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9/10/2026
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is advancing a major new security initiative focused on strengthening safety, increasing fare compliance and enforcing DART’s rider code of conduct across the light-rail system.
The first phase, a controlled access pilot program called Operation Access, is expected to begin in late fall and continue for 90 days, DART officials said in a press release.
The program will be implemented at five stations, selected based on incident data: Bachman, MLK Jr., Forest Lane, 8th & Corinth and White Rock stations.
“Safety is fundamental to everything we do at DART,” said David Leininger, DART’s interim president & CEO. “Operation Access significantly increases our visible security presence while allowing us to gather the data necessary to determine what works and where we need to invest next.”
Teams consisting of DART police officers, fare enforcement officers and transit security officers will conduct fare inspections and code of conduct enforcement at designated control points and aboard trains.
“We have reduced crime against persons this year by 21%, but any crime on our system is unacceptable,” said DART Chair Randall Bryant. “The DART board approved $35 million for a camera system overhaul and improved cleaning and another $32 million for diversion programs to reduce repeat offenders on the system. Operation Access builds on those investments by putting resources where the data tells us they are needed most.”
The second phase will be briefed to DART’s board on Oct. 13 and will include a comprehensive review of the feasibility of fare gating platforms, placing a uniformed security resource on every train, and modifications to DART’s fare policy, rider code of conduct and related policies, officials said.