In collaboration with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the Glenn Heights Park & Ride and Illinois Station locations.
“By bringing these electric vehicle charging stations to an area that doesn’t have this service, DART is implementing sustainable technologies across our service area,” said Nadine Lee, DART president and CEO. “We will continue to work with other agencies, stakeholders and organizations to find opportunities to bring improvements to our riders and communities.”
The Blink Series 8 Dual Port Level 2 Chargers can charge a typical EV within four to eight hours. The dual charging ports allow two cars to charge simultaneously and are free to use through Aug. 31, 2024.
“With the purchase of electric vehicles on the rise due to consumer preferences, auto industry trends and potential requirements set by governing bodies - local governments will have to begin to think about how to make their cities EV ready,” said Keith Moore, Glenn Heights interim city manager.
According to Moore, DART’s decision to place EV charging stations within the DART Park and Ride located in Glenn Heights sets the city ahead of the curve as they can already provide a convenient charging location for residents, which can also result in significant cost savings over time for drivers. He also expressed he was “delighted that DART chose Glenn Heights as one of the first DART cities to provide these services in.”
The installation of the EV charging stations was made possible by a $79,000 grant award under the NCTCOG Electric Vehicle Charging Station Call for Projects program using Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds.
The first installations will allow DART to better understand usage, benefits and costs of the program to inform a broader expansion strategy throughout the DART service area.
