Commendations PRAISE FROM OUR PASSENGERS A car backed out of a church parking I want to commend Rail Operator All of (Northwest Bus Operator) Alan lot and came directly toward me. If it Shawn Shelton and those in Rail Nations’ “regulars” on the 204 planned our November 2010 hadn’t been for (Paratransit Van Operator) Management for retrieving and returning mornings specifically around riding his Maurice Hill leaning on his horn to alert an important package I left on the train bus and certainly miss him since the May the motorist, I could have easily been a at LBJ/Skillman Station. markup. We all wish him well on his Special Commemorative Issue goner. I would like you to acknowledge - Donald Dickers new route and knew we would eventually this truly life-saving act. lose him anyway once the Green Line - Debra Beneke, Dallas Even under threat of physical violence, begins operation. (Northwest Bus Operator) Hector Escobar - Teresa Durham, Carrollton I am a customer service supervisor at a managed to retain his professionalism call center, so I must give credit where and keep a potential explosive encounter (Customer Information Representative) credit is due. Your (Customer Information at the West Transfer Center from getting Alejandro Oller is truly one of the “good Representative) Rochelle Graham is nothing out of control. people.” After not having ridden a bus in short of awesome! - Jesus Navarro, Dallas Dallas in two years, I had a lot of catching - Solidad Rivera, Dallas up to do, and Alex was more than willing When some confusion occurred after the to give me all the information I needed. When I was issued the wrong pass and bus stop relocation at Farmers Branch explained my plight to (Station Monitor) Park & Ride, and my 185 bus left without Louis Thompson, he was more than helpful me, (Transportation Field Supervisor I) Ronald Banks (East Dallas) is the in getting me the proper credentials. I am Louis Driver was responsible for getting consummate bus operator. He has a great very grateful. me home that afternoon. I really like attitude, is always in complete control of - Joni Johnson, Irving the service I receive from DART, and his bus, and when a disruptive passenger employees like Louis is one of the shows up – which is a rarity on the I was very impressed with how reasons why. 283 – he is up for that situation as well. (Northwest Bus Operator) Theodas Giggins - Austin Litman, Carrollton - Rebecca Reary, Garland handled the emergency when the engine exploded, and our Route 184 bus caught A group of young people was on my fire on the Tollway. He told us in a calm, Route 161 trip, making sexually explicit yet firm voice to quickly exit the bus. We comments and cursing as usual, when evacuated without any panic and very (SOCBOF Bus Operator) A.C. Ligon much appreciate his leadership in guiding suddenly stopped the bus and took everyone to safety. command of the situation. I was so - Brenda Clayton, Dallas amazed, I started clapping. I was debating on whether to keep riding DART because the official employee I dropped a dollar out of my wallet while of these wild kids, but seeing that there are newsletter of on the (Paratransit) van, and another those who still care, I will continue buying DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT rider picked it up, and then lied about my monthly pass. not seeing it. In an extraordinary act of - Michael Stevens, Dallas Sue Bauman Vice President, Marketing kindness, the operator, Melvin Edwards, & Communications took a dollar out of his own pocket, which (Station Monitor) Ana Vazquez seems to Yo u connected, and together we’ve achieved enabled me to pay my fare. Please thank always go out of her way to assist both the Robin Stringfellow Director, Communications something that will forever change our him for me. operators and customers at J.B. Jackson, transit system and North Texas. - Keisha Fofanah, Dallas Jr. Transit Center. Her service is greatly Elena Turner Made It appreciated by all. Manager, Communications (SOCBOF Bus Operator) Darlene Rains - Dorriane Wesley, Dallas Thomas Santana When we open the Green Line conducted herself with considerable Designer December 6, we’ll mark the restraint despite the dual stress of first (East Dallas’) Duane Gaut is one completion of the longest light rail having to detour due to police activities, phenomenal bus operator. During a single Millie Tweddell Internal Communications Coordinator project North America has seen in then dealing with an irate passenger she Route 463 trip, he assisted two young Happen! was attempting to an assist in reaching his ladies with strollers, waited patiently for a Joe Swift recent years. It will be the largest destination. A nice job under pressure. customer approaching the stop to board, Photographic Coordinator Your commitment – as an employee, opening in our own history – - Larry Bible, Dallas and still managed to get his customers to Honored by the National a workgroup and a department – surpassing even the 1996 opening of Association of Government the station on time, maintaining a sweet Communicators and your teamwork agencywide our starter system. In fact, it will be and courteous personality all the while. have combined to create something America’s largest single-day opening of - Brenda Clayton, Dallas Visit DARTnet or www.DART.org for the latest news and events. far bigger than ourselves. We’re all electric-powered light rail in 20 years. 132-004-1210 TS continued The Green Line Changes Everything! IT’S ALL CONNECTED! continued from p. 1 Challenges Along the Way guideway was like building a ship The Southeast Corridor has involved a in a bottle because the work area unique challenge that DART has never You Made it Happen! A significant achievement such as was so hemmed in on all sides,” faced before and will never face again: the Green Line involves overcoming says Construction Engineering going through the nation’s largest The Green Line is part of the largest major challenges along the way. For Manager Bill Stinson. urban forest. See the following related service change in our agency’s While the Green example, the sheer size and scope article, “Taking Quality of Life to a history, one that will make it of the Green Line expansion in the The segment New Level” (page 6). easier and faster for thousands of Line opening is still Northeast Corridor – 17.6 miles of track between commuters to access vital work, a few weeks away, and 12 stations – involved tremendous Inwood/ Kudos Now and More to Come shopping, medical, educational, and its significance to coordination. DART needed to Love Field entertainment destinations across work closely with numerous utility and Burbank Stakeholders such as the Dallas Market our service area. At the same time, our customers, companies, TxDOT, the North Texas stations was Center, INFOMART and nearby hotels it will deliver vast, new economic member cities Tollway Authority and other agencies another have eagerly awaited the Market development opportunities with the and the region is all along the alignment. “We also had major issue. Center Station. Hospitals and related power to change the urban lifestyle. already apparent: to confer with the Federal Aviation “In addition facilities also know what a boon the Lake June Station Administration (FAA) near Love Field to our own Southwestern Medical District/Parkland Because of your efforts, DART is so that the height of our equipment Bill Stinson construction, Station will be. “In fact, Parkland is growing its reputation – nationally did not interfere with low-flying planes we had to building a new facility next to the and internationally – as a taking off and landing,” Avalos says. relocate a rail line for freight and station,” Rosteet points out. progressive public transit agency “Customers can’t wait to ride the Green Line,” says Cynthia Brooks, improve large sections of Denton consistently completing major Customer Service senior manager. “They started calling the Customer Information The alignment Drive,” Stinson adds. Other stations – like Royal Lane – may projects on time and on budget. Center about it in early November, and the call volume has increased every day.” also features have a lower profile, but they mean a five aerial Some residents and business owners lot to people they serve. The station is I salute each of you for what you’ve stations that in the Love Field area were very a gateway to the Asian Trade District, achieved together. Please take time are unlike any concerned about the unavoidable and its art and design celebrate the to savor this great milestone and “Everyone in the Southeast Corridor is welcoming us with open arms,” other station disruption that large-scale construction area’s Asian heritage. “I cannot tell congratulate yourself and your reports Lawrence Meshack, Community Affairs senior manager. in the system. often causes, notes Rosa Rosteet, you how proud and excited the Asian coworkers. Together, you made Building them Community Affairs representative. community is about the station,” it happen! involved However, communicating more she says. “Rail stations are a gateway,” notes, Rail Planning Project Manager III drilling deep often and providing street, sidewalk footings and landscaping improvements People in Farmers Branch and Sincerely, Kay Shelton. “They give the community access to the rest of the system George Avalos for massive helped DART address their concerns, Carrollton also are elated, since and vice versa.” columns, and each station projects she reports. they’ve waited 14 years after the out from a single cantilevered beam, light rail starter Gary Thomas almost as if it is suspended in mid- system debuted President/Executive Director Upcoming Green Line projects and other transit-oriented air.