown rapidly because the agency has GoPass® app. leveraged nearly every federal grant and financing program available. Predictable, long-term funding allows agencies and local governments to make long-range plans and major INVEST 8 capital investments. Increase funding for discretionary grant programs, A new federal surface transportation authorization bill is such as Infrastructure for needed to replace the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Rebuilding America (INFRA) and Act (FAST Act) when it expires Sept. 30. Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD). DART supports the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recommendation for a federal investment of $105 billion over six years to fund critical projects that will REHABILITATE 8 repair, maintain and improve our public transit and passenger rail systems today and in the future. Increase flexibility to infrastructure financing APTA estimates that for every $1 billion invested in public programs, such as the transportation, we create or sustain 50,000 jobs across Transportation Infrastructure Finance industries. Every $1 invested in public transportation generates and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and the approximately $5 in economic returns. Maintaining and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement expanding our public transportation network represent a Financing (RRIF), so that more public commitment to growing jobs, supporting our communities agencies, like DART, can utilize these and providing expanded mobility options. much needed programs. 4 M-Line Trolley ROUTH D2 Subway to CityPlace/ AT A GLANCE Uptown Station • DARTNORTH and the FTA completed the PEARL DART is seeking to finish the projectCEDAR SPRINGS development phase of OLIVE SupplementalLIVE OAKDraft Environmental MCKINNEY the D2 Subway project,Victory Stationalso known as the DallasHARWOOD Central Impact Statement in May. ST. PAUL Pearl/Arts Live Oak Business District (CBD)VICTORY Second Light Rail Alignment. ERVAY District • TheGOOD LATIMER agencyStation has finishedGASTON preliminary Station engineeringDeep design Ellum to the 20% level In partnership with the Federal Transit FIELDAdministration (FTA), East WOODALL RODGERS FWY and will reachStation 30% by year end. MuseumLAMAR Transfer (To be relocated and the agency completed the Supplemental Draft Environmental renamed Live Oak Station) Way Station ROSS FEDERAL Center Impact Statement (SDEIS) in May. The SDEIS contains • DART is working with TxDOT to CONTINENTAL West Akard LIVE OAK integrate the D2 Subway design with several appendices, including 20%Transfer Preliminary StationEngineeringSt . Paul PACIFIC plans for I-345. design plans. A 45-day public commentCenter period for the SDEISStation CBD East West End ELM Station ran from May 15 to JuneStation 29. MAIN CESA Metro Center COMMERCE GOOD LATIMER DART.ORG/D2 Station JACKSON R CHAVEZ BLVD. DART also is meeting regularlyRosa with ParksPlaza the Texas Department Commerce Station CANTON of Transportation, the North Central Texas Council of WOOD W. COMMERCE Governments and the city of Dallas regarding the D2 SubwayYOUNG By the end ofHARWOOD the 2020, DART plans to complete the interface with Interstate 345. TxDOT is conductingFIELD a 30% designST. PAUL level and work with FTA to issue a combined GRIFFIN MARILLA LAMAR ERVAY EBJ Union MARKET two-year feasibility study of options to rebuild or remove theAKARD Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Station HOUSTON elevated highway. DART plans to locate D2’s east tunnel Decision. These project milestones will ensure that the portal under the elevated I-345. To date, TxDOT options D2 Subway is ready to move forward at the appropriate time. Convention Center Station include D2 Subway as currently designed. FTA awarded DART $1 million to plan for transit-oriented The agency is working closely with FTA to advance the project development at the five D2 Subway stations. DART is into the engineering phase of the Capital Investment Grant coordinating with the city of Dallas and will engage key program to support a future grant. DART will also monitor stakeholders around the stations. The effort will support an other stimulus programs that could be announced implementation plan that outlines potential zoning changes in the future. and defines multimodal accessibility improvements. M-Line Trolley ROUTH to CityPlace/ Uptown Station D2 Map Legend NORTH CEDAR SPRINGS PEARL OLIVE LIVE OAK D2 Subway Station Victory Station MCKINNEY HARWOOD (Proposed) ST. PAUL Pearl/Arts Live Oak VICTORY ERVAY District GOOD LATIMERStation GASTON D2 Proposed At Grade Station Deep Ellum FIELD East D2 Proposed Subway WOODALL RODGERS FWY Station MuseumLAMAR Transfer (To be relocated and renamed Live Oak Station) D2 Tunnel Portal Way Station ROSS FEDERAL Center CONTINENTAL West Akard LIVE OAK Transfer Station St. Paul PACIFIC Blue Line Center