Reports released by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) demonstrate that the agency’s investment in light rail has led to extensive growth in the regional economy, including the creation of 54,000 jobs between 2003 and 2013, as well as increased value of property located near DART stations.

DART released the University of North Texas reports, Through Recession and Recovery: Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Capital and Operating Spending by ­Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Developmental Impacts of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Light Rail System, at a recent board meeting.

“These studies are evidence that transit transforms communities and can change the lives of the people who live in them. An investment in transit is an investment in people,” said DART President/Executive Director and ­former APTA Chair Gary Thomas.

Primary findings from the reports include:

* Investment in DART Rail between 2003 and 2013 yielded $7.4 billion for the regional economy, including new jobs that produced an additional $3.3 billion in salaries, wages, and benefits;

* More than $5.3 billion has been invested in transit-oriented development (TOD) near DART Rail stations since the light rail system opened in 1996;

* Developments located near DART stations are significantly more valuable than similar projects not located near public transit ($1.5 billion in value compared with $600 million). This produces greater property tax revenues for service area cities with these projects ($36 million compared with $14 million); and

* Rents for developments near DART Rail stations are an average of 14 percent higher than comparable properties.

Between 2003 and 2013, DART grew its light rail network from 44 miles and 34 stations to 85 miles and 61 stations, becoming the longest light rail system in the country.

Through Recession and Recovery shows that capital spending on the system was almost $5.63 billion, or $4.7 billion in inflation-adjusted 2013 dollars, and the expansion generated $7.4 billion in direct, indirect, and induced regional economic activity—or a 157 percent return on investment.

The TOD study, which examined developments located within one-quarter mile of a DART Rail station, found that the station area outperformed those in comparable control locations in each of five major property types. Of those completed projects, more than $751 million are multifamily residential developments, office developments total $224 million, retail developments are worth $393 million, and industrial and single-family properties also were more plentiful near rail stations.

Both of DART’s economic impact reports are available here.