Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus stops are set for upgrades across the region after the transit agency’s board of directors approved up to $71.5 million for the project on March 24.

The details: The five-year contract covers upgrades to existing bus stops as well as the installation of additional shelters throughout DART’s service area, including stops in Richardson and Plano, according to a news release.

DART plans to upgrade more than 1,000 existing bus stop shelters with improved lighting, seating and protection from weather, as well as adding 350 new shelter locations. The new and upgraded shelters will include real-time arrival displays, modern passenger technology and 30% more protection from weather elements.

Sweat440 is slated to open soon in Carrollton at the west Plano border, a company representative said.

The business offers high-energy 40-minute workouts that combine HIIT, cross-training, and strength training.

Quote of note: “We chose this location because of its strong sense of community, family oriented and its proximity to west Plano, an area experiencing continued growth with busy professionals and families who prioritize health and wellness,” Sweat440 Prestonwood Owner Gabriel Zimeri said in an email.

• 3204 E. Hebron Parkway, Ste. 330, Carrollton

Officials with Richardson’s Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival are working to grow its revenue and reduce expenses amid rising costs and lower attendance.

Yvonne Falgout, director of parks and recreation, presented to City Council on March 23 the adjustments to this year’s festival that aim to raise revenue and attendance. This year, the 34th annual festival will run May 15-17.

The big picture: This is the second of three briefings on Wildflower’s city-funded budget, which could come under reconsideration in light of budget pressures that may result in cut city programs. City Manager Don Magner said the combination of increasing costs with stagnating revenue is a “recipe for disaster” for the festival.

What’s new: Falgout presented several adjustments to this year’s festival that aim to maximize attendance and revenue. General admission will be free on Sunday, which Falgout said is historically the festival’s lowest-attended day. The price of the three-day general admission pass will be reduced to reflect the free day.

See five road projects planned or ongoing around Dallas-Fort Worth.

1. Teel Parkway construction
Project: Teel Parkway in Prosper will be improved with a four-lane concrete divided roadway. The improvements include paving, a retaining wall, drainage and median landscaping. The project spans First Street to Freeman Way.
Update: The project is in the design phase.

• Timeline: winter 2027-summer 2029
• Cost: $800,000
• Funding source: town of Prosper

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: $169,788
• Funding sources: cities of Colleyville, Euless

At least 257,000 students have applied for Texas’ inaugural education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office. Less than half of those applicants are likely to be accepted.

The overview: Applications for Texas Education Freedom Accounts close at 11:59 p.m. March 31. Students enrolling in private schools will receive $10,474 to spend on tuition and related expenses, while homeschool students can get up to $2,000 each, and students with disabilities may qualify for up to $30,000 each.

Through March 29, about 23% of applicants had indicated they would be homeschooled while 77% of applicants said they wanted to attend a private school, state data shows.

Program funding is capped at $1 billion for the 2026-27 school year, meaning between 90,000 and 100,000 students will likely be accepted.

By the numbers: About 34,000 students indicated in their application that they have a disability, per the comptroller's office. Students who have a disability and are considered low- or middle-income will receive priority acceptance into the program under state law.