TEXAS — The wheels are in motion to increase connectivity and mobility for public transit riders statewide following the release of a statewide report showing that Texas transit options do not meet the demands of the growing population.

This comes as the Texas Demographic Center predicts the state population will increase by 40% by the year 2050. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says nearly 230 million passengers used public transit in Texas in 2024, and they expect that number to drastically increase over the next 30 years.

Dallas resident Tati Stone says public transportation in Dallas is a big necessity, but she says the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) needs improvements. She’s among the millions of Texas public transit riders hoping for better service and more transit options.

“A lot of times, it’s alright. Where they fall short is, they’re charging too much. It’s not very rider-friendly. It’s not very connected,” Stone said.

Transit authorities across the state say the expected population growth will put an extra demand on the transportation system. They released a Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan (SMTP) to help address the needs.

TxDOT Media Relations Director Adam Hammons said the plan is a subsidiary of their long-range transportation plan, Connecting Texas 2050, which looks at mobility gaps in the transit system and how they can improve it by the year 2050.

“Right now, it is a draft plan, and we are in the public involvement process,” Hammons said, adding that they are receiving feedback from both riders and stakeholders.

“From the feedback that we’ve received, there is a demand for more transit. That could mean improving a facility at a transit stop. It might mean building more buses or having more routes,” he said.

He says expanding access in rural and small urban cities is a priority. U.S. census data from 2024 reveals that, within the Dallas-Fort Worth area, less than 1% of commuters use mass transit such as DART or the Trinity Railway Express (TRE).

“We want to provide options for our travelers to get where they need to go safely and efficiently,” said Hammons.

TxDOT has held several public meetings regarding the SMTP, and it’s gathering public input on the plan through Nov. 20. For details on submitting comments, visit txdot.gov.