Dallas Transport

Because Dallas is such a sprawling city and the heat is so stifling for much of the year, it is a good idea to have your own transport, even though the public transport system has improved in recent years. Public buses and trains are operated by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority (DART).

By train

Dallas’ light rail (LRT) operates on three lines: red, blue and green. The red line runs in a northeast/southwest direction, while the blue line travels a southwest/south course. Both lines have stops at all major downtown attractions including the Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas World Aquarium and the Dallas Convention Center. The urban light railway and the commuter line, which are separate lines in the south and north, combine to form a single route in the downtown area. The system operates from 04:00 to 24:00 daily. Phone: +1 214 749 3278; website: www.dart.org.

By bus

Bus services connect the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area along with the surrounding suburbs. The buses are very clean and well-monitored. Bus tickets must be bought with exact change in cash. Alternatively, pre-paid tickets and day passes can be bought from vending machines at stations. Bus services run from Monday to Saturday, 05:00 to 22:00, and on Sundays from 08:00 to 18:00.

Taxis

Taxis are easy to find, but be warned that they are not cheap. Some local firms in Dallas include Cowboy Cab (tel: +1 214 428 0202); King Cab (tel: +1 972 241 3337); and Golden Cab (tel: +1 972 484 4848). A tip of 10 per cent is expected.

Tourist services

DART has teamed up with the volunteer-run McKinney Avenue Transit Authority to operate the historic M-Line Streetcar, offering free, daily transit service in downtown Dallas, connecting with the Uptown neighbourhood. For schedules and details of routes, call: +1 214 979 1111 or: +1 214 855 0006; website: www.mata.org or www.dart.org/mline.asp.

From the airport

The TRE links downtown Dallas Union Station and downtown Fort Worth's T&P Station with CentrePort/DFW Airport Station Monday through Saturday. The airport's free Remote South shuttle bus service provides continuous connections between the station and the airline terminals. Taxi service is available on the upper level of each terminal. For assistance, locate the Airport Ground Transportation employee, who will be wearing a white airport shirt.

DFW’s 200-acre Rental Car Center consolidates 10 rental car companies under one roof, giving customers the comfort and convenience of one-stop shopping. It is located near the south entrance of DFW airport. After collecting your baggage, follow the ‘Rental Car’ signs to the designated pick-up area on the lower level of the terminal. From there, board the Rental Car shuttle bus, which serves all rental car companies, departing every 5 minutes and reaching the Rental Car Center in about 10 minutes.