New area code, 945, approved for Dallas area

A Texas regulator has approved the addition of a fourth area code for the Dallas area.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Public Utility Commission of Texas said it had approved the addition of 945 as an overlay because of a looming shortage of telephone number possibilities for the 214, 469 and 972 area codes.

Those three codes are used by Dallas County and parts of Collin, Denton, Fannin, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman and Tarrant counties.

The new code is to be implemented over the next nine months.