You just moved into Mercer Crossing—a fast-growing master-planned community on the edge of Dallas, Texas. You glance around: beautiful properties, landscaping, new shopping options coming in. But what if you don’t want to drive everywhere? Is there actual public transit, like bus routes you can walk to?
I had the same question after visiting a friend in the area. I wanted to head downtown without grabbing a rideshare every time. So, here’s everything I found, including my miscues, the legit resources (like DART, the local authority), and even how it compares to standards in other US metro areas.
“Mercer Crossing” isn’t always on the map, so first, pinpoint the location. It’s mainly at the triangle of Luna Road, Valley View Lane, and Mercer Parkway in Farmers Branch—zoned around 75234. If you’re confused whether you’re technically in Dallas, Carrollton, or Farmers Branch, welcome to the club. For transit, you must know your city since DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) only serves certain areas based on municipal contracts. Here’s the DART service area map to check for yourself.
My first instinct was Google Maps, typing “Mercer Crossing” and hitting Directions > Transit. Result? “No transit found” was the most common answer. Not helpful, but I learned why: not all new developments instantly sync with national mapping—especially if they’re just being built out.
So, switched to DART’s own trip planner, entering “Mercer Parkway & Luna Rd”. Here, route 229 popped up—sort of. But here’s the kicker: the nearest bus stop (at that time) was at Luna & Valley View, over half a mile’s walk on not very pedestrian-friendly roads. The stop is “Valley View @ Luna Eastbound” served by DART Route 229.
Screenshot from DART schedule lookup:
Expert tip: Always check the last update date on DART schedules—the 229 route runs weekday rush hours mainly, not weekends or late nights. That means commuters can use it, but for late-night or weekend plans you’re back to ride-share, car, or bike.
Here comes the real-life moment: I tried walking from Mercer Crossing Townhomes up to Luna Road to catch Route 229. Spoiler—sidewalks are not always continuous. At one point, you’re next to a light industrial parking lot, dodging the sprinklers. On foot, it's doable, but not what I’d call family-friendly or safe after dark.
City of Farmers Branch has plans for a complete trails loop in future phases (source), but as of late 2023, it’s not continuous.
What about actually catching the bus? I watched a DART bus pass, but it didn’t stop because—yep—I was on the wrong side of the street, missed the tiny DART sign entirely hidden by a bush. Note to self, next time, scout the stop ahead of your trip, don’t rely only on online maps!
On the Dallas City-Data forums, several new residents of Mercer Crossing noted the limited bus service, echoing my own findings. One user tried reaching downtown Dallas via public transit but found the transfers (RT229 to Bachman Station, then to DART’s Green Line) “clunky and not attractive for daily use” if you’re used to subways in other cities.
Industry expert (and DART planner) Miguel Tapia mentioned at a 2022 open house that “transit is coming, but the area is still mostly car-dependent—bus lines and on-demand flex service are likely in the next phase as density rises.”
I asked: is Mercer Crossing’s situation unusual? According to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), suburban office parks and lifestyle communities nationally often miss out on robust transit for the first few years (Transit-Oriented Development Case Review). Peer communities in Plano and Frisco faced near-identical challenges until local density and developer lobbying brought more routes.
Comparing “verified trade” standards—because, weird as it sounds, access to transit is a factor for federal urban planning grants—let’s see a quick table showing differences for such public verification in the U.S., EU, and Japan:
| Country/Region | Transit Standard Name | Legal Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | FTA Urbanized Area Formula Funding (5307) | 49 U.S.C. 5307 | Federal Transit Administration |
| EU | Urban Mobility Package | COM(2013) 913 | European Commission, Local Authorities |
| Japan | Urban Rail Certification | MLIT Urban Transport Policy | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) |
Basically, every country approaches “public transit verified access” differently; in Texas, the responsibility is split between city contracts (whether they want to pay DART for regional service) and county-level planning.
On my last test, I misread the sign and hopped off Route 229 at a stop before Luna Road, thinking it’d be a shortcut into Mercer Crossing. Ended up in an office park next to a construction fence—Google’s walking map wanted me to hop a fence and cut through a retention pond. Lesson learned: new developments always lag behind real-world mapping, so double-check with a local or call DART’s trip info line (214-979-1111).
Truth is, public transit does exist near Mercer Crossing, but it’s not ideal unless you’re a weekday commuter or feel comfortable with a long-ish walk and so-so pedestrian routes. The closest DART bus route (229) is less than a mile from the heart of Mercer Crossing, but with limited schedule and awkward transfers—plus occasional navigational fails.
Bottom line: if your goal is a transit-accessible lifestyle like you’ll find in, say, transit-oriented developments in Seattle or Europe (where verified access means a stop right outside your door), Mercer Crossing isn’t quite there yet. Local government and DART both publicly suggest that as the neighborhood grows and more residents demand service, ‘on demand’ shuttles or additional routes may materialize.
For now, check the current DART route maps, plan your walk in advance (watch for missing sidewalks!), and maybe submit a request by calling Farmers Branch city hall—they do, for the record, keep a log of transit requests when considering expansion (official site).
My advice for friends: try the route on a weekday morning for work—if you don’t like the walk or hassle, consider a car or bike as backup. And double-check both DART website and local forums for the latest changes—the city evolves fast, sometimes routes do too.