Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

DMN Stories

DART aims to warn riders early of service changes due to winter weather in Dallas

This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.

The transit agency says it has ice cutters, contingency plans in place for rail and buses as winter weather closes in on metroplex.

By Sriya Reddy

Riders on DART bus route
Riders on DART bus route 16 in downtown Dallas. The transit agency has plans in place as freezing temperatures are expected around metroplex.(Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer)

With a freeze expected on Wednesday night, DART is preparing in case it has to implement its severe winter weather contingency plan, that provides for service changes including temporary suspension of some rail and bus routes.

The transit agency, which just launched a new bus network, will communicate any changes to service on its website dart.org with its Rider Alert System and on Twitter @DARTAlerts.

It aims to warn riders about 12 hours early if their rides are impacted.

Past winter storms have hobbled DART’s light-rail network as ice accumulated on lines, stopping trains from running. So DART representative Gordon Shattles said that one of the ways DART is preparing is by having ice cutters on all light rail trains. They run on top of cable lines and scrape ice as the trains move along the tracks.

Wednesday may bring freezing rain to the Dallas-Fort Worth area followed by the chance of sleet and snow into Thursday. Organizations like DART are remembering last year’s winter storm and are taking precautions this week.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“We are following the National Weather Services guidelines on this one as we see the impacts it has on the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” Shattles said.

DART’s weather contingency plan is broken down into three operating scenarios based on severity of weather. The first one reduces the frequency of trains.

When ice accumulates on the overhead cables, operating scenario two is implemented, which shuts down the rail system and relies on the bus routes.

The last operating scenario, which is what happened during last year’s winter’s storm, shuts down all the rail systems and has bus service limited to the high volume routes.

ADVERTISEMENT

IMM Mask Promos

I Messenger Media Radio Shows

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

Sports

After weeks of controversy and armchair coaching by fans on social media, the FAMU football team seemed to catch fire in their Homecoming game...

Superb Women

Clara Brown-Trimble literally lights up a room when she enters, and heads are definitely going to turn. She wears a beautiful smile and people...

Editorial

By Julianne Malveaux I love election season! I love the act of voting. I’ve been loving it since I was 7 and my mom let...

News

By Dorothy J. GentrySports Editor Photos: Dallas Wings A month after missing the playoffs and firing its head coach, the Dallas Wings on Friday...

Advertisement