City of Dallas supports free DART rides for K-12 students

Dallas, Texas - The student-led initiative by Sunrise Movement Dallas has gained the support of the city for free Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) rides for K-12 students, according to Dallas Metro News. The city has allocated $250,000 from an agreement with DART. This agreement has led to the city receiving an extra $80 million from sales tax revenue collected by DART.

Details about the initiative were shared last Friday. A note from Assistant City Manager Robert Perez mentioned that the initiative's success relies on the reserved $250,000. Due to this budget, there might be limits on the number of student passes provided.

Using specific metrics, the pilot is set to provide 1,302 passes for middle and high school students for the upcoming spring semester. Given the city oversees 12 school districts and has a budget of $250,000, it can fund yearly DART rides for 260 students or provide the service to more students for a shorter time.

School districts will focus on students most dependent on public transport when allocating passes. Over the next months, the city and school districts will identify eligible students and distribute passes accordingly. Initial discussions have started with representatives from all 12 school districts.

However, at a recent City Council meeting, District 11 Councilwoman Jaynie Schultz expressed concerns over DART's apparent hesitance to fully support the program.

“This isn’t about the city dropping the ball, this is about DART dropping the ball,” she was quoted in D Magazine. “Playing games with the numbers is not the way to do this. I’m very disappointed with DART.”

Councilwoman Schultz plans to write to the DART board seeking clarity on their goals. She believes the initiative's scope seems smaller than initially planned based on Perez's information.

In response, Perez clarified that the options in his note follow DART’s current fare policies, which offer reduced prices to middle and high school students with valid student IDs.

In a speech in July, Kids Girma from Sunrise Dallas highlighted the benefits of transit access for Dallas's youth. Girma pointed out the numerous free facilities available to young residents in Dallas.

“I think at its core, it’s a matter of access. Will they be able to get to the DMA or the Perot? Will they be able to see their friends? Get a side job? Go to the movie theater?” Girma commented.

As for the program's logistics, tap cards will be given to qualified students in December and will start in January. These cards will track usage, providing data that will shape the program's direction. The program's success and expansion will depend on how frequently students use the tap cards.

Credit: D Magazine, Dallas Metro News, Sunrise Movement Dallas