Tracking DART changes From the cover
What’s happening?
Service changes in Plano
Route 254 New GoLink Zone
DART red and orange lines Existing GoLink Zones
Proposed xed- route shuttle service
Dallas Area Rapid Transit o cials are considering a series of service cuts in 2026, including reduced train and bus route frequencies. The transit agency, which operates in 13 cities including Plano and Richardson, is facing cost increases across the board, said Jeamy Molina, chief communications o cer at DART. O cials have cited factors like in ation, requests for new services and a new general mobility program that’s expected to launch in scal year 2025-26. “What we’ve been trying to do is gure out how we have the least impact on our riders with these potential service cuts because we know that what this region needs is more service and not less,” Molina said. In total, the agency has about a $35.1 million funding gap between its projected operating costs and target costs for the scal year. Sta have identi ed areas for potential reductions and reallocations to make up the di erence. In Plano, DART is considering elimination of a bus route, adding a xed-route shuttle service and adding full GoLink zone coverage across the city. GoLink o ers on-demand transportation services within designated zones.
SRT TOLL
LEGACY WEST GOLINK ZONE
NORTH CENTRAL PLANO CHASE OAKS GOLINK ZONE
FAR NORTH PLANO GOLINK ZONE
75
W. PARKER RD.
DNT TOLL
EAST PLANO GOLINK ZONE
SOUTH CENTRAL PLANO GOLINK ZONE
NEW GOLINK ZONE PROPOSED
PGBT TOLL
EAST TELECOM GOLINK ZONE
Proposals include the elimination of bus route 254, and a frequency reduction for the red and orange lines from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes during peak hours.
N
MAP NOT TO SCALE
SOURCE: DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSITCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Long story short
The context
The service changes are driven by several factors including the general mobility program and early opening of the Silver Line, Ricciardelli said. Ricciardelli had voted against the general mobility program when it was rst presented as a resolution to the board. The program “didn’t go far enough” in addressing Plano’s problems with DART, he said. Under the proposed framework, Plano would be eligible for about $28 million from the pro- gram, according to an agency document. “While my position is still that the 5% general mobility program does not go far enough, it’s a welcome rst step and an improvement on the status quo,” he said. Texas House Bill 3187, which died in the House, would have created a permanent general mobility program that redirected 25% of DART’s sales tax revenues back to its member cities. Andrew Fortune, Plano’s policy and govern- ment relations director, said while HB 3187 died in committee, “it brought DART to the table.”
The seven cities were selected based on a report completed by Ernst and Young Infrastructure Advisors that found these cities paid more in sales tax than what was needed for DART operations, capital and interest expenses. About $42.59 million will be made available to these cities in the next scal year, Molina said. Each city will receive a di erent amount based on the di erence between their sales tax con- tribution and value of services received in 2023, according to the board-approved resolution. The program is expected to run for an initial term of two years. Plano Mayor John Muns said the program was going to be a “short-term x.” “We’re going to be right back where we were if no changes have been made,” he said. Anthony Ricciardelli, who represents Plano on the DART board of directors, said the proposed service changes don’t go far enough to trim spend- ing on bus routes. He said he was disappointed to see that several Plano requests such as a citywide GoLink zone are not included.
The agency is currently proposing a new GoLink zone that would o er full coverage to the city but it’s not the same as one zone, Ricciardelli said. “There’s a signi cant di erence between having multiple GoLink zones that cover the whole city of Plano and having the entire city of Plano in one single GoLink zone,” he said. “There is some zone- to-zone travel in Plano, but ... only the citywide GoLink would enable you to go from anywhere in Plano.”
Contribution by member city
Sales tax contributions
Expenses
$120M $100M $80M $60M $40M $20M $0
Richardson Carrollton Farmers Branch
Plano
SOURCE: ERNST AND YOUNG INFRASTRUCTURE ADVISORS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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