The City of Garland has joined a growing coalition of suburbs challenging the leadership of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). On Monday, the city unanimously approved language to vote on an upcoming resolution that criticizes the agency’s governance, transparency, and funding practices.
As part of The Dallas Express’ ongoing investigation into DART’s board, financial management, and service failures, Garland’s action marks the latest public backlash following a letter from DART Chair Gary Slagel that suburban officials describe as an “ultimatum.”
Who’s on the DART Board?
As of July 2025, these are the 15 individuals overseeing the $2 billion taxpayer-funded agency — all of whom declined to comment when contacted by The Dallas Express:
- Gary A. Slagel – Chair; represents Richardson, Addison, Highland Park, and University Park (since 2011)
- Randall B. Bryant – Vice Chair; represents Dallas (since 2024)
- M. Nathan Barbera – Secretary; represents Plano and Farmers Branch (since 2022)
- Mark C. Enoch – Represents Garland, Glenn Heights, and Rowlett (since 1997)
- Richard H. Stopfer – Represents Irving (since 2013)
- Michele Wong Krause – Represents Dallas (since 2014)
- Patrick J. Kennedy – Represents Dallas (since 2016)
- Doug S. Hrbacek – Represents Carrollton and Irving (since 2019)
- Carmen Garcia – Represents Dallas (since 2022)
- Marc C. Abraham – Represents Garland (since 2023)
- Enrique A. MacGregor – Represents Cockrell Hill and Dallas (since 2023)
- Anthony Ricciardelli – Represents Plano (since 2025)
- Maureen Milligan – Represents Dallas (since 2025)
- D’Andrala D. Alexander – Dallas (since 2025)
- Flora M. Hernandez – Dallas (since 2025)
‘We Need To Take a Stand’
Garland Mayor Dylan Hedrick said the city has contributed nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars to DART since joining — and in return, has received broken promises and misleading statements.
“We had a previous conversation with DART, and we feel like they weren’t holding their end of the bargain,” Hedrick told The Dallas Express. “It felt like DART had given us an ultimatum — and all the member cities — that ‘you have to agree to our terms.’ We’re a little disappointed. It just created a rift.”
“I think it’s time for us to take a stand,” he said during the July 21 session. “If DART is not going to keep up their end of the bargain … we need to let them know that.”
Garland City Manager Judson Rex said the resolution emphasized five core failures:
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Erosion of trust and politicized decision-making
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Declining system performance and accountability
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Safety and access concerns
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Fare hikes and fiscal challenges
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An inflexible service model
Rex said Garland leaders were especially disturbed by the July 17 letter first reported by The Dallas Express, in which Slagel told mayors that if they wanted General Mobility Program (GMP) funds — 5% of sales tax revenue — they would need to pass resolutions pledging to abandon support for legislation that would reduce DART’s funding.
Slagel wrote, “We ask you to clarify your position on receiving the General Mobility Program by committing not to pursue any further legislation against DART” — a line Garland officials interpreted as a direct ultimatum.
“It felt like DART had given us an ultimatum,” Hedrick said. “You have to agree to our terms.”
‘A Ruse to Get Past Legislation’
Mayor Pro Tem Margaret Lucht said DART’s promises ring hollow.
“Quite honestly, I just don’t believe a word they say,” she said. “DART used the GMP to avoid reform legislation.”
In public comments, Lucht, Rex, and others said Slagel’s letter confirmed what they had long suspected: that DART leadership was never serious about collaboration — only preserving power.
Rex called the claim that cities failed to provide solutions “personally offensive,” noting that “dozens of ideas” had been proposed in meetings over multiple years.
“The DART issue is at an impasse,” Rex said. “The letter confirmed what we had long suspected — they had different motives all along. They’re not acknowledging the work that’s been done. They’re dismissing it.”
Rex also expressed concern about DART’s recent letter in the city council work session. He echoed Hedrick’s point that the letter read like an “ultimatum.”
“The letter really acknowledged what we suspected to be true, that DART was essentially positioning themselves with the General Mobility Program to try to pass something that would really prevent a legislative route from being pursued,” Rex said. “DART makes it very publicly clear in that letter that they had some different motives.”
Garland officials, like others in Plano and Carrollton, have supported legislative reform efforts. Senate Bill 2118 would have required equal board representation among DART member cities. House Bill 3187 would have allowed cities to divert 25% of their sales tax revenue from DART to local transportation projects. DART officials opposed both bills, with spokesperson Jeamy Molina previously telling The Dallas Express the legislation “would have killed DART.”
Broken Promises and Board Silence
Councilman Jeff Bass accused DART of “reneging” on commitments made to Garland and other cities.
“They made promises, and then immediately reversed course — with no warning whatsoever,” he said.
Councilwoman Carissa Dutton called the agency’s behavior “extortion.”
“DART has been like the worst, narcissistic relationship we’ve ever been in as a city,” she said. “You’re not the boss of us — we give you a lot of money. You’re not going to give us some extortion deadline. What in the world?”
Councilman B.J. Williams echoed the frustration.
“If we continue to do nothing, they’re going to continue to do nothing.”
Leadership Under Fire
The resolution comes as pressure builds on the DART Board of Directors, now facing criticism from multiple cities.
Slagel’s letter was copied to DART CEO Nadine Lee, Chief Communications Officer Jeamy Molina, and Michael Morris, Director of Transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
“Michael had no knowledge of the letter, nor did he see it beforehand,” said NCTCOG Spokesman Malcolm Mayhew to The Dallas Express.
The Dallas Express has reached out repeatedly to all 15 board members for comment on allegations of political coercion, fiscal mismanagement, and rising crime. None has responded.
Slagel’s letter required participating cities to pass a resolution by August 31 in order to receive GMP funds. Garland is not a GMP recipient but objected to the strings attached — especially since DART had previously approved the GMP with no such conditions.
“These are new, unexpected demands,” Rex said. “It’s an about-face from what we were told by CEO Nadine Lee.”
What Comes Next
Some cities may explore exiting DART entirely in 2026, when the next opt-out window opens. Garland is not alone — Plano, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Irving, and Highland Park have all raised concerns about board structure, funding disparity, safety, and service reliability.
As The Dallas Express continues its investigation into DART’s leadership, financial priorities, and governance structure, the agency’s silence — and mounting suburban backlash — are becoming impossible to ignore.