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Plano officials have moved forward with the Collin County Connects Committee, a citizen-led group to identify the city’s alternative local transit system.
At their Nov. 24 meeting, Plano City Council members appointed 12 members to the committee, which will be chaired by former Plano Mayor Phil Dyer.
Some context
Plano residents will vote on whether the city should stay with Dallas Area Rapid Transit on May 2, 2026, unless an agreement between the city and agency is met prior to March 18.
After calling the election at a special meeting Nov. 5, Plano officials formally asked DART to consider a six-year, rail-focused transit agreement as an alternative to the looming election.
The proposal was formally submitted to DART on Nov. 14, according to a city spokesperson.
What you need to know
The committee members will “evaluate factors like accessibility, safety, cost, wait times, connectivity and cleanliness” and share their recommendation with City Council, according to the city's website.
The committee will meet five times from Dec. 2-16 to learn about available transportation options and potential vendors, according to the website.
Director of Policy and Government Relations Andrew Fortune said the city received nearly 100 applicants for the committee.
Plano City Council appointed 12 members in total representing those with disabilities, seniors, transit riders, business owners, downtown Plano and underrepresented groups.
The alternative transit option, independent from DART services, could include a microtransit service. Mayor John Muns said Nov. 5 Plano officials are meeting with transit vendors like Uber and Via to discuss alternative options.
What’s next?
The committee will provide their updates to City Council on Dec. 16, according to meeting documents.
Plano officials hope to put the alternative transit system in place by Feb. 16, with March 2 as an alternative transit start date, Fortune said.
