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People line up along Greenville Ave., during the 45th St. Patrick’s Day Parade, on Saturday, March 14, 2026 in Dallas .<\/p>\n
Shafkat Anowar\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
Twenty thousand Republicans and a president<\/a> are coming to Dallas. Dallas Area Rapid Transit officials say they have handled worse: St. Patrick\u2019s Day<\/a>.<\/p>\n DART will add police and close Victory Station during President Donald Trump\u2019s rally-style convention Sept. 9-10, part of an intense security operation<\/a> that will restrict access around the American Airlines Center.<\/p>\n The level of commitment needed from the transit agency is expected to be lower than for the city\u2019s annual St. Patrick\u2019s Day parade, and \u201cnowhere near\u201d what the World Cup required<\/a>, said DART spokesperson Erin Myers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n DART Police Chief Charles Cato said the GOP\u2019s first midterm national convention<\/a> has its own transportation plans for ticketed attendees.<\/p>\n \u201cIt shouldn’t be a big burden on the transportation system or a big increase in ridership,\u201d Cato said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: Who is securing Trump\u2019s Dallas convention?<\/a><\/p>\n DART will close Victory Station near the AAC, across Victory Avenue, on the day preceding and during the convention,\u00a0Sept. 8 through 10<\/a>, at the request of the Secret Service, Myers said. The light rail trains and Trinity Rail Express will pass through without stopping.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPhysical security needs\u201d will make parts of the area inaccessible, Cato said. \u201cThere’s just no point in delivering people to a place that’s inaccessible,\u201d he said of the station closure.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Local and federal law enforcement will take the lead as Dallas welcomes Trump. The event also will feature Vice President JD Vance, other administration officials, dignitaries and GOP activists.<\/p>\n Protesters, too, are expected around the convention<\/a>, with demonstrations planned near the arena. Officials have not yet announced where they will be allowed.<\/p>\n The agency will have extra police officers and staff at key locations throughout the transit system, including at the closed Victory Station to secure the area.<\/p>\n A DART train approaches Victory Station in Dallas ahead of a World Cup match on Tuesday, June 30.<\/p>\n Joe Snell\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Cato said the extra staffing needs will be less than what is needed for the State Fair of Texas<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n DART staff did not provide cost estimates associated with extra police staffing for the convention<\/a>, but Myers said it \u201cisn\u2019t substantial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s comparable to any other sort of large-scale event<\/a> that we would host in the area,\u201d Myers said. \u201cSt. Patrick’s Day, for example, probably exceeds what we would need for this.\u201d<\/p>\n The parade along Greenville Avenue draws thousands of green-clad revelers every March, many of whom take DART to the festival, which blocks several streets. Meanwhile, Cato said ticketed convention attendees will have a separate transportation system to get from hotels to the rally.\u00a0<\/p>\n Myers said DART is working on a plan to ensure public transportation access to the area, such as rerouting buses and sharing information with riders in advance of the closure of the station near the arena.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related: The Republicans are coming back. The Dallas they knew is long gone<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n While DART is \u201ccommitted to public safety partnerships,\u201d Cato said at a news conference last week, the agency will also help \u201cthe public who depend on us to get to work, healthcare and education destinations\u201d during the convention.\u00a0<\/p>\n Public officials recommend those with jobs in Victory Park<\/a> stay home during the event, which will close several roads in the area.\u00a0<\/p>\n DART\u2019s preparations come as local law enforcement and city officials brace for costs associated with hosting the national event, which was announced in late June.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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