Sitting at one of the DART stations, you might see trash scattered, a fight nearly breaking out behind you, and maybe a man pouring Steel Reserve 211 into a Big Gulp cup to quench his thirst as he waits for his next trek. A lot of times, though, you’ll have to hop on another bus or train, or several - a few more dots to connect to get to your final destination. If you’re lucky, maybe that bus will take you straight to where you need to go. You take a shuttle or walk to your nearest bus stop. Taking public transportation can feel like you’re playing connect the dots. The reality on the ground is a little darker. In July 2020, DART said it would face a $1 billion negative hit to its revenue over the next two decades because of the pandemic.ĭespite the economic turmoil brought on by COVID-19 and changes in the industry, DART board member Michele Wong Krause still spoke idealistically about the bus service in July 2020, saying she believed it would remain the backbone of the city’s transit system for the foreseeable future. The pandemic slammed an already under-resourced and underfunded DART, leading to cuts in staff, the bulk of which were seen in the bus and rail departments. The following month, COVID-19 lockdowns shuttered much of the world, closing public transit off to many. "Because what is freedom but the presence of actual options?" - Jarrett Walker tweet this A lot has happened since then. Focusing on ridership could support redevelopment and have more environmental benefits.Įveryone wants both, but that’s not how public transit works. Overall coverage would be more equitable. There are upsides and downsides to each approach. DART can make public transit more useful to the largest number of people, or make it accessible for everyone. To replan Dallas’ transit system, DART had to choose between two goals: increased ridership or increased coverage. You are not free as a shopper if you can only get to one grocery store, especially a grocery store that only sells one kind of milk.” (That is especially true in poorer parts of the city considered food deserts.) "The presence of actual choices you can make. “Because what is freedom but the presence of actual options?” Walker said. That wall can be expanded with public transit, and that can make people freer, Walker said. Walker said there’s a wall around people’s lives that’s defined by the limits of where they can get to in a reasonable amount of time. He laid out some of the tough questions the city would have to ask itself before it could have a successful transit system. The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board had contracted with Walker and his firm to devise a new plan for the city’s bus system, and he was well suited for the job: He had over 25 years of experience in public transit planning in cities on several continents. Speaking to the crowd, he shared his philosophy on public transportation: It boils down to personal freedom. In February 2020, Jarrett Walker manned a podium in a room at the Old Parkland hospital building, some 200 people in front of him.
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