Transportation
BY JACQUELYN BURRER
Plano residents will no longer vote on staying in the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system this May. At their Feb. 23 meeting, Plano City Council voted to rescind the call for a withdrawal election from the transit agency, meaning Plano will remain as a DART member city until at least 2032. After a series of recent regional meetings, Plano moved to cancel its previously called- for withdrawal election, with Irving and Farmers Branch following suit. However, Addison, Highland Park and University Park residents are still set to vote in a May withdrawal election. Plano City Council approved several items related to the withdrawal election, including a new interlocal agreement that will return approximately $61 million to Plano over the course of six years, according to DART meeting documents. Plano to stay with DART, cancel election
Some context
leaders, approved Feb. 12 dedicating nearly $75 million to help support DART’s proposed funding model. DART’s proposed funding model would return the equivalent of 25% of sales tax receipts to its 13 member cities for six years. DART and the Regional Transportation Council’s contribution would provide a base of up to 10% sales tax return, and DART o cials would work with other regional authorities to make up the rest of the 25% contribution.
At a Feb. 10 meeting, DART o cials voted to approve initial proposals for a new funding and governance model for the agency. The modi ed interlocal agreement detailing the new funding plan was approved by DART’s board of directors Feb. 20. On Feb. 11, Dallas City Council voted to reduce the city’s voting share on the DART board to 45% and give up its majority control. Additionally, the Regional Transportation Council, a 45-member group of area transportation
Diving deeper
Andrew Fortune said the interlocal agreement represents a “fair and meaningful o er” from DART. DART board Chair Randall Bryant said he looks forward to a continued partnership with Plano and the other DART member cities. “What we’ve come up with so far, it’s not perfect, but it is progress,” Bryant said. “The real work still lies ahead of us.”
The agency’s new general mobility program agreement will return $434.8 million over six years to all remaining DART member cities, according to meeting documents. Funding would be distributed based on sales tax contributions, and cities would be required to use the money for local transportation projects. Director of Government Relations and Policy
“Our expectations in the next six years are high, but we look forward to
$14,785,456
Plano’s estimated annual allocation The new interlocal agreement would return approximately $61.28 million to Plano over the course of six years, according to DART meeting documents.
$15M $12M $9M $6M $3M $0
working with the agency in this renewed partnership to better serve the mobility needs of Plano.” JOHN MUNS, PLANO MAYOR
$5,798,553
SOURCE: DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT
2026 2027
2028 2029 2030 2031
Looking ahead
documents. “At that point, it would allow for a future council in any of the DART cities to consider a withdrawal election in 2032 should they wish to,” Fortune said. Plano would submit potential transportation projects by June 30, and DART would make the rst year funding payment Oct. 1.
Several speakers advocated for a permanent standing transit and mobility committee, similar to a Parks and Recreation board. The city previously appointed residents to a local transit committee to provide a recommendation on Plano’s alternative transit system. The six-year interlocal agreement would expire Sept. 30, 2031, according to city
Dates to know • June 30, 2026: Plano submits potential local transportation projects • Oct. 1, 2026 : DART makes irst year funding payment to member cities • January 2027: DART and member city of icials start pursuing legislative priorities to achieve new revenue sources
SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO COMMUNITY IMPACT
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PLANO EDITION
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