Quick Answer: Commuting from Garland to Richardson, Plano, and UT Dallas on the Blue Line means riding the Blue Line to SMU/Mockingbird Station and switching to a northbound Red Line train. For UT Dallas, stay on to CityLine/Bush and take the Silver Line one stop west. DART Routes 245 and 247 from Forest/Jupiter Station offer a more direct path north.
Garland sits east of the Red Line corridor, so the train trip north to Richardson or Plano starts with a ride southwest. That catches plenty of new riders off guard. Hickory Apartments, serving west Garland near Forest Lane and Jupiter Road, is under half a mile from Forest/Jupiter Station, which makes Hickory Apartments in Garland a practical base for a car-light commute.
What Is the Best Way to Commute From Garland to Richardson, Plano, and UT Dallas?
The best way depends on where your day ends. Rail is the steadiest choice for Richardson's Red Line stations and downtown Plano, while two DART buses leaving Forest/Jupiter Station cut across north Garland more directly. UT Dallas riders also have a train to campus now, because the Silver Line opened on October 25, 2025.
Some context helps. Garland workers averaged 29.7 minutes getting to work in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, according to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Garland. Most transit trips north involve one transfer, so build that wait into your estimate. The payoff is a predictable train ride and no parking bill at the other end.
Driving part of the week? The picture shifts a little. Garland recently celebrated the completion of the 635 East rebuild, a six-year, $1.7 billion project on the city's busiest traffic corridor. That helps anyone heading west on I-635. Still, a train ride north means you never sit in US 75 traffic outside Richardson, and the parking question disappears once you reach campus or the office.
How Do You Get From Garland to Plano and Richardson by Train?
Board a Blue Line train toward UNT Dallas, ride four stops to SMU/Mockingbird, then switch to a northbound Red Line train. SMU/Mockingbird is the northernmost station shared by the Blue, Red and Orange lines. North of it, Arapaho Center, Galatyn Park and CityLine/Bush serve Richardson, while 12th Street, Downtown Plano and Parker Road serve Plano.
Forest/Jupiter or Downtown Garland: Which Station Should You Use?
Forest/Jupiter Station, at 3232 Forest Lane, is the closer stop for Hickory residents. It has 563 free parking spaces and connects to DART Routes 22, 245 and 247. Garland's downtown station sits at Fifth and Walnut streets, one stop farther toward Rowlett. Starting there adds a stop to every trip, though it works well if your errands are already on the square. Check the map and directions to Hickory to picture the walk.
| Destination | Rail Path From Forest/Jupiter | Bus Option From Forest/Jupiter |
|---|---|---|
| Richardson (Arapaho Center, Galatyn Park, CityLine/Bush) | Blue Line to SMU/Mockingbird, then Red Line north | Route 245 to CityLine/Bush Station |
| Plano (12th Street, Downtown Plano, Parker Road) | Blue Line to SMU/Mockingbird, then Red Line north | Route 247 up Jupiter Road to Downtown Plano and Parker Road |
| UT Dallas | Blue, then Red to CityLine/Bush, then Silver Line one stop west | Route 245 to CityLine/Bush, then Silver Line or Comet Cruiser shuttle |
| Uptown and Downtown Dallas | Blue Line straight through, no transfer | Not needed |
| Fare for any row | One 3-Hour Pass ($3) | Same pass covers the bus |
Route 247 runs seven days a week along Jupiter Road, the same street Hickory sits on, before ending at Parker Road Station. Route 245 heads north to CityLine/Bush in Richardson. Buses stop often and share the road with traffic, so the train usually wins on reliability while the bus wins on distance.
Richardson TX to Dallas TX: Riding the Red Line South
Reverse commuters have it easy. The Red Line runs from Richardson south through SMU/Mockingbird and into downtown Dallas with no transfer. Garland riders heading to Uptown don't need the Red Line at all: the Blue Line continues past Mockingbird to the Cityplace Uptown station, listed as Cityplace/Uptown on DART maps, and then into downtown.
How Do You Reach UT Dallas Without a Car?
Take the Silver Line to UT Dallas Station, at 3416 Waterview Parkway in Richardson, about a third of a mile north of campus. It sits one stop west of CityLine/Bush, where the Silver Line meets the Red Line. You can reach CityLine/Bush by rail through SMU/Mockingbird or by Route 245 straight from Forest/Jupiter.
Timing is the catch. At launch, DART ran the Silver Line every 30 minutes during peak hours and every 60 minutes otherwise, so a missed connection can cost real time. The Comet Cruiser shuttle between CityLine/Bush and campus is a useful backup.
Reading the DART Schedule Before You Ride
As of February 2, 2026, DART runs the Red, Blue, Green and Orange lines every 20 minutes during weekday peaks, down from every 15 minutes. Off-peak and weekend frequency did not change. Route 22 also moved to 20-minute peak service. Check the DART schedule for your exact stations in the GoPass app or on DART's trip planner before your first week. Plano riders can plan long term, too: the city canceled its May 2026 DART withdrawal election in February after reaching a new funding deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a Long Branch train station on DART?
No. The Long Branch train station is on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line in Long Branch, New Jersey, and DART has no stop by that name. Hickory residents in Garland use Forest/Jupiter Station or Downtown Garland Station on the Blue Line, with Forest/Jupiter being the closer of the two.
2. Does Green Line DART service reach Garland?
No. The Green Line runs from Buckner Station in southeast Dallas to North Carrollton/Frankford in Carrollton. Blue Line riders from Garland can switch to it downtown at shared stations such as Pearl/Arts District, St. Paul, Akard and West End. It's useful for Love Field and the Medical District, not for Richardson or Plano.
3. Is Garland Texas safe for transit commuters?
Safety varies by block and by hour, so citywide rankings tell you little about one station. The Garland Police Department publishes weekly and monthly selected incident reports plus a police district map on its Crime Statistics and Maps page. Compare the district around your station with the one around your home.
4. How much does a DART commute cost?
Local DART fares cover buses, light rail, the Silver Line and GoLink. Current prices:
- 3-Hour Pass: $3 ($1.50 reduced fare)
- Day Pass: $6, and fare capping means you never pay more in one day
- Monthly Pass: $126 ($63 reduced fare)
- Regional Day Pass: $9 since March 1, 2026, for trips onto Trinity Metro or DCTA
5. How long does the trip from Garland to Richardson take?
It depends on your stop and your connection. By rail, you ride four Blue Line stops to SMU/Mockingbird, then seven Red Line stops to Arapaho Center or nine to CityLine/Bush. With trains every 20 minutes at peak, a tight transfer saves the most time. DART's trip planner gives live estimates.
Conclusion
Commuting from Garland to Richardson, Plano, and UT Dallas on the Blue Line works well once you know where to switch: SMU/Mockingbird for the Red Line, CityLine/Bush for the Silver Line. Routes 245 and 247 add a direct option when the train's detour feels long. For west Garland renters, living near Forest/Jupiter keeps all of it within walking distance. Browse the floor plans at Hickory and see how a Garland home base fits your route north.
