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Plano Cancels DART Withdrawal Vote After Funding, Governance Deal

The vote preserves DART service in Plano under a six-year package returning sales-tax revenue with guaranteed board representation.

The Plano City Council canceled an election that would have allowed resident to decide whether the North Texas suburb should have exited the region's public transit system.
Plano DART station

Overview

  • Plano’s city council voted 8-0 to accept DART’s new agreement and scrapped the May withdrawal election, becoming the first city to do so.
  • The interlocal deal returns 5% of each city’s DART sales-tax contribution in year one, rising by 0.5% annually to 7.5% in year six, with an additional $75 million from the Regional Transportation Council guaranteeing about 10% by year six.
  • DART estimates $360 million will be returned to member cities over six years, with Plano expecting more than $61 million under the plan.
  • Governance changes would give every member city a board seat and reduce Dallas’ voting power, with related steps requiring state-level action.
  • Addison and Farmers Branch plan votes Tuesday on canceling withdrawal elections, Irving votes Thursday, Highland Park has not scheduled a vote, and University Park still intends to go to voters in May; any city that withdraws would see DART service end immediately.