A Tale of Two Cities

While still criticized, DART is well respected in Dallas. They've had their slip ups and money issues but its a much different story than say Capital Metro which gets beaten up at every opportunity.

The agency has bumped along at times, and it occasionally looked as if the wheels could come off. Overall, though, DART's foresight yielded achievements other regions envy.

Chief among them is an expanding rail transit network that now stretches over 45 miles in four directions, through Dallas and into three suburbs. The mileage will double in the next five years, reaching Fair Park next year and Carrollton, Farmers Branch and the Pleasant Grove area by the end of 2010. Service to Irving, Rowlett and D/FW Airport will follow.

It's one of the nation's most ambitious transit expansions, one that will pay social and economic dividends for decades.