04/20/05 DFW International Airport:  Over Thirty Years with No Mass Transit System

In the early 1970's, DFW Airport opened for service and originally utilized a functional passenger/ baggage mass transit system known as Surtran.  Service was initially provided from the location of Coit Road and LBJ on a scheduled basis, but subsequently deteriorated to a system of shuttles and taxi cabs (as well as thousands of private motor vehicles).

The Dallas area continually suffers from air pollution, traffic jams and expensive origin-to-DFW expenses.  All this, in part, because after 30 years of DFW Airport operation, there is NO acceptable mass transit in place. 

Those who tout that DART provides that service are NOT thinking clearly, since DART operates when and where it desires, requires transfers and has next to no provision for baggage service and storage.  Those who believe DART serves  mass transit requirements need only traverse (example) from North Dallas or South Dallas to DFW and measure the time required for transit and transfers. 

DART officials SHOULD VIEW the inbound claim carousels and outbound ticketing counters at DFW to witness the baggage varieties passengers carry on their business and vacation trips --- such as skis, musical instruments, baby strollers, tool boxes, hunting equipment, animals and  all sizes of luggage (including hanging bags). 

Air transportation is designed to transport PEOPLE and BAGGAGE to destinations quickly.  Mass transit responsibility is to get those people and their belongings to and from the airport.  Thousands of private vehicles, taxi cabs, shuttles, etc. are not acceptable in view of the shortage of energy, high parking and toll expense,  and current associated illegal air pollution conditions in the Dallas region. 

Several governmental bodies have completely "dropped the ball" for over thirty years in addressing a working and efficient mass transit system which would serve DFW International Airport.