DART sets plans for severe winter weather

Applying lessons learned from the unusual ice and snow events of late 2013 and early 2014, DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) officials have created plans to deliver the widest range of service possible and restore full operations sooner by limiting the number of vehicles that might have to be abandoned because of an unplanned service termination.

These plans will help customers minimize the risk of spending extended time on out-of-service vehicles while DART staffers work to rescue them and help them continue their trips.

The 2013-14 storms forced DART to suspend all or parts of its light rail system and alter bus service over several days. The new plans cover two operating scenarios.

In Operating Scenario One, DART Rail operates within the approximate boundaries of the LBJ loop using a combination of rail and shuttle bus when limited rail service is permitted. Customers using stations outside of those limits will ride shuttle buses to those stations. In Operating Scenario Two, all light rail service is suspended and only buses are used.

DART officials would announce implementation of winter weather plans up to eight hours before plans are activated via postings on DART.org and social media, through email and text notifications, and on local news media outlets.

The plans, which will be implemented based on the storm's intensity and geographic scale, explain how light rail service may be curtailed and replaced by buses. The scenarios are being published now to help customers prepare for how a winter storm might alter their travel.

Stations with rail service under Scenario One include:
Blue Line: 8th and Corinth to LBJ/Skillman
Green Line: Lawnview to Farmers Branch
Orange Line: Irving Convention Center to LBJ/Central
Red Line: 8th and Corinth to LBJ/Central

In Operating Scenario Two, suspended light rail service is replaced with shuttle buses serving each rail station.

In both scenarios, DART will operate a Saturday bus schedule with limited additional service on express routes 206, 208, 210, 221, 234, 278, 282 and 283, and local routes 63, 362 and 509.