DART & Trammell Crow Launch $123M TOD at Mockingbird Station

DART and Trammell Crow begin a $123M TOD at SMU/Mockingbird station, transforming a parking lot into a mixed-use development to boost ridership and revenue.

January 28, 2026 1:39 am

🛑 Key Takeaways:

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Trammell Crow Co. have begun construction on a $123 million transit-oriented development (TOD) at SMU/Mockingbird station.
The project is supported by $49 million in public funding, including $29M from a city tax district and $20M from a regional transportation grant.
This development converts a 16-acre DART-owned parking lot into a mixed-use asset, aiming to increase ridership and generate non-farebox revenue.

DALLAS – Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and development partner Trammell Crow Co. have commenced construction on a $123 million, 16-acre transit-oriented development (TOD). The project will replace a surface parking lot at the SMU/Mockingbird light-rail station with a mixed-use complex including residential, hotel, and office space, directly connecting to DART’s 93-mile rail network.

Category	Specification / Detail
Project Name	SMU/Mockingbird Station TOD
Total Budget	$123 million
Key Stakeholders	DART, Trammell Crow Co., City of Dallas, North Central Texas Council of Governments
Location	16-acre former DART parking lot, SMU/Mockingbird Station
Key Components	394 apartment units, 500-space subsurface garage, hotel, office space
Public Funding	$49 million ($29M TIF, $20M regional grant)
Phase 1 Completion	End of 2027 (Apartment structure)

Operational & Technical Details

The project’s initial phase focuses on constructing a 394-unit apartment building, scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. A core infrastructure component is a 500-space subsurface parking garage designated for DART riders. This design replaces the existing surface lot, maintaining commuter parking capacity while unlocking the land’s value for high-density vertical development. The entire site buildout will occur in phases, with hotel and office space construction following the residential component.

Market Impact Analysis

This development exemplifies DART’s strategy to monetize underutilized real estate assets to create sustainable revenue streams independent of passenger fares. By partnering with a private developer and leveraging significant public funding—covering approximately 40% of the total cost—DART minimizes its direct capital risk. The project aims to increase ridership density around a key station node. For the Dallas market, it adds housing and commercial space with direct access to regional transit, a model increasingly favored in urban planning to manage congestion and land use.

FAQ: Quick Facts

What is the main value of this project?

The total project cost is $123 million.

When is the expected completion date?

The first phase, the apartment structure, is slated for completion by the end of 2027.