Safety and reliability are at the core of the Transform program. Investments into the resiliency of the DART transit network enhance the reliability of operations during extreme weather events. These events can hinder travel by impacting the train’s catenary system (overhead wires), also known as its power supply. Freezing rain and ice forming on the wires can cause delays all over the system, with crews having to manually remove the ice buildup — which means the trains must stop.

Just like cold weather, extreme heat can also slow down operations. During Texas summers, high temperatures can cause the catenary wires to sag, causing delays as the wires need to maintain a certain amount of tension for the trains to properly maintain connection and run on time. DART is replacing a section of the current system with automatic tensioners as a pilot to evaluate the new systems’ impact on reliability and the ability to reduce weather-related disruptions. Much of the catenary system will also be re-tensioned to improve connectivity.