Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has completed the installation of three types of new bus shelter prototypes at five locations across four cities as part of a pilot program launched on July 18. The initiative aims to improve the rider experience with advanced shelter designs developed in collaboration with Tolar Manufacturing and architecture students from the University of Texas at Arlington.
The prototypes include standard-width shelters with benches, slim-width shelters, and a mini shelter designed for seating two. The new designs are based on feedback from a 2023 survey of DART bus riders, which highlighted the need for better protection from the weather, improved lighting, and real-time bus arrival information.
The shelters incorporate features such as increased coverage from the elements, enhanced lighting, and digital displays for real-time bus information. These elements are intended to address the key priorities identified in the rider survey and were informed by a concept shelter that earned the Texas Student Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2023.
The pilot program will run through November, during which DART will collect feedback from riders and assess the shelters' performance in North Texas weather conditions. A final design for the Next Generation Bus Shelters is expected by the end of the year and will be implemented throughout the DART network.
Current pilot shelter locations are:
- Mini Shelter at Ross Avenue and Hall Street, Dallas
- Standard Shelter at Malcolm X Boulevard and Clarence Street, Dallas
- Standard Shelter at Hedgcoxe and Preston Roads, Plano
- Slim Shelter at Synergy Park Boulevard and Rutford Road, Richardson
- Slim Shelter at Northwest Highway and Marketplace Drive, Garland
DART also plans to release a survey for rider feedback on these pilot shelters and will be adding or improving hundreds of bus stop pads, with 100 new pads expected to be completed by fall. The transit agency anticipates introducing new buses to its fleet by 2026.
