| Tony Hartzel: DART is going 'on-call' in Lakewood 01/14/2001 By / The Dallas Morning News DART will offer a new way to get around Lakewood and to the Mockingbird light rail station beginning Monday.
The agency has created a new shuttle bus service, DART On-Call Lakewood. For a $2 fare – 50 cents for those 65 or older – patrons can reserve curbside pickup at their home or office.
The van will serve a 4.6-square-mile area and stop at many nearby spots, including the rail station, grocery stores, shopping centers and the YMCA at White Rock. All it takes is a phone call at least an hour before pickup.
Buses will arrive at Mockingbird rail station every 30 minutes during peak commute times, every 60 minutes at other times.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit's bus routes haven't performed well enough in that area to meet their costs, said Tim Newby, assistant vice president for service planning and scheduling. The agency has halted its No. 19 route, which was costing about $9 per passenger trip, more than three times the acceptable level.
The shuttle bus service is expected to operate at about $4.70 per passenger trip, which will cut costs while still serving an important area, Mr. Newby said.
The DART On-Call Lakewood service could be a great benefit to senior citizens, said YMCA executive director Val England. Like DART's shuttle service, the YMCA also slows down in late mornings and early afternoons – an ideal time for senior citizens, she said.
"We expect to now have the opportunity to meet more of our senior population's needs," Mrs. England said, noting that the YMCA plans to start special senior programs to take advantage of the new transit service.
"We hope to get them fit, busy and active. They can volunteer. They can do a lot with us on a daily basis."
The shuttle bus service is DART's first step in modifying some of its services and routes to improve cost performance and better serve patrons.
About 70 of DART's 130 bus routes will change beginning Jan. 29. Many will involve slight changes in routes or arrival times. Four bus routes will change to better serve the Cityplace subway station.
Also, the station's entrance on the west side of Central Expressway at Lemmon Avenue will open Jan. 29.
Tony Hartzel can be reached at or at P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 76265.
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