Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a Texas public transit authority, established in 1983, operating multimodal bus, light rail, commuter rail, on-demand GoLink, paratransit, and streetcar services across 13 North Texas cities. It serves daily commuters, airport travelers, and riders needing accessible transit via the integrated GoPass mobile and contactless-fare ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Dallas Area Rapid Transit does
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a public transit authority and political subdivision of the State of Texas, established in 1983 and headquartered at 1401 Pacific Avenue in Dallas. The agency operates the primary multimodal public transportation system for the Dallas metropolitan area, serving 13 cities across North Texas across a 700-square-mile service area. Its service portfolio comprises the 93-mile DART Rail light rail network (Red, Blue, Green, and Orange lines serving 65 stations), the Silver Line regional rail connecting to DFW Airport Terminal B, the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter rail jointly operated with Trinity Metro, the Dallas Streetcar, the M-Line Trolley connection, and roughly 100 fixed-route bus routes, supplemented by the GoLink on-demand curb-to-curb service that integrates traditional vans with Uber and Lyft vehicles, plus ADA paratransit and the DART Rides subsidized program.
The agency's underlying technology platform centers on the GoPass ecosystem, which unifies a mobile trip-planning and ticketing app (available on iOS and Android), the reloadable GoPass Tap contactless card with automatic fare capping, ticket vending machines at every station, contactless credit/debit and mobile-wallet payment (Apple Pay, Google Wallet), and the 41411 SMS real-time arrival service. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through 65 rail stations, 10 TRE stations, 14 bus transfer facilities, Park & Ride sites, retail reload locations, the GoPass app, and customer-service channels operating seven days a week from 5 AM to midnight. The agency also markets through dart.org, social media (@dartdaily, @dartmedia), email service alerts, transit-education programs, and community outreach.
DART's revenue model combines passenger fares (local day passes at $6 adult/$3 reduced, regional day passes at $9/$4.50, 3-hour passes at $3/$1.50, 31-day passes at $126 local/$192 regional, paratransit at $3.50 per trip, Dallas Streetcar at $1), government funding and grants (federal, state, and local — illustrated by a $25 million USDOT grant awarded July 2026), transit advertising on vehicles and stations, and property/real estate income from transit-oriented development and leases. As a government entity, DART is governed by a board of directors representing member cities and is not subject to PE/VC investment, acquisition, or IPO. The agency has announced a leadership transition, with Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr. named President & CEO effective October 26, 2026.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit
- Legal name
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit
- Website
- https://dart.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a Texas public transit authority, established in 1983, operating multimodal bus, light rail, commuter rail, on-demand GoLink, paratransit, and streetcar services across 13 North Texas cities. It serves daily commuters, airport travelers, and riders needing accessible transit via the integrated GoPass mobile and contactless-fare ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dallas Area Rapid Transit industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transit Services
- NAICS
- Mixed Mode Transit Systems (485111), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Light Rail Transit (LRT) Operators (THAIABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Integrated Multimodal Transit Agencies (Bus + Rail) (THAIAEAD), On-Demand Shared Shuttle / Vanpool (Dynamic Routing, Door-to-Door) (TLAFAJAB), Airport/Seaport Shuttle & Landside Connector Services (TLAFAJAE), Park-and-Ride / Last-Mile Carpool Connector Services (THADAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Dallas Area Rapid Transit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dallas Area Rapid Transit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Passenger Fare Revenue: DART generates revenue from passenger fares including day passes, 3-hour passes, 31-day passes, reduced fares for seniors and people with disabilities, and paratransit fares. Revenue model is primarily subscription-based (31-day passes) with per-trip options (day passes, 3-hour passes) and paratransit per-trip fees.
- Government Funding and Grants: As a public transit authority, DART receives significant funding from federal, state, and local government sources. This includes capital project grants such as the $25 million USDOT grant for Southern Dallas light rail station upgrades and operational subsidies.
- Transit Advertising: DART offers transit advertising opportunities on buses, trains, stations, and other properties to generate additional revenue.
- Property and Real Estate: DART generates revenue from property holdings, including transit-oriented development projects, leases, and property management at transit facilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Local Day Pass - unlimited rides on date of purchase through 3 AM next day |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Regional Day Pass - includes all DART services plus TRE between EBJ Union and CentrePort/DFW Airport |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | 3-Hour Pass - valid for unlimited rides for 3 hours from purchase or activation |
| Subscription | Monthly | 31-Day Pass - monthly pass with automatic fare capping for registered Tap cards |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | TRE One-Way Pass - valid 75 minutes after activation on TRE only, no transfers |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Dallas Streetcar One-Way - available on GoPass app or GoPass Tap card |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paratransit One-Way - origin-to-destination door-to-door service for qualified riders |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels8 records
Dallas Area Rapid Transit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) operates a multimodal public transit system serving 13 cities across North Texas through DART Rail (a 93-mile light rail network with Red, Blue, Green, Orange, and Silver lines), nearly 100 fixed bus routes, the Trinity Railway Express commuter rail, Dallas Streetcar, GoLink on-demand service, and ADA paratransit. Riders pay fares via the GoPass mobile app, reloadable GoPass Tap cards, contactless credit/debit cards and mobile wallets, ticket vending machines, and retail reload locations.
Product overview
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) operates a multimodal public transit system serving 13 cities across North Texas. The portfolio comprises DART Rail (a 93-mile light rail network with Red, Blue, Green, and Orange lines serving 65 stations), DART Bus (fixed-route local and express services across nearly 100 routes), the Silver Line regional rail connecting to DFW Airport, the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter rail linking Dallas and Fort Worth, Dallas Streetcar (2.45-mile modern streetcar), and GoLink (on-demand service integrating traditional vans with Uber and Lyft vehicles). Fare payment is handled through the GoPass ecosystem including the mobile app, GoPass Tap card, and contactless payment options. Paratransit Services provide ADA-compliant door-to-door transportation for eligible riders with disabilities. DART also offers rider assistance programs including DART Rides and has partnered with MATA for the free M-Line Trolley service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GoPass: DART's mobile ticketing and trip planning application that allows users to purchase transit passes, plan trips in real time, and receive service alerts.
- GoLink
- Dallas Streetcar
- DART Rail
Products and services
- GoPass App
Quantifiable outcome
- 12.9% ridership increase during FIFA World Cup 2026 enhanced-service period
Companies that use Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dallas Area Rapid Transit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature6 records
Dallas Area Rapid Transit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Trinity Railway Express (TRE)coreJoint commuter rail service between Dallas and Fort Worth operated in partnership with Trinity Metro. DART and Trinity Metro jointly operate TRE service connecting downtown Dallas and Fort Worth with multiple stations between the cities.
- City of DallascoreDART operates and maintains the Dallas Streetcar system for the City of Dallas. Partnership includes coordination on construction projects such as the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center redevelopment and station closures.
- Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA)minorDCTA serves as referral partner for DART vanpool riders during DART's vanpool program restructuring. DART vanpool riders can participate in DCTA's vanpool program based on service area eligibility.
- Trinity MetrominorTrinity Metro serves as referral partner for DART vanpool riders and operates TRE service in partnership with DART connecting Fort Worth and Dallas.
- QuikTripminorQuikTrip partners with DART Safe Place program to provide young people in crisis with a safe haven location where they can receive food, drink, and wait for transportation to professional help.
- Jonathan's PlaceminorJonathan's Place provides safe shelter and specialized services for children who are victims of abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Partners with DART Safe Place program to transport children to safety.
- McKinney Avenue Transit Authority (MATA)minorMATA owns and operates the M-Line Trolley vintage streetcar system. DART rail connections are available at Cityplace/Uptown Station, St. Paul Station, and Pearl/Arts District Station for transfers to M-Line Trolley.
- Uber and LyftcoreUber and Lyft vehicles are integrated into DART's GoLink on-demand service fleet. DART automatically matches riders with best available option (GoLink van or Uber/Lyft) with no extra cost for riders with valid DART fares.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dallas Area Rapid Transit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO): Houston METRO operates comparable multimodal public transit (bus, light rail, paratransit) across a major Texas metro area under a similar sales-tax-funded authority model, making it the closest geographic and structural peer to DART.
- Trinity Metro: Trinity Metro operates bus, paratransit, and the TEXRail commuter rail in Fort Worth and jointly operates the TRE commuter rail with DART, making it a direct operational peer and partner.
- Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro): Austin CapMetro provides bus, MetroRail commuter rail, and on-demand services as a Texas transit authority funded by sales tax, closely mirroring DART's structure and operating model.
- Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA): MARTA operates bus, heavy rail, and paratransit across the Atlanta metro under a public-authority model, sharing DART's integrated multimodal, sales-tax-funded approach.
- Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART): BART operates heavy rail transit connecting suburban and urban areas of the San Francisco Bay Area, comparable to DART in providing regional rail connectivity across a major US metro.
- Regional Transportation District (RTD Denver): Denver RTD provides bus, light rail, and commuter rail across the Denver metro through a sales-tax-funded district, structurally analogous to DART's regional transit authority model.
Broad incumbents
- Chicago Transit Authority (CTA): CTA operates bus and heavy rail ('L') transit across Chicago with substantially larger scale than DART, providing a benchmark for what an expanded urban rail system looks like at maturity.
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro): LA Metro operates bus, light rail, and subway across LA County with a significantly larger budget and ridership base, comparable to DART in multimodal integration but at materially greater scale.
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): WMATA operates Metrorail and Metrobus across the Washington DC metro, offering a benchmark for a multi-jurisdictional transit authority integrating bus and rail across member jurisdictions.
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA, New York): The MTA is the largest US transit authority, operating NYC subway, buses, and commuter rail, providing a reference point for transit authority scale, fare integration, and capital program management comparable to DART's strategic context.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dallas Area Rapid Transit social profiles
Digital presenceDallas Area Rapid Transit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dallas Area Rapid Transit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dallas Area Rapid Transit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dallas Area Rapid Transit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dallas Area Rapid Transit
What does Dallas Area Rapid Transit do?
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) operates a multimodal public transit system serving 13 cities across North Texas through DART Rail (a 93-mile light rail network with Red, Blue, Green, Orange, and Silver lines), nearly 100 fixed bus routes, the Trinity Railway Express commuter rail, Dallas Streetcar, GoLink on-demand service, and ADA paratransit. Riders pay fares via the GoPass mobile app, reloadable GoPass Tap cards, contactless credit/debit cards and mobile wallets, ticket vending machines, and retail reload locations.
Is Dallas Area Rapid Transit a public or private company?
Dallas Area Rapid Transit is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Dallas Area Rapid Transit founded?
Dallas Area Rapid Transit was founded in 1983. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Dallas Area Rapid Transit based?
Dallas Area Rapid Transit is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dallas Area Rapid Transit make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Passenger Fare Revenue is the primary driver. The others are government Funding and Grants, transit Advertising and property and Real Estate.
Who are Dallas Area Rapid Transit's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), Trinity Metro, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro), Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Regional Transportation District (RTD Denver). Broad incumbents are Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA, New York).
Does Dallas Area Rapid Transit have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
What industry is Dallas Area Rapid Transit in?
Dallas Area Rapid Transit's product category is Public Transit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAIABAB, Light Rail Transit (LRT) Operators, with a secondary code of THAIAEAD, Integrated Multimodal Transit Agencies (Bus + Rail). Its NAICS code is 485111 and its SIC code is 4100.