How I Saved Thousands Commuting by Train in Car-Crazy Dallas
Public Transit in the Land of Pickup Trucks
Dallas is not exactly known for its public transportation. This is a city built around cars, sprawling suburbs, and massive freeways. When people think of great public transit, they think of New York, San Francisco, or Washington DC. (If you think of Dallas, you’re confused.)
So when I had the opportunity to consult at an office downtown for several months, most people assumed I'd drive like everyone else. Instead, I decided to test whether public transit could work in one of America's most car-dependent cities.
The results surprised me. (and they might surprise you too!)
The Setup: My Commute Challenge
Note: this experiment took place from January 2024 to July 2024.
The Route: Mid-Cities to Downtown Dallas
Distance: About 20 miles each way
My Options:
Drive and pay for downtown parking
Take the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) + Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)
The Experiment: For several months, I committed to taking public transit every single day and tracking the real costs, time, and experience compared to driving.
The Numbers: Transit vs. Driving
Let me break down the real costs of each option:
Public Transit Costs
Drive to Centreport Station: $42.90 (3 miles @ $0.65/mile X 22 workdays) (using IRS rates)
Monthly DART/TRE Pass: $96
Parking at Train Station: Free (most suburban stations have free parking)
Drive from Centreport Station: $42.90 (3 miles @ $0.65/mile X 22 workdays) (using IRS rates)
Total Monthly Cost: $184.80 ($96 + $42.90 + $42.90)
Driving Costs
Drive Downtown: $300.30 (21 miles @ 0.65/mile x 22 workdays)
Downtown Parking: $300 (monthly parking in the building)
Drive Home: $300.30 (21 miles @ 0.65/mile x 22 workdays)
Total Monthly Cost: $900.60
Monthly Savings: $715.80
Annual Savings: $8,589.60
Using our 25x rule, that's $214,740 less needed for FI just from changing my commute method!
The Time Reality Check
Driving Time:
60 minutes each way (depending on traffic)
Total: 2 hours daily
Stress level: High (Dallas traffic is brutal)
Transit Time:
5 minutes to station
22 minutes on commuter train (TRE)
5 minute wait to transfer
8 minutes on local train (DART)
4 minute walk to office
44 minutes each way
Total: 1.5 hours daily
Stress level: Low (worked on TRE, read on DART)
The Verdict: Not only was the train faster, but I was able to work because the train had tables! I promise no work was getting done while white-knuckling through heavy traffic.
What the Experience Was Actually Like
The Good
Reliability: The trains ran on schedule 98% of the time. Unlike driving, I could predict exactly when I'd arrive. Only one day in six months was I more than ten minutes late.
Productivity: I had an extra ~45 minutes of work time every day to catch up on emails. I was able to leave the office earlier knowing I could continue working.
Stress Reduction: No road rage, no parking stress, no worrying about accidents or traffic jams. Also, downtown was having a stolen car epidemic, so I didn’t worry about coming back to an empty parking space.
Fun: Let’s be honest. Trains are kind of fun. There are giant windows and you get to go along a route otherwise inaccessible.
Exercise: While brief, even a few minutes of walking outdoors is refreshing versus going from the office bubble to the car bubble.
Cost Savings: Obviously the biggest benefit: saving $715+ monthly!
The Challenges
Weather: Texas summers are brutal. Even a 5 minute transfer was unpleasant in 110°F heat.
Limited Flexibility: The commuter train runs every 30 minutes. No allowing meetings to run late.
“Interesting” Stations: The TRE was lovely. The DART stations are really rough. During rush hour it was fine, but off-hours were sketchy.
The "Uncool" Factor: Everyone assumes you must be broke to take the train. (Jokes on them!)
Why Don't More People Do This?
If transit worked so well and saved so much money, why was the train usually so empty?
Cultural Bias: In Texas, driving is seen as independence and success. Taking transit is viewed as something only poor people do.
Convenience Addiction: Americans are addicted to door-to-door convenience, even when it's more expensive and stressful.
Status Signaling: Cars are status symbols. A nice car in the office parking garage signals success.
Lack of Awareness: Most people have never tried transit and assume it doesn't work.
Flexibility Concerns: People overestimate how often they need maximum schedule flexibility.
Safety Concerns: It is assumed public transit opens you up to being a crime victim
When Transit Makes Sense (And When It Doesn't)
I understand that this isn’t feasible for everyone. This country is generally built around cars and there are areas where public transit does not exist. Still, take a look and give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, that’s okay.
This Could Work for You if:
You live near a station with free parking
Your destination is near a station (like downtown cores)
You have regular work hours
You can be productive during travel time
Cost savings align with your financial goals
Driving Makes More Sense When:
You need maximum schedule flexibility
You regularly travel to multiple locations
You have young children or mobility issues
Your route isn't well-served by transit
Time is more valuable than money savings
The FI Connection
This experiment reinforced a key FI principle: question default assumptions and calculate true costs.
Most people default to driving because "that's what everyone does" without ever calculating the real cost or considering alternatives. They see the $96 monthly transit pass and think "that's expensive" while ignoring the $700+ monthly cost of driving.
This is exactly the kind of thinking that keeps people from reaching FI. They make expensive choices on autopilot instead of intentionally choosing what aligns with their goals.
Lessons for Other Cities
Even "Car Cities" Have Options: If Dallas has workable public transit, other cities might too. Don't assume it won't work without trying it.
Test It Out: Try transit for a month before making a final decision. The first few times always feel awkward.
Calculate True Costs: Include gas, parking, wear and tear, insurance, and opportunity cost of money spent on vehicles.
Consider Total Value: Factor in productivity time, stress reduction, and health benefits, not just dollars.
Action Steps for You
This Week:
Research public transit options in your area
Calculate your true monthly commuting costs (payment, maintenance, tires, gas, parking, tolls, registration, taxes, depreciation, insurance, part upgrades, etc)
If it makes sense, identify one trip where transit might work
This Month:
If it makes sense, test transit for one week and track the experience
Calculate potential annual savings if you switched
Consider whether the time/money trade-off aligns with your FI goals
This Quarter:
If transit worked, consider making it your default for regular trips
Look for other transportation assumptions you could challenge
The Bottom Line
My Dallas transit experiment was on track to save me ~$8,600 annually while reducing stress and increasing productivity. In a city famous for car culture and traffic, public transit actually worked better than driving for my downtown commute.
The bigger lesson: challenge your assumptions about what's "normal" or "necessary." Small changes in thinking can lead to massive changes in your FI timeline.
Every transportation dollar you don't spend gets you closer to freedom. Sometimes the path to FI isn't about earning more. It's about questioning whether you need to spend what everyone else spends.
Next time, we'll explore how to optimize all those smaller expense categories that add up to big money: subscriptions, insurance, utilities, and everything else that chips away at your financial independence.
Until then, your homework: Question one "default" assumption about how you spend money. Maybe it's your commute, maybe it's your phone plan, maybe it's your lunch routine. Calculate what changing that assumption could save you annually.
Here's to getting where you're going for less,
Max
P.S.: Yes, I got some weird looks from colleagues who saw me on the train platform. But I also got the last laugh when I calculated how much they were spending on their commutes! Status signaling is expensive.