The simplest and most reliable way to get around Dallas is by car. Public transportation, known as Dallas Area Rapid Transit or DART, has an extensive system of buses and an expanding light rail network. The light rail hits many tourist destinations in the downtown area, but generally works best for commuters. Buses will get you almost anywhere but will usually require multiple transfers and are a slow way to travel. You can get an excellent trip plan by visiting the DART website (http://www.dart.org) or by calling their information phone number 214-979-1111. Tickets consist of either one-way tickets $1.75 and up or day passes $4 at light rail stations and are generally collected on the honor system; we recommend the day pass because it will probably take you a lot of buses to get where you need to go. Most buses and the entire light rail have service from around 5:00AM to midnight. There are no after-hours buses. Bus drivers will check tickets upon boarding; light rail trains have infrequent random checks that occur most often during rush hour.
The bus system, not unlike in many large cities, can be quite confusing, and trying to get to points downtown may involve a long walk due to one-way streets. The Texas culture and the urban sprawl of the DFW metroplex encourage the use of cars and local will generally be unable to help you use public transportation. The light rail system consists of three lines, is simple to navigate, and connects to several suburban areas. Car rentals are the most convenient for transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenient return policies and locations.
To get from Dallas-Fort worth DFW airport to downtown Dallas or Fort Worth, take a free shuttle from outside your terminal to the Remote South parking lot. Here you can change to another free shuttle to the Trinity Rail Express station called Centre Port/DFW Airport. From here a train to either downtown takes about 20 minutes. You may have to wait an hour for the next train. Buy tickets from the vending machines; they take dollar bills as well as coins. Tickets cost about $2.50. Alternatively, you can take a shared van from the airport. These cost $15-$20, depending on your destination.
Dallas Taxi (http://www.dallasdfwtaxi.com)
Dallas Yellow Cab (http://www.dallasyellowcab.com), 1-800-444-6400
