DART is raising its rates.
DART has a price increase of approximately 17% every 5 years. Money usually doubles roughly every 30 years based on inflation. To keep pace with inflation, DART raises its rates. The math: Adding 17% every 5 years over 30 years equals an 85% increase. This lags slightly behind inflation, so it isn’t an unreasonable or arbitrary amount on the surface.
Now that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue to be vigilant for waste, fraud, and unnecessary programs. There has been enough unexplained and ‘lost’ money over the years that we should demand better accountability. The public notice from DART is below:
On Tuesday, June 27, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will hold a public hearing to present a proposal to amend the DART fare structure. Public input at this hearing is encouraged and welcomed. Based on the outcome of the hearing, and in accordance with our 20-year Financial Plan, the amended fare structure would go into effect November 2017, January 2018, and August 2018.
In advance of the public hearing, there will be a series of pre-Public Hearing community meetings. Please visit http://www.DART.org/FareRestructure to view the Proposed Fare Restructure and all meeting dates and times.
Upcoming pre-Public Hearing community meetings include:
Monday, June 5, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
Parkland Hatcher Station Health Center
4600 Scyene Road
Dallas, TX 75210
Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
Glenn Heights City Hall
1938 South Hampton Road
Glenn Heights, TX 75154
Thursday, June 8, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
Garland City Hall
200 North Fifth Street
Garland, TX 75040
Thursday, June 8, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
Fretz Recreation Center
6998 Belt Line Road, Room A
Dallas, TX 75254
Thursday, June 8, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
Dallas West Branch Library
2332 Singleton Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75212
Monday, June 12, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
Hampton-Illinois Branch Library
2951 South Hampton Road
Dallas, TX 75224
Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
Eastfield College – Pleasant Grove Campus
802 South Buckner Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75217
Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 6:30 p.m.
Highland Hills Library
6200 Bonnie View Road
Dallas, TX 75241