A new bus network plan will go into effect early next year. Courtesy Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

A new Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus network plan will go into effect Jan. 24.

A final plan for the network overhaul was unanimously approved Aug. 31 by the DART board of directors.

Among focuses of the network redesign are greater frequency of buses, expanded coverage, more direct routes, longer hours of service and improved access to jobs.

Changes to reach these goals include the addition of 13 new GoLink zones and the expansion of existing zones. The new 30 total GoLink zones will be active starting Dec. 6.

All DART buses will begin operating on a seven day schedule from 5 a.m.-midnight at a minimum, the network shared in a release. Additionally, 74% of DART service area residents will have access to transit services within walking distance, a 6% increase over previous access reports, according to the transit system. And the number of jobs accessible by DART buses are expected to increase by 34%.

DART staff have discussed the upcoming changes for more than a year, and moved to overhaul the network based on outdated systems, declining ridership and goal re-evaluation.

To take a look at what these changes mean for the neighborhood, look at DART’s interactive network viewer. More information on the network plan can be found here.