DART Reform Plan Prompts Plano to Cancel Withdrawal Vote

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The City of Plano has canceled a special election that would have let voters decide whether to withdraw from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) agency. This comes after the DART board passed a new plan last week that would return a portion of the annual sales tax revenue to its member cities over the next six years.

Why it matters

The DART reform plan is a pivotal moment for the future of public transportation in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, as several member cities were considering withdrawing from the agency. The new revenue-sharing agreement could help keep cities like Plano, Farmers Branch, Addison, and Irving within the DART system.

The details

Under the new DART plan, member cities will receive an increasing percentage of the agency's 1% sales tax revenue over the next six years, starting at 5% in year one and rising to 7.5% by year six. Combined with $75 million from the Regional Transportation Council, cities would receive a total guaranteed 10% of DART's sales tax revenue in year six. The agreement also establishes state-level funding priorities for DART.

• The DART board passed the new reform plan last week.
• Plano canceled its withdrawal vote on Monday night.
• Farmers Branch and Addison will decide on Tuesday whether to cancel their withdrawal elections.
• Irving will make the same decision on Thursday.
• University Park says it will allow voters to decide on DART membership in May.

What’s next

If any city votes to withdraw from DART, the agency's service in that city will end immediately.