Dallas guide

How does public transit work in Dallas?

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This article is part of our Moving to Dallas guide.

Last updated October 18, 2026

Public transit in Dallas is run mostly by DART, which operates light rail, buses, on-demand GoLink vans, the Dallas Streetcar and, since October 2025, the Silver Line commuter train to DFW Airport. A local day pass costs $6 and a 3-hour pass costs $3. A regional day pass, which adds the TRE train to Fort Worth, dropped to $9 on March 1, 2026. Rail works well for downtown, Uptown and a few rail-side neighborhoods, but most of the region is still built around cars.

Local day pass$6rail, bus, GoLink, streetcar; DART, 2026
Regional day pass$9cut from $12 on Mar 1, 2026
Light rail93 miles66 stations; DART, Oct 2026
Peak train frequency20 minweekdays, since Feb 2, 2026

How does DART light rail work?

DART runs four light rail lines on 93 miles of track with 66 stations, according to a DART briefing prepared for the Dallas City Council in October 2026. All four lines share the same tracks through downtown Dallas, so downtown is where you transfer.

  • Red Line, from Westmoreland in southwest Dallas north through downtown to Parker Road in Plano.
  • Blue Line, from UNT Dallas in the south through downtown to Downtown Rowlett in the east.
  • Green Line, from Buckner in southeast Dallas through Fair Park, Deep Ellum, downtown and Love Field to North Carrollton/Frankford.
  • Orange Line, from DFW Airport (Terminal A) through Irving and downtown, running north to LBJ/Central or Parker Road.

On February 2, 2026, DART cut weekday peak service on all four lines from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes to save money. DART said off-peak and weekend frequency did not change. More small schedule tweaks take effect October 19, 2026, so check the trip planner in the GoPass app before you rely on a timetable.

Is the Silver Line open?

Yes. The Silver Line opened to passengers on October 25, 2025. It is a 26-mile commuter rail line that runs from Shiloh Road in Plano west through Richardson, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Grapevine to DFW Airport Terminal B. It does not go downtown.

Service is thin compared to light rail. DART’s October 2026 briefing for the City Council lists trains every 30 minutes at peak and every 60 minutes midday, and weekend trains run every 60 minutes after the October 19 changes. It is most useful if you live in the northern suburbs and fly out of DFW.

DART runs more than 80 bus routes. The busiest, by DART’s 2026 count, are Route 57 (Westmoreland), Route 22 (Forest Lane) and Route 1 (Malcolm X/Maple). Many core routes come every 20 minutes at peak after the February 2026 changes. DART also dropped seven low-ridership routes that month.

GoLink fills the gaps. It is an on-demand service: you book a ride in the GoPass app or by phone, and a van picks you up inside a set zone and takes you somewhere in that zone, often a rail station. DART’s GoLink page lists 33 zones, with service from 5 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week in most zones. Your normal DART fare covers it. If you opt in, DART may send a Lyft or Uber car instead of a van at no extra charge. GoLink ridership grew 7.6% year over year while bus ridership fell, according to DART.

What about the streetcar, the M-Line and the TRE?

  • Dallas Streetcar, a 2.45-mile line from Union Station downtown across the Trinity River to the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff. It runs 5:30 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, and takes DART fares.
  • M-Line Trolley, a 4.6-mile vintage streetcar through Uptown, the Arts District and downtown, including CityPlace/Uptown Station. It is run by the nonprofit McKinney Avenue Transit Authority, which keeps it free and asks riders for donations.
  • Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a commuter train between Dallas Union Station and downtown Fort Worth with stops in Irving and at CentrePort near DFW. It runs Monday through Saturday, with no regular Sunday service except during the State Fair. A trip end to end takes about an hour. You need a regional fare to ride west of CentrePort.

How much does DART cost, and how do you pay?

DART has two fare levels. Local covers DART rail, buses, GoLink and the streetcar. Regional adds the TRE, Trinity Metro in Fort Worth and DCTA in Denton County. Reduced fares are for seniors, people with disabilities, Medicare card holders and qualifying students, and some require a reduced-fare GoPass Tap card.

OptionFull fareReduced fareGood for
Local 3-hour pass$3$1.50One trip or a quick errand
Local day pass$6Ask DARTA day of rail, bus and GoLink
Local monthly pass$126$63Daily commuters inside DART
Regional day pass$9$4.50A day trip to Fort Worth on the TRE
Regional 31-day pass$192$96Commuting between Dallas and Tarrant or Denton counties
M-Line TrolleyFreeFreeGetting around Uptown
Lime or Bird scooter/e-bikeSet by companyn/aShort hops before 9 p.m.

You can buy passes in the GoPass app, at station ticket machines, or with a GoPass Tap card. You can also tap a contactless credit card or phone at the readers on platforms, buses and streetcars. DART caps fares: once you have paid $6 in a day, more local rides that day are free. If you register your card or Tap card, you also stop paying once you hit the monthly pass price. You must tap or activate a ticket before every trip, because you cannot pay on board a train. Buses still take cash and give you a 3-hour pass.

How do you get to DFW and Love Field by transit?

  • DFW from Dallas, take the Orange Line to the end of the line at DFW Airport Station, near Gate A10 in Terminal A. A local fare covers it.
  • DFW from the north suburbs, take the Silver Line to Terminal B, near Gate B43. TEXRail trains to Fort Worth use the same station, so board the DART train.
  • Other DFW terminals, use the free Terminal Link bus outside security, or the Skylink train inside security.
  • Love Field, take the Green or Orange Line to Inwood/Love Field Station, then the Love Link bus to the terminal. Dallas Love Field says the ride from the airport to the station is free; the trip to the airport costs a standard fare.

Did any cities leave DART in 2026?

One did. Several suburbs argued they paid more in DART sales tax than they got back in service. Plano, Irving and Farmers Branch cancelled their withdrawal elections before the vote. On May 2, 2026, Highland Park voted to leave, with about 70% in favor, and DART service there ended May 14. Addison voted to stay by about 70%, and University Park voted to stay with 54%. DART now serves 12 cities, according to The Texas Tribune. Highland Park is the first city to leave since 1989.

If you are looking at apartments in the Park Cities, assume you will drive. Elsewhere in the DART area, service continues.

Which Dallas neighborhoods work best without a car?

The best bets are places within a short walk of a rail station or the streetcar, with groceries nearby.

  • Downtown, where all four light rail lines meet. West End, Akard, Pearl and St. Paul are among the busiest stations in the system. Many downtown apartments are in converted office towers; our sister site, DallasApartmentBuildings.com, has a guide to downtown Dallas historic office conversions.
  • Uptown, with CityPlace/Uptown Station on the Red, Blue and Orange lines and the free M-Line along McKinney Avenue.
  • Deep Ellum, with its own Green Line station a short ride from downtown.
  • Bishop Arts and north Oak Cliff, linked to Union Station by the streetcar.
  • Mockingbird Station area, on the Red, Blue and Orange lines near SMU and Lower Greenville.
  • Victory Park, served by the Green and Orange lines and the TRE.

Dallas does not have a docked bike share system. The city permits two scooter companies for 2026-2027: Lime, which may run up to 2,250 scooters and e-bikes (including 100 e-bikes), and Bird, with up to 750 scooters. Rentals run 5 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. and rides must end by 9 p.m. Riders must be 16 or older and cannot ride on sidewalks or roads with speed limits of 35 mph or more. For a fuller answer on going car-free, read Do you need a car in Dallas?, and compare areas in the best Dallas neighborhoods for newcomers. Transit costs also feed into what it costs to live in Dallas.

Frequently asked questions about public transit in Dallas

Can I use my credit card on DART?

Yes. Tap a contactless card or phone on a reader before each trip, and DART stops charging you once you hit the $6 daily cap. Register the card to get the monthly cap too.

Does DART go to Fort Worth?

Not directly. Take the TRE from Union Station to Fort Worth with a $9 regional day pass, Monday through Saturday.

Is the M-Line Trolley really free?

Yes. The McKinney Avenue Transit Authority runs it with sponsor money and asks riders for an optional donation.

Can I live in Dallas without a car?

Some people do, mostly in downtown, Uptown and Deep Ellum near rail. For most of the region, plan on a car or frequent rideshares. Our moving to Dallas guide covers the rest of your setup.

Sources

Go Big City Team
Author: Go Big City Team

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