Plano City Council approved the agreement with the transit company during its Feb. 13 meeting.
DART received relief funds from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic to help fund COVID-19-related supplies and cleaning as well as offsetting the lost fare revenue. DART directed approximately $214 million of the unspent funds to be distributed to the cities it operates in, according to the agenda item.
City staff will continue working with DART to refine the list of uses for the funding. The following projects will be submitted to DART for their consideration:
- Arterial street maintenance, including overlays and sealing;
- Sidewalk improvements on K Avenue, 14th Street and Plano Parkway;
- Traffic signal system improvements that would include replacement of controllers, cabinets, fiber optic cable and CCTV video sharing system;
- The Senior Rides program, which provides rides to residents over age 65 or with a certified disability;
- A walkway that will help connect the intersection of Park Boulevard and K Avenue to public transportation;
- Medical transportation services—specifically funding for ambulance payments that patients cannot afford; and
- The expansion of the Public Works Complex.
