Update:
An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed statements to Andrew Fortune, director of government relations for Plano.
Suburbs give DART cost-cutting ultimatum
Plano officials say they take fight to legislature if an agreement isn’t reached.
By Amber Gaudet
Some Dallas Area Rapid Transit member cities are giving the transit agency an ultimatum: Agree by next month to a plan that would rebate up to 25% of funds to member cities, or answer to the Texas Legislature.
In a meeting led by Plano representative Shelby Williams Friday, DART board members heard they would have just five weeks to come to an agreement with the six member cities that previously passed resolutions in favor of lowering their sales tax contributions to DART. Since DART was formed in 1983, participating cities have paid a penny sales tax — a 1% tax on every dollar spent — to DART.
DART has until November 11 to sign onto an interlocal agreement agreeing to a plan that would create a general mobility program that rebates cities up to 25% of their tax contributions, which they can independently invest in eligible mobility projects. Williams also said member cities want to see the transit agency transition to a closed system with turnstiles to address crime and homelessness, reduce debt issuances, encourage more membership through a-la-cart options and move away from prioritizing fixed routes.
November 11 is the first day legislators and legislators-elect may file bills for the 89th Legislature.
Safety, cleanliness, reliability and value proposition remain top concerns, Williams said.
“We simply cannot maintain the status quo anymore,” Williams said.
Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer said he’s long heard from residents that DART isn’t meeting their needs and a change is needed.
“I was at a disability meeting yesterday…and everyone in the room said the DART system does not work for them,” Stopfer said.
But not all officials from member cities agreed. Several Dallas representatives said they haven’t been involved in discussions led by suburban member cities, and they don’t agree with the ultimatum to DART.
“I really, especially as Dallas in this organization, do not like feeling like I’m being strong-armed, and that’s the way that this seems,” Dallas mayor pro tem Adam Bazaldua said. “It seems like there’s an outcome you’re looking to have and we’re brought in at the eleventh hour.”
Mayor of Glenn Heights Sonja Brown said she shares some of the concerns Williams laid out but didn’t agree that the presentation was an accurate reflection of how all member cities felt about DART.
“In my city, should this reduction happen, my senior population will be greatly impacted with GoLink because that probably be the first service that goes away,” Brown said. “GoLink not only transports my residents to and from areas within the city, it gets them to doctors appointments outside the city of Glenn Heights. So let’s make sure we’re expressing the sentiments of the member cities correctly.”
Plano officials say they’ve been trying to work with DART for years. In 2021 and 2023 the city petitioned the state legislature to compel DART to provide financial information about how its funds were being allocated within Plano. DART says they provided the city with a cost allocation report in 2022, and an outside firm, Ernst & Young, provided a separate allocation report last month.
Member cities in September were also briefed on legislative recommendations that have come out of the Transit 2.0 study commissioned by the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The study examines regional transportation needs, including DART funding, through 2050.
WIlliams said several of the legislative recommendations that have come out of the study are “concerning.”
“It focuses on maintaining the status quo with the transit authorities,” Williams said.
NCTCOG proposed in a draft of its 2025 legislative priorities last month supporting DART’s ability to maintain the full 1% of its sales tax funds. Regional Transportation Council director Michael Morris said at Friday’s meeting that advancing a bill aimed at altering DART’s funding structure in the 2025 session could backfire.
“I can’t think of a worse time to take an aggressive transit bill to the legislature than to take an aggressive transit bill to the legislature under the circumstances the Texas Legislature is currently facing, and I fear it may not look anywhere close to what you’re asking,” Morris said.
DART has said they want to hear from other member cities about their needs, and reiterated that agency officials think a reduction in funding would be counterproductive.
“It was important to hear from the six cities that requested today’s meeting, but we’d also like to hear from our entire 13 service area member city partners on what their needs are,” DART spokesperson Jeamy Molina said. “Today, we heard a want for better and different services, but a reduction in sales tax will not do that. As this was the first time we heard this presentation, we’d appreciate the opportunity to provide the data that shows our improvement across security, cleanliness and reliability over the past three years.”
Several officials expressed doubt that a November 11 deadline was realistic but agreed more discussion is warranted.
“I first heard about it on the news that Plano was adopting this resolution, and that was not a good feeling for me,” Brown said. “So it would be wonderful if we could come together on the same collaborative page and work this out.”
