The DART Silver Line and its accompanying University of Texas at Dallas Station opened for business Saturday, Oct. 25, and Comets stand to gain quite a bit from this major change to campus.
While there are obvious benefits such as an easy connection to DFW Airport and access to the rest of the DART rail network through switching trains, each of the stations along the line has some more subtle advantages that many UT Dallas students don’t know about.
The Shiloh Road Station is the easternmost stop on the Silver line, and is unfortunately one of the less useful stops for the average Comet. It is close to a Buddhist temple, Mar Thoma church and mosque, but unless you’re seeking a place of worship, there’s little to justify the ride out.
The 12th Street station, by contrast, offers a wide variety of options for nearly any Comet. While it may at first appear to exit into a quiet area, a short walk gives access to downtown Plano: an area home to inexpensive restaurants like Ramen Belly and pizza joint Urban Crust, as well as clothing and bookstores like Filson and Bibliobar. This station connects easily to the Dart Red Line.
Next up is the City Line\Bush Station – perhaps the only stop that does a better job of hiding its treasures better than 12th Street. The primary advantage of this station is its direct overlap with the Red Line, making switching trains as easy as changing platforms. But take a closer look at the nearby office buildings, and you’ll find an easily walkable area full of restaurants like Tricky Fish and Saravanaa Bhavan, plus a scenic walking trail for Comets seeking a nature retreat.
Just one stop west lies the UT Dallas Station, located right at the top of Northside, no more than a 10 minute walk away from almost anywhere on campus. Even for Comets who don’t plan to use it regularly, this station offers indirect benefits. Its presence will likely reduce traffic in the area as more people choose not to drive, making parking easier to find. For a campus as crowded as ours, this is a win-win. When the cheapest fall parking pass on campus is a crisp $194, nobody wants to be forced to go up a tier because of a lack of spaces.
Then comes the Knoll Trail Station – the first westbound stop when leaving campus. Aside from a few breakfast spots nearby, it may seem unremarkable, until you look between the apartment buildings behind the station and spot a distinct shade of blue: a Walmart, just 30 second walk away. For UT Dallas students on a tight schedule, easy access to the grocery store is a game changer.
Next up, and my personal favorite, is the Addison station, which once again hides its best features, though this time behind some construction and a short walk across a field. The effort pays off when you reach Addison Circle Park, a beautiful shopping district with tons of greenery, art and three other parks within walking distance. Plus, there’s free yoga every Saturday.
Downtown Carrollton Station is home to one of the densest shopping districts I’ve ever seen. Clothing stores, antique shops, restaurants, theatres – just about anything you could ever want – fill the district, which is also covered with vibrant street art. If you’re looking for something budget friendly, there’s even a fun scavenger hunt featuring bronze animal statues designed by UT Dallas marketing student, Sanjana Gagrani.
The Cypress Waters and DFW Airport North stations have less to offer the average Comet than the rest of the Silver Line. The Cypress Waters mainly serves as a small residential area and a shipping warehouse, while the DFW Airport North station is little more than a parking lot and a connection point to the Trinity Metro TEXRail service. Aviation enthusiasts may enjoy watching the low-flying planes overhead every few minutes. But for everyone else, maybe just skip these two.
Last and certainly not least, the DFW Airport Terminal B station. The benefits of this one are clear: any comet can get to the airport for free – no driving, calling an Uber or arranging a drop off is required. Just grab your suitcase, hop on the train and go where you need to. The Silver Line has opened the door to new and interesting places all over DFW, now go out and explore.
