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Plano officials have formally asked the Dallas Area Rapid Transit agency to consider a six-year, rail-focused transit agreement with an election on withdrawal from the system looming.
Plano residents will vote on whether the city should stay with DART on May 2, 2026, unless an agreement between the city and agency is met prior to March 18.
The proposal was formally submitted to DART on Nov. 14, according to a city spokesperson.
Some context
Plano City Council voted to call a special election at a Nov. 5 special meeting, joining other DART member cities, including Highland Park, Irving and Farmers Branch.
Approximately $251 million in annual sales tax contributions to DART could be impacted by the four cities considering a special election, according to the agency’s budget.
DART’s 13 member cities contribute 1% of sales tax revenue to the transit agency.
What you need to know
The proposal details a six-year agreement under which DART would continue providing rail service and express buses in Plano but discontinue “all standard bus, demand-response and other non-rail transit services within the city” by Jan. 1, 2029.
However, the city is “open to discussing” how to provide paratransit services to stay in compliance with federal law, according to the proposal.
Under the proposal, DART would return a phased proportion of the city’s sales tax contribution back to the city through a general mobility program with quarterly payments, including:
If the transit agency agrees to the proposed changes, Plano officials will agree to “cease any legislative efforts to alter DART’s governance or financing and to stop pursuing withdrawal from DART during the agreement period,” according to the proposal.
How we got here
Plano Director of Government Relations Andrew Fortune said Plano officials have “repeatedly” tried negotiating to receive more Plano-specific services, submitting four reform plans dating back to last December.
During the 89th legislative session, Plano supported Texas House Bill 3187, which died in the House but would have redirected 25% of DART’s sales tax revenues back to member cities.
What they’re saying
Mayor John Muns said after the Nov. 5 vote that Plano officials would need to work through “quite a bit of items” with the transit agency in order to consider rescinding the special election.
“We would love to keep the rail, and we’re talking to DART about negotiating in that realm ... and really letting us deal with microtransit in the city and eliminating the bus services,” Muns said. “That still hasn’t been agreed upon, [but] ... we’re more than willing to sit down and talk.”
DART Chief Communications Officer Jeamy Molina said in a statement to Community Impact that the agency is carefully evaluating the feasibility of Plano’s request.
“We are committed to full transparency and will continue working in good faith with our city partners throughout the process to ensure they have clear, timely information as we move forward together,” Molina said.
What else?
The proposal also details that Plano and the agency will meet annually to review rail, express bus service and GMP activity. Plano officials will also provide annual expenditure summaries to DART, according to the proposal.
Plano officials recently announced the city is forming the Collin County Connects Committee, which will be a citizen-led group to identify the community’s local transit future. Each Plano City Council member will appoint one Plano resident to the committee, and residents can apply on the city’s website.
