The City of Dallas has reached an agreement with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) on how it plans to spend sales tax revenues.
The Dallas City Council has granted approval for an agreement with DART that will allocate $90 million in unallocated sales tax revenues to the City of Dallas.
The allocated funds will be utilized for community mobility projects that align with DART’s objectives, according to a news release from the city.
The approved projects encompass a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving transportation infrastructure and accessibility within the city.
Highlights of the projects include the reconstruction of 22 traffic signals at intersections along major DART bus route corridors, with priority given to those routes in “Equity Priority Areas.”
This effort aims to enhance traffic flow and improve safety for both motorists and public transportation users, the news release said.
“We want to thank our staff, as well as our partners at the Regional Transportation Council, for their role in getting us to today’s successful outcome. Decisions like these will impact our communities for decades, and it is important that we get it right,” Omar Narvaez, chairman of the City’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in a statement.
Additionally, the spending will contribute to the completion of Phase 1 of the Sidewalk Master Plan, funding the construction of pedestrian walkways in key areas.
The allocation will also support the construction of missing handicap accessibility ramps near DART bus stops and light rail stations.
“For almost 40 years, DART’s partnership with the City of Dallas, and each of our service area cities, has provided us the opportunity to empower the residents and communities of North Texas to more easily access jobs, health care, and education,” said Nadine Lee, DART president & CEO. “Together, we can continue to develop a truly seamless and integrated mobility system that will help all our residents go where they want, when they want, to live their best lives.”
Other initiatives included in the allocation encompass the FY 2024 traffic lane markings program, bike lane upgrades, a comprehensive City of Dallas parking operations study, and smart parking pilot projects.
The agreement will also provide support for DART passes distributed to middle and high school students, offering them free access to public transit. Some of the money will also be spent on “support for transit services for homeless individuals,” but what specific support this taxpayer funding would underwrite was not immediately clear.
The funds will also contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the City-owned Dallas Streetcar and facilitate professional services for studies focused on optimizing its operations.