DART Rail expansion arrives with billions on board
Monday, August 10, 2009 -

The 45-mile Green, Orange and Blue Line DART Rail expansion is projected to generate more than $4 billion in economic activity between 2009 and 2014, according to a new study by economists at the University of North Texas. Including prior Green Line expenditures, the total economic activity is more than $5.6 billion.

The study, conducted for DART by Terry Clower and Bernard Weinstein of the UNT Center for Economic Development and Research, also determined the expansion will create 32,095 job-years of employment [or – an average of 6,400 jobs each year for the next five years]. Separately, ongoing operations of the multimodal transit agency will generate $663 million in annual economic activity and more than 5,300 jobs.

DART president and executive director Gary Thomas said the study “is the latest evidence transit can help sustain and strengthen communities, particularly during tough economic times.” Thomas said this was particularly evident in the number of small and emerging minority and women-owned businesses who are part of DART’s expansion and ongoing operation. On the Green Line alone, more than $360 million in contract awards will be invested in these firms.

Studies by Weinstein and Clower and additional reports by local officials have identified more than $8 billion in transit-oriented development projects that have opened, are under construction or are planned along DART Rail corridors.  

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