With the World Cup less than three weeks away, Dallas Area Rapid Transit officials say they鈥檙e ready to transport an anticipated uptick in passengers during the 34-day tournament.
During a meeting Tuesday, DART staff released the final plan for the agency's preparations to transport thousands of World Cup visitors throughout the region.
鈥淥ur ridership expectations on a match day, we're expecting approximately 10,000 riders from the DART service area to board the [Trinity Railway Express] at Centreport,鈥� said Trenise Winters, chief operations officer for DART.
Volunteer ambassadors in yellow DART-branded jerseys will be at Centreport Station along the TRE, as well as Victory, Martin Luther King Jr. and Fair Park stations to help visitors navigate Texas鈥� largest public transit system. DART鈥檚 police will also be on hand at priority stations in partnership with the Dallas and Fort Worth police departments as well as an emergency dispatch team for 鈥減op-up鈥� events
鈥淓verything we got and the kitchen sink, we're throwing at it,鈥� Assistant DART Police Chief Gil Garza told the board of directors.
From Centreport Station, fans will be transported to Dallas Stadium in Arlington on a bus bridge. Buses and trains will be branded with FIFA-related signage. Wayfinding signs will be in English and Spanish, but DART staff will direct international visitors to the website and GoPass app, which can be translated to any language depending on the device鈥檚 settings.
A regional pass for visitors to travel throughout DART, as well as Tarrant and Denton counties, costs $9. New DART GoPass cards will feature FIFA-branded artwork.
DART鈥檚 Chief Finance Cfficer Jamie Adelman said the agency expects a return in fare revenue but it鈥檚 unknown if it will offset the $2.7 million DART put into the plan. About 87% of the funding comes from state and federal agencies to support FIFA events.
Safety and accessibility concerns
Mercedes Hall, a regular passenger who said she has attended multiple World Cup events, called it a "global reputation moment" for Dallas and DART.
鈥淰isitors from around the world will judge our region based on clarity, safety, reliability, cleanliness, hospitality, and ease of movement,鈥� she said.
Hall said along with safety concerns, DART staff should address rider comfort and usability challenges ahead of the tournament.
鈥淒ART has the opportunity to surprise people positively if these rider-experience details continue to be prioritized,鈥� she said.
Winters, the COO, said all DART ambassadors for FIFA, as well as security staff, are undergoing training on human trafficking prevention and cultural awareness to support visitors.
鈥淭hese trainings ensure all of DART's staff and contractors are prepared to support customers, represent DART effectively, and maintain safety and accessibility standards,鈥� Winters said.
Pablo Arauz Pe帽a is 四虎影院鈥檚 growth and infrastructure reporter. Got a tip? Email Pablo at parauzpena@kera.org.
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