DART News

DART Silver Line from Plano to DFW Airport has an official debut date

DART Silver Line train

Photo courtesy of DART

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has an official debut date for a long-awaited new train line: According to a release, the Silver Line — DFW’s most anticipated rail expansion in decades — will be Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The 26-mile Silver Line links Plano, Richardson, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, and Grapevine with DFW International Airport, transforming the way residents travel for work, school, and entertainment.

With state-of-the-art Stadler trains, new stations, and seamless transfers, the Silver Line delivers convenience and opportunity to one of the fastest growing regions in the nation.

To mark the milestone, DART is offering free rides across the entire system all day on Saturday, October 25. In addition, the Silver Line will be free to ride from October 25 through November 8, giving everyone the chance to experience the service firsthand.

“The Silver Line opening is a realization of a promise kept to our riders and our region,” said Lee. “This state-of-the-art train will improve connections, create new access to jobs, and drive economic growth across North Texas, with a fitting theme to ‘Discover New Horizons.’ Most importantly, this line shows our riders that we heard them, and we delivered.”

Slagel added, “The Silver Line is a major step forward in building a stronger, more connected region. It is an investment in both today’s riders and future generations. We are proud to open its doors and welcome the community aboard.”

The Silver Line opening date announcement was made at the conclusion of the third annual State of the Agency briefing from Lee on September 12. The briefing included an update on agency priorities and progress from Lee and DART Board of Directors Chair Gary Slagel.

The Silver Line Grand Opening Celebration on October 25 will feature festivities at select stations, including live music, cultural performances, family programming, and recognition of the sponsors and partners who made the project possible: Platinum Sponsor Stadler; Gold Sponsors WSP and Ardurra; Bronze Sponsors Cypress Waters – Billingsley and NTX Partners; and General Sponsors AECOM and Archer Western. Their support reflects a shared commitment to connecting communities and advancing North Texas into the future.

Big dates are as follows:

Saturday, October 25: Free rides on the entire DART System
Saturday, October 25: Grand Opening festivities at 10 Silver Line stations with live music, family activities, and community programming. (More details to come.)
October 25-November 8: Complimentary Silver Line service

There'll be opportunities throughout the celebration to experience the new Stadler trains and state-of-the-art stations firsthand. DART will release more information about all Silver Line celebratory events in the coming weeks.

DART News

DART receives $7 million federal grant for new low-emission buses

Gillig

undefined

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has received a grant to update its fleet of buses. According to a release, the agency was awarded a $7.094 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to support the purchase of new buses as the agency phases out its fleet of older model vehicles.

The grant awarded to DART is one of 165 transit projects across the U.S. funded with more than $2 billion in federal grants.

In February, DART purchased 476 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses from Gillig, a California-based manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses, to fulfill their goal to modernize their transit system over the next decade — particularly via new buses and light-rail vehicles to replace the oldest units in their aging fleet.

The phase-in of those new vehicles is expected to be executed through 2027.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses are a near-zero emission option, which was a key component in DART qualifying for the federal grant. Gillig has already delivered the first buses ahead of a Spring 2026 timeline — meaning that DART riders will get to start riding the upgraded buses on routes by the end of December 2025.

In a statement, DART President & CEO Nadine Lee says the timing is perfect.

“The timing of this grant couldn’t be better as we begin to receive early delivery of new, state-of-the-art vehicles from Gillig and as we move ahead with preparations to provide service to the massive crowds we expect next year with the FIFA World Cup," Lee says. "We are grateful to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FTA Administrator Marcus Molinaro, and our entire congressional delegation for valuing their strong federal partnership with DART, recognizing the need to find additional funding to support transit programs in one of the fastest growing metro areas in the nation."

This new grant is in addition to $103 million initial federal grants, bringing the total federal support for DART’s purchase of new buses to more than $110 million – reducing the overall cost to DART and member cities.

U.S. Congressional delegates, representing communities across Texas, were instrumental in securing the funding for the grant. The purchase of 476 buses is one part of DART’s Transform, a $2.5 billion 10-year plan to modernize and upgrade the DART system.

transportation