Transportation
BY DUSTIN BUTLER & COLBY FARR
State legislation that would have redirected 25% of Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s sales tax revenues back to its member cities has died in the House though an identical bill can still move through the Senate. House Bill 3187, filed by Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano did not reach the House floor for a second reading before May 15, the deadline to read House bills a second time. Senate Bill 1557, filed by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, can still move through the legislative process from the Senate however. SB 1557 was referred to the Transportation Committee in March but has not been scheduled for a hearing. The bill would have to progress through both chambers by May 27, according to the Texas Legislative Council. Both bills would require DART to allocate a quarter of its sales tax collections for general mobility projects in its member cities. These proj- ects could include sidewalks, trails, highways, streetlights, and traffic signals. Each city would submit a list of intended projects to DART. Shaheen argued DART is financially harming member cities. In contrast, DART’s board in March approved a separate resolution to voluntarily commit 5% of annual sales tax revenue to general mobility projects. In a nutshell DART President and CEO Nadine Lee warned City officials talk DART funding at Texas House
Expenses vs. sales tax contribution by member city A report by Ernst and Young Infrastructure Advisors showed seven of DART’s 13 member cities contributed more sales tax revenue in 2023 than operations, capital and interest expenses cost to maintain transit service.
Sales tax contribution Expenses
$0M $20M $40M $60M $80M $100M $120M
Carrollton
Farmers Branch
Highland Park
Plano Richardson University Park
Addison
SOURCE: ERNST AND YOUNG INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
funding model is outdated. If SB 1157 were approved by the Texas Senate and Texas House and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, it would mandate that 25% of DART’s sales tax revenue is made available to its member cities for projects on city highways, sidewalks, trails, traffic signals and more. Also of note In response to the bill, a proposed program would let DART participate in Richardson’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). The city and DART would agree on a sales tax baseline, with any revenue above that split between them for improvements such as sidewalks and streets. Richardson also partnered with DART and CBRE, a commercial real estate firm, to redevelop the 15-acre DART Arapaho Station to include residential, retail and commercial aspects. The multiphase project could begin initial construc- tion in 2027 or 2028.
that a permanent 25% cut would reduce revenue by $7 billion over 20 years, leading to “devastat- ing” system-wide cuts. Richardson City Council member Joe Corcoran testified against the bill, citing the city’s decades- long investment in DART, including four train stations and a fifth opening soon with the Silver Line. Richardson City Manager Don Magner said the city fully supports funding DART, noting the agency’s regional importance. “Even giving 5% back is going to limit [DART’s] ability to expand,” he said. “It would really undermine what we’ve all been working towards, which is trying to make them a more valuable asset to the region.” Plano Mayor John Muns and Carrollton Mayor Steve Babick supported the bill. Muns cited a 2024 Ernst & Young study showing Plano con- tributed $109 million to DART in 2023 but got less than 50 cents on the dollar in return. He said Plano supports transit but that DART’s current
OFFICE FURNITURE AT INCREDIBLE PRICES! Desks • Chairs • Filing Cabinets • Book Cases • Home Office Furniture
10% DISCOUNT Expires 6/30/25
Fine Dining, North Indian & Continental Cuisine Daily Lunch Buffet | A la carte for Dinner
45% OFF CATALOG PRICE OF ANY NEW ITEM Make a donation to and receive an additional 10% off any used in store item Expires 6/30/25
W. CAMPBELL RD.
BOMBAYREPUBLICDALLAS.COM
700 E Campbell Rd Ste 190 | (972) 803-6273
561 W Campbell Rd. #201 • www.thebenefitstore.org • 972-470-0700
N
11
RICHARDSON EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook