After lengthy discussion during the Committee of the Whole meeting prior to the board vote, Item 17, the procurement of a new bus fleet, was approved in a 8 – 3 vote.
Earlier this month, after repeated contention from two board directors, the DART Board has voted to approve what some experts call a “long overdue” bus procurement.
The DART board approved Item 17, a $370m contract for new 30-foot and 40-foot heavy-duty compressed natural gas bus procurement. The contract outlines various terms for the delivery of 476 buses over a three-year period from Gillig, LLC, with an additional 46 buses included at DART’s discretion. DART staff reported to the committee and board that around 60 buses will be needed during the World Cup alone, which will be coming to Dallas in 2026.
During the associated briefing, it was communicated that delaying this procurement any further could potentially cost DART significantly, with rising rates projected to climb even in the next year. After lengthy discussion on cost/payment, with one notable suggestion made to restrict the volume of procured buses to bond funding, the contract was approved by the committee. Both during committee and board meetings, Director Wageman attempted to amend the motion for an adjusted fleet number twice. Both times Wageman was supported by Director Hrbacek, who echoed concerns about the cost and the funding source largely coming from debt.
With new buses waiting to be circulated into DART’s existing fleet starting early next year, around 300 buses will be delivered by early 2026, according to staff.
Upon passage of the item, the room erupted in applause. Public comment prior to the vote was overwhelmingly in support of the procurement, with many members of advocacy group DATA (Dallas Area Transit Alliance) speaking on the need for a lush public transportation system.
“Buses are a critical part of DART’s infrastructure,” DATA member Rohan Kodibagkar said during the time allotted for public comment. “For example: Just a few months ago when that fire truck fell on the DART catenaries in July, rail was basically knocked out through the entire downtown corridor. And buses were the critical link that DART was able to adapt to the passenger mode.”
The procurement is a great relief on DART’s existing fleet, with many existing buses nearing the end of their projected life expectancy and could be deemed unsafe if certain maintenance issues recur. Additionally, greater endeavors taken on by DART like DART Transform, which promises better customer service and new bus networks among other improvements. The success of the initiative relies on a significantly larger fleet.
Aside from changes coming with DART Transform, the transit service announced changes to routes at the preceding Committee of the Whole meeting, with notable changes including a segment swap of Route 215 and Route 109 as well as increased service to Route 241.
A pre-production meeting with Gillig, LLC. is scheduled for January of next year with the first delivery scheduled for October 2025.
