Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is committed to keeping riders safe during the coronavirus pandemic while providing essential transportation services. Working closely with local, state and national health authorities, including the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they have aggressively expanded agency-wide cleaning and safety protocols.

All vehicles receive cleanings throughout the day using products identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as successful in killing the coronavirus, as well as influenza, rhinovirus, norovirus, salmonella, staphylococcus and E. coli.

Each weekday, DART Rail vehicles also receive a complete cleaning between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., which includes sweeping, mopping and a complete wipe-down with an EPA-approved cleaning agent. On weekends, DART sanitizes trains with Halosil foggers that use a hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning solution with antimicrobial silver ions to sanitize and disinfect each train and clean all surfaces.

DART buses also receive cleanings nightly with an EPA-approved cleaning agent, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as handrails, stop-request strips and grab rails. DART cleans buses on a rotating basis with the Halosil foggers to sanitize and disinfect. Over 80 percent of DART buses feature a germicidal air purification system designed to reduce the transmission of airborne bacteria and viruses as air is recirculated throughout the bus.

The agency requires customers to wear a face mask or other covering when riding buses and trains. Use of a face mask while waiting at bus stops, transit facilities and rail stations is also encouraged. In addition to wearing a face covering, DART encourages customers to maintain a six-foot social distance from one another. They are limiting the number of passengers that may board bus and rail vehicles to enable riders to leave empty seats. Additional buses and trains are being deployed to allow for extra space on board.

Instead of ticket vending machines and bus fare boxes, DART is encouraging riders to buy passes with one of the  contactless fare payment options: the GoPass app or a GoPass Tap card. By switching to GoPass, customers can buy passes and plan trips right on their phone. The app is free on the App Store or Google Play.

Another option is GoPass Tap, a reloadable fare-payment card. These cards can be purchased at 7-Eleven stores or other participating retailers. Customers can load value onto their GoPass Tap card using cash or credit at retail stores, online at GoPass.org, or call DART Customer Service at 214-979-1111, Option 1. Customers that see an unhygienic surface or a situation that needs attention are encouraged to us the DART Say Something app or call DART Customer Service.