Public Transportation in Dallas?

Travel Info
Will be in Dallas for a business conference, but will have some days and evenings free. Am staying at an airport hotel, not planning to rent a car. I am looking for info on public transportation in Dallas to go to downtown, Texas Schoolbook Museum, etc. Also, any other ideas of things to do not very expensive, would be appreciated. Is public transportation safe and user friendly for tourists? Cost effective? Tips on getting arund town? Etc?
Thanks!

Travel Tips

If you fly into DFW, you can catch a shuttle bus from your terminal to the TRE (Trinity Railway Express). The shuttle is free, and when you get to the TRE station, that's where you buy your ticket from one of the machines. You'll need to buy a Premium day pass ($4.50).

Make sure you get on the train going east, to Dallas, not west to Ft. Worth. The TRE will make it's last stop at Union Station, get off there, and catch light rail train (Blue or Red line) to the next stop, called West End. From there, you can walk to the 6th floor Museum, eateries, and everything else. Your ticket is good all day.

If you are arriving at Love Field, I really don't know the routes but can find them out. Or just check www.dart.org. Good luck and if you have any questions, contact me through Yahoo Answers.

You don't need a car. I've used the transit systems all over and a train is a train is a train. The trains are relatively safe, but I recommend sitting in the first car where the conductor is. You should be very careful at night, though, especially if you're by yourself. By the way that daypass is good for buses also.

Others
Public transportatin is very limited. There is a train that runs from downtown Dallas, through Irving and Ft. Worth. There is also limited bus service, but nothing to the airport. If you are willing to pay for cabs, that's your best bet other than renting a car.

But, I really recomend getting a rental. There's great shopping near the north end of the airport at Grapevine Mills Mall, but the Dallas museums are in DT Dallas. DFW is very, very spread out. The Stockyards in Ft. Worth are fun and safe if you want the western type of stuff. The Ft. Worth zoo and museum district is actually nicer than Dallas, and the various botanical gardens there are beautiful and inexpensive.

Good luck!
Look at the Trinity Railway Express and DART to get from DFW Airport to downtown.

I think I'd consider public transportation reasonably safe, but not necessarily user-friendly. (But I grew up in Chicago so to me the public transportation down here is laughable, IMHO)