Light rail lines extended in Dallas

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has opened extensions to its Blue and Orange light rail lines.

The new sections extend the Blue Line to Rowlett and the Orange Line further into Irving.

The $360 million extension of the Blue Line is the first expansion project on the route since it reached Garland in November 2002.

DART has built more than 40 miles of track in the last three years and at 85 miles, it has the largest electric light rail system in the nation.

“Rowlett residents had the foresight and wisdom to invest in alternatives to driving around this sprawling region,” said John Carter Danish, chair of the DART board.

In late 2016, DART will lengthen the Blue Line south from Ledbetter Station to connect to the University of North Texas at Dallas.

The $1.3 billion Orange Line – the first section of which opened in July with three stations – grew nearly four miles with new stops at North Lake College and Belt Line Road, on DFW Airport property. This segment advances the Orange Line toward its eventual terminus at DFW Airport.

DFW Station is scheduled to open in December 2014.

DART president Gary Thomas said: “The Orange Line connects people to a greater number of educational and employment opportunities throughout North Texas, and when it reaches DFW Airport, light rail will link the Dallas area to the entire world.”