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On Dec. 15, Congress passed a final consolidated appropriations bill including $1 million for use toward real estate for Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Southeast Corridor extension. This is in addition to the $70 million Congress appropriated Oct. 23 for DART’s North Central extension from Richardson to Plano.


The $70 million appropriation is the third installment DART has received from its $333 million Full Funding Grant Agreement signed last year. The FFGA would provide funds over six years to complete the 12.5-mile extension.


The Southeast Corridor would extend east from Pearl Station to Elam Road at Buckner Boulevard. DART’s board approved the first 8.2 miles of the 10.2-mile route in February.


DART also expects to receive more than $300,000 from the COPS Making Officer Redeployment Effective (MORE) program sponsored by U.S. Department of Justice. The grant funds an employee’s salary and benefits for one year, enabling local police departments, such as DART’s transit police force, to hire more support staff, thereby increasing officer presence outside the offices.


This grant is the third DART has received through the MORE program, totaling more than $5 million and resulting in deployment of 86 officers and support staff.