DART Study Shows Long-Term Impact of Regional Development

Transit-oriented development around DART light-rail stations has reshaped the North Texas economy. A new study from the University of North Texas Economic Research Group now spells out just how large that impact really is.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

How DART Quantifies Economic Impact?

According to the report, projects within a quarter-mile of light-rail stations generated $18.1 billion in direct economic impact over the past 25 years. That figure shows how construction near stations anchors investment decisions across North Texas.

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Where DART-Linked Projects Are Taking Shape?

Between 2022 and 2024, transit-oriented construction near stations brought in $51.5 million in state and local tax revenue. In span, the study counts $21.1 million in property taxes and $5 million in other state and local revenue, numbers that also appear in coverage by NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. 

DART President and CEO Nadine Lee uses those numbers to underline the system’s economic role. She says the light-rail network does more than carry riders, because money generated around stations can strengthen cities and improve mobility.

Projects are underway or planned at Mockingbird and Buckner stations in Dallas, at Trinity Mills Station in Carrollton and at Addison Junction in Addison. Together, these sites show how the light-rail network touches North Texas.

The study combines 25 years of development data with detailed figures for the most recent three-year window. Officials and residents can use it to see how projects add up in state and local budgets.

To be fair, the document does more than list numbers; it also explains where and when projects took place. Readers can access the full study — including DART’s broader overview of transit-oriented development — through DART’s transit-oriented development planning page. 

The report focuses on what has happened, describing completed development and projects underway rather than offering forecasts. It gives policymakers a reference and shows that communities in North Texas see value in building around rail corridors.

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