new electric streetcar line in Dallas, Texas

DALLAS (AP) — A slick new electric streetcar system has begun service between downtown Dallas and the Oak Cliff neighborhood.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit says the free rides began Monday on the 1.6 mile (2.6 km) route linking Union Station and Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

DART says a $26 million federal grant helped establish the program. The streetcar system will run weekdays from 5 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. CDT.

The project involves the city, DART, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.

DART says the second phase will extend the route to the shopping and dining of Oak Cliff's Bishop Arts District by early next year. A third segment would extend the line to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and Omni Dallas Hotel.