By Tricia White

On select voting days during the 2021 general election, voters can ride free on Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), and Trinity Metro to cast their ballot. Below is more information for each North Texas public transit agency’s Election 2021 free ride promotion:

DART Election 2021 Free Ride Promotion

DART is providing FREE transportation to voting locations on Election Day, Nov. 2, 2021. Voters can ride at no charge on all DART bus, light rail, Dallas Streetcar, GoLink and Paratransit service, and on the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) between EBJ Union Station and CentrePort/DFW Airport Station.

Free DART service will be available all day to help you get to your polling location. No proof of voter registration is required to ride free on Nov. 2. GoLink riders can use the promo code “VOTE21” at checkout for a complimentary Adult Local Day Pass in the GoPass app on Nov. 2.

Customers who need customized trip planning can map out their ride with the “Plan” tool in the free GoPass app or use the Trip Planner on DART.org. DART Customer Service is also available at 214-979-1111 to answer questions and provide trip planning information.

If you plan your trip directly in Google Maps, enter the voting location as your destination and choose the Transit option (train icon) to get travel directions using DART.

For more information on riding DART to vote go to www.DART.org/Vote.

DCTA Election 2021 Free Ride Promotion

On Tuesday, November 2, voters can ride Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) free to cast their ballot. No proof of voter registration or destination is required to ride DCTA free on this day.

The promotion is valid on the following DCTA services: 

• A-train commuter rail
• Connect Bus system (Denton and Lewisville)
• University of North Texas (UNT) Campus Shuttles
• Lewisville Lakeway On-Demand
• Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC) Evening On-Demand

Denton County voters can locate their polling places and check their registration status at votedenton.com or by using the Denton County interactive map. Election Day voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Planning Your Free Trip to the Polls

As a reminder, don’t forget to check our A-train and Connect Bus schedules when planning your trip. Passengers can use our Transit Tracker system to find and track their ride via the mobile app, online, text or calling our customer service team at 940-243-0077. For trip planning needs, passengers can utilize our Trip Planner at RideDCTA.net. 

Trinity Metro Election 2021 Free Ride Promotion

Thanks to a partnership with Tarrant County, Trinity Metro riders can show their voter registration card or current Texas ID and ride for free during early voting Oct. 18-29, and on Election Day, Nov. 2. For ZIPZONE riders, free rides will be determined by the pickup’s or destination’s proximity to a voting location. The transit services included in the program are:

• Trinity Metro’s bus routes
• Mercantile ZIPZONE Southside ZIPZONE, South Tarrant ZIPZONE
• ACCESS paratransit, plus Tarrant County Transportation Services (TCTS)
• Northeast Transportation Services (NETS)
• Arlington’s Via and Handitran

The Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved a partnership with transportation services in Tarrant County to pay for customer trips to voting locations. This is not the first time the county has teamed up with transportation providers to offer free rides to the polls. During the November 2020 election, more than 5,800 free trips to voting locations were provided through this program.

Tarrant County has multiple locations for early voting and a list of locations for Election Day. 

For questions or to schedule a ride:

• Trinity Metro (bus, rail, ACCESS, and ZIPZONE) 817-215-8600
• Northeast Transportation Service (NETS) 817-336-8714
• Tarrant County Transportation Service (TCTS) 817-336-8714
• Arlington Via 817-784-7382
• Arlington Handitran 817-459-5390

How Voters Can Stay Safe When Riding Public Transit

All three public transit agencies recommend that riders vote early to avoid crowds. In addition, below are more tips voters who ride DART, DCTA and Trinity Metro should keep in mind to keep themselves and others safe this election season:

• Wear a face mask while riding DART and while at the voting location.
• Carry hand sanitizer with you and use it before and after your visit to the voting location, and especially after you use the voting machine. DART has hand sanitizer dispensers on board its buses and trains.
• Bring your own sanitized pen to sign any forms.
• Wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you can after leaving the voting location.
• Consider voting early so you can avoid crowds and practice social distancing.
• Stay home if you are sick or have been exposed to COVID-19. 

About Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is the public transit agency for Dallas and 12 surrounding North Texas cities. It operates a multi-modal network of buses, light rail, Trinity Railway Express commuter rail and paratransit. It is a global leader in the emerging field of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) which incorporates smartphone technology into fare payment and trip planning and scheduling and greater use of smaller vehicles. DART moves more than 220,000 passengers per day across its 700-square-mile service area. For more information, visit www.dart.org.

About Denton County Transportation Authority

The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) is committed to improving mobility, air quality, economic development and livability in the communities it serves. In collaboration with diverse stakeholders and partners, DCTA is a leader in advancing mobility initiatives to serve the ever-changing transit needs of riders. Formed in 2002 and funded in 2003, DCTA serves Denton, Collin and Tarrant County with a total of 21 fixed bus routes, 21-mile A-train commuter rail line, on-demand, paratransit and additional services. DCTA serves nearly 3 million passengers each year with connections to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Green Line. To learn more about how DCTA is shaping the future of North Texas, visit RideDCTA.net.

About Trinity MetroTrinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, providing passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, ACCESS paratransit, ZIPZONEs, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.