Why is DART so expensive and slow? (Dallas, Portland: how much, home)

[jeremy1988]

Just a few years ago, the day pass was only $3. Then it went up to $4, and now it's up to $5. The price seems to have gone up way too fast, and their bus service hasn't improved at all. They don't offer any good options at all. A one-way ticket is exactly half the price of a day pass ($2.50), so you can't save anything by getting two of them. A midday pass is very affordable, but no one is available to do anything that time of day.

The buses only run once per hour most of the time. I find that a lot of times, it only takes me twice the time to walk where the buses go, and that's if I don't run. Worst part is, the buses stop running around 9 or 10PM, so if I want to go to an event that starts at 7 or 8PM, I might not be able to get home.

I'm really frustrated because I feel like either the cost or the timing of DART's service cuts into everything I want to do. It's just too expensive for me to be downtown looking for opportunities or meeting people, I pretty much have to be sure I have a really good reason to go somewhere before I can go. It's extremely confining.

I'm already set to go to college so I can find a job, but I feel like there's literally no budget to do anything else until it starts except sit here at home and surf the Internet.

[rantanamo]

- A lot of jobs offer reduced monthly passes. Even if you purchase your own, its a huge savings over driving a car.
- the buses don't run once per hour most of the time. Some end at 9 or 10 some don't. A lot depends on where you live.
- I find it interesting that people find downtown expensive. Downtown =/= Uptown. Again, cheaper to ride DART than parking+gas+looking for parking downtown. Just like with a car, you adjust your schedule for what you do. i did it for years when I could, and I miss the money and overall time I was saving. Not to mention it probably saved a ton on car maintenance as I wasn't driving 100 miles daily. DART is not ideal, but i think we never stop to think how much time and money we spend on our lifestyle. i certainly didn't until i had to rail it downtown everyday.

[jeremy1988]

I agree that it's more affordable than a car, I guess. I have poor reflexes and suck at concentrating, so I don't think I could drive anyway. If it weren't for DART, I'd probably have to hire a cab.

My lifestyle has pretty much been sitting at home and surfing the Internet. I was hoping to change that, but it's way too expensive to do anything else right now. Transportation costs are a lot higher than they used to be, and it really forces me to think a lot harder than I'd like to about any trip I consider. Maybe I should just look at what IS in walking distance and try it. After all, I am just killing time until school starts. I'll have more opportunities to join groups/clubs on campus.

I guess the most frustrating thing about it, is that I dream of travelling to other states, maybe even other countries. But right now, I can barely afford to "travel" within my own town. Something about that is just depressing. That's how life is though, I know. Especially these days... I swear, instead of "When I was your age, I had to walk in the snow to school," I hear, "When I was your age, gas was a lot cheaper and you could always find some kind of work." It all seems so backwards, you know?

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by jeremy1988

I agree that it's more affordable than a car, I guess. I have poor reflexes and suck at concentrating, so I don't think I could drive anyway. If it weren't for DART, I'd probably have to hire a cab.

My lifestyle has pretty much been sitting at home and surfing the Internet. I was hoping to change that, but it's way too expensive to do anything else right now. Transportation costs are a lot higher than they used to be, and it really forces me to think a lot harder than I'd like to about any trip I consider. Maybe I should just look at what IS in walking distance and try it. After all, I am just killing time until school starts. I'll have more opportunities to join groups/clubs on campus.

I guess the most frustrating thing about it, is that I dream of travelling to other states, maybe even other countries. But right now, I can barely afford to "travel" within my own town. Something about that is just depressing. That's how life is though, I know. Especially these days... I swear, instead of "When I was your age, I had to walk in the snow to school," I hear, "When I was your age, gas was a lot cheaper and you could always find some kind of work." It all seems so backwards, you know?

Adjusted for inflation gas is cheaper now than in 1919.

[bencronin04]

Dallas has never been known to have great public transit. Would we as a city benefit if it changed...ABSOLUTELY. And honestly, it is getting better with the dart rail, expanding lines, new buses and routes. That's one of the reasons you probably say a spike in ticket prices.

[Cranfords]

Jeremy - There's a whole world right outside your door. Turn off the computer, put your shoes on, open the door and take a step. No money or transit required.

[TheOverdog]

I'd actually recommend moving to Chicago, Philidelphia, or Baltimore. They have a good mass transit systems and property prices and taxes are not outrageous, especially if you are a person who will probably not be able to drive.

[dollaztx]

Originally Posted by TheOverdog

I'd actually recommend moving to Chicago, Philidelphia, or Baltimore. They have a good mass transit systems and property prices and taxes are not outrageous, especially if you are a person who will probably not be able to drive.

In Chicago?

[TheOverdog]

In Chicago?

Well, I was comparing to other US locations with decent mass transit systems, so the cities I considered were:
SF, NYC, Boston, Philly, Chicago, Baltimore, DC.

So in that list, no.

Portland gets lots of positive press for their transit system, but IMO theirs is pretty weak if you aren't living in the hot areas ($$$$).

[Considering Coming Back]

Originally Posted by bencronin04

Dallas has never been known to have great public transit.

I have a streetcar and bus route map from the 1940s. Was pretty awesome back then!