Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) announced the release of two public dashboards that provide monthly ridership data for the entire system. The dashboards, unveiled at the end of August, mark the first time DART has shared this level of detail with the public.
Why the dashboards matter
According to DART’s interim president and chief executive officer, David Leininger, the new tools are intended to help service‑area cities “make real‑time decisions about transit services in their city.” By offering transparent, up‑to‑date information on bus, commuter rail, light rail, paratransit and GoLink usage, the agency hopes to strengthen its role as a valued partner in the economic and social landscape of North Texas.
Ridership highlights for Plano and Richardson
The data show that Plano and Richardson rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in overall DART ridership for fiscal year 2025‑26. Plano recorded roughly 1.9 million boardings across all DART services, with light rail accounting for nearly 800,000 of those trips, about 614,000 bus rides and 376,000 GoLink rides. While March, April and May ridership in Plano fell slightly below the previous year’s levels, the city has seen higher numbers since June, indicating a rebound in transit use.
Richardson logged about 1.7 million boardings, driven primarily by bus travel—almost 1 million rides in the fiscal year. Light rail contributed roughly 650,000 boardings. Early‑2026 figures showed a dip compared with the prior fiscal year, but the period from March through July recorded an increase over the same months last year.
How the dashboards work
Both dashboards are updated each month and allow users to filter data by city, service area, month, day and time of day. The system‑wide dashboard aggregates all modes of service, while a separate light‑rail‑only dashboard focuses on that specific mode.
Security initiative tied to the data rollout
In conjunction with the data release, DART announced a new security effort called “Operation Access.” The program aims to boost safety and improve fare compliance on the light‑rail network. As part of a 90‑day pilot this fall, DART will simulate a fare‑gated system at five stations—Bachman, MLK Jr., Forest Lane, 8th & Corinth and White Rock. Leininger said the pilot will increase visible security presence and provide data to determine which future investments are most effective.
Looking ahead
The dashboards represent the first phase of DART’s plan to expand public access to transit information. Future phases will add new features, additional data sets and enhanced functionality, allowing residents, planners and local officials to better understand travel patterns and make informed decisions about service improvements.
By making ridership data openly available, DART is reinforcing transparency, supporting local decision‑making and laying the groundwork for a safer, more efficient transit system across the Dallas‑Fort Worth metroplex.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Plano — read the source article.
