DART takes lead in new partnership to combat human trafficking

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is leading local efforts this month to raise awareness about human trafficking.

The agency is part of a regional coalition of transportation entities working together to raise public awareness of how to recognize and report potential trafficking. In addition to DART, the coalition includes Greyhound, Amtrak, the Denton County Transportation Authority, Fort Worth Transportation Authority, Megabus, and various social agencies and legislative advocacy groups.

DART President and Executive Director Gary Thomas has signed the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking Pledge," which commits the agency to addressing the important issue, DART officials said in a press release.

The pledge holds DART to serve as an industry leader, providing training and education, helping to develop policy, raising awareness among the traveling public, and providing information sharing and analysis.

It's estimated that more than 20 million men, women and children around the world are victims of human trafficking, with the United States considered a source, transit and destination country, DART officials said.

The agency's efforts this month in particular are part of January's National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.