Dallas Area Rapid Transit's long-anticipated Orange Line to Irving opens July 30, bringing with it a new era of choices and numerous changes for passengers throughout the region.
The opening of the first phase of the Orange Line, a 5.4-mile section from Bachman Station to Irving Convention Center Station, provides easy access to arts, education, entertainment and businesses while adding three new stations to the DART rail system: University of Dallas, Las Colinas Urban Center and Irving Convention Center.
Irving's new rail requires numerous bus and rail changes to avoid duplication of service.
A trio of original DART Rail and Trinity Railway Express stations will be sporting new names starting July 30 to better reflect identities created by their evolving neighborhoods or surrounding developments. Pearl Station officially will become Pearl/Arts District Station; Cityplace Station will change to Cityplace/Uptown Station; and South Irving Station will be the Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing Station.
To celebrate the new service, Irving residents are invited to join in the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Orange Line Super Saturday celebration on July 28.
The event will run from 5 to 9 p.m. and will kick off with a parade at the Las Colinas Urban Center Station. After the parade, there will be live music, bounce houses, gondola rides and vendors available. “The zero-emissions, quiet-running new Orange Line will redefine how you get around for work and play,” said DART Executive Director Gary Thomas. “But first it’s time to celebrate. Super Saturday promises to be fun for the whole family.”
There also will be activities at Bachman Station, Irving Convention Center Station and the University of Dallas Station. Everyone can ride the DART Orange Line between these stations for free. On Monday, July 30, the Orange Line’s first official day of public service, DART will host a customer appreciation event from 5 to 9 a.m. at all of the Irving stations. Riders will be provided with “how-to-ride” information and promotional items.
The second phase of the Orange Line is scheduled to open in December, and will reach the North Lake College and Belt Line stations. It also will offer access to DFW International airport. “Initially, we’ll have a shuttle that will make that final link into the terminal,” Thomas said. “The Orange Line itself is scheduled to reach DFW International Airport’s Terminal A by December 2014.”
Click here to view the Orange Line Map
