DART backs out of student passes

By Bobbie Krumm
Staff Writer

Semester pass offered instead of discount pass, but not to North Lake students

College students who depend on Dallas Area Rapid Transit will notice something new this spring.

DART has replaced it’s student discount passes with a college semester pass which gives the student access to all DART buses and trains. Unfortunately this will not be available at North Lake.The original student discount passes available since December 1995 were for college students and students in vocational institutions, but because of low participation from colleges and schools, the pass was cancelled. None of the DCCCD campuses are going to participate in the college campus semester pass after February.

According to Tony Mendoza, senior manager of "DART consumer relations, “ DART has many other options that students can use for transportation. For example they have a DART van that carries 15 passengers or 8 passengers. You can pay a flat fee and the more passengers, the cheaper the rate will be,” Mendoza said.

Starting March 3, passengers will notice a difference in fares. Single fare rates, which were $1, will now cost a quarter more. The premium service includes local service and the light rail, plus one commuter rail zone on the Trinity Railway Express, the commuter train. The day pass that gives the rider unlimited rides until 3 a.m. the next day is being raised from two dollars to $2.25.

Some of the transit system’s other plans include a 7-day pass for a week’s worth of time. The 10-ticket paratransit coupon book which sold for $25 will be replaced by the frequent rider card. The paratransit service is available to those who are disabled who could not ride regular DART buses and trains. These are similar to the Handi Rides.

According to DART, this change in fare rates will help finance the rising cost of its growing operating system, which includes light rail service to North Dallas, Richardson, Plano and Garland. The transit system funds about 10 percent of its operating costs from transit fees.

For more information on DART services and fares, call DART customer service at 214-979-1111. Or check out their Web site at www.dart.org