Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is extending an olive branch to its member cities by offering significant reforms in an effort to convince them to cancel the planned May 2, 2026, withdrawal elections.
Six suburbs — Addison, Farmers Branch, Highland Park, University Park, Irving, and Plano — had scheduled these votes amid long-standing grievances. Officials had expressed concern about unequal funding (e.g., suburbs like Plano contributing far more in sales taxes than they receive in services, while Dallas enjoys a substantial surplus) and disproportionate board influence.
Now, DART is offering reforms like returning a portion of sales tax revenue (phased up to 10% over six years in the General Mobility Program), and DART Board changes that reduce Dallas’ dominance to around 45%, while guaranteeing at least one seat per city.
In response, Plano and Farmers Branch already rescinded their elections. Irving followed suit, with a 7-2 vote on February 26. Addison has opted to keep the question on the ballot, and Highland Park and University Park have not yet decided.
Skeptics, including voices from Addison, warn DART’s promises — requiring Texas legislative approval during the 90th session — may not materialize in time for elections, leaving cities locked in until 2032 with diminished leverage.
Reform Promises vs. Irreversible Commitment: The Six-Year Lock-In Risk
For years, leaders of member cities have raised concerns about funding and governance. To prevent withdrawal elections, DART has been working on reform agreements aimed at returning sales tax revenue to cities, reducing Dallas’ influence on the board, and ensuring that each city has at least one seat.
However, these reforms are not yet finalized, raising concerns that they may not be fulfilled until it is too late for cities to withdraw.
Addison Councilman Dan Liscio told The Dallas Express the Texas legislature would still need to give final approval to the reforms, but that would come after cities’ window to leave.
“Knowing that the 90th Legislature doesn’t take place in time, the door closes,” Liscio said. “Our constituents have no say, so we’d have to wait another six years.”
Member cities can opt out of DART only once every six years, so those that decide to call off elections are committing to remain until 2032.
Liscio said he initially voted against the DART withdrawal in December, when Addison declined the election. Then he changed his mind in January, when the council reversed course.
“People were like, ‘What happened? Did you hit your head?’” Liscio said. “As I dug deeper, and really did more fact-finding versus opinion-finding… Reports and facts don’t lie.”
Unequal Dollars, Unequal Power: Funding Reform
Several suburbs have been giving millions of dollars more to DART than they received in services, as The Dallas Express reported. Meanwhile, Dallas has been operating at a net benefit.
For example, Plano gave $109.6 million in sales taxes to DART but received only $44.6 million in services, according to a 2023 study by Ernst & Young exclusively reported by The Dallas Express. This is an annual $65 million deficit.
At the same time, Dallas gave just $407.8 million, but received $690.5 million. This is an annual surplus of $282.7 million.
But under the new General Mobility Program, DART would gradually return more sales tax revenue to cities – eventually reaching 10% in total. The Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments approved nearly $75 million toward the initiative.
“It was presented in such a way that we should all sort of clap and applaud like, ‘Oh my goodness, hallelujah – here comes our White Knight,’” Liscio explained to The Dallas Express. “It’s not the RTC just writing a blank check to DART.”
First, DART and member cities would have to pass an interlocal agreement to set the program in stone, Plano Mayor John Muns previously told The Dallas Express. Cities must sign on by April 30 to participate.
So far, DART, Plano, and Farmers Branch have approved the agreement, and the Irving City Council approved it unanimously on February 26. Highland Park and University Park have not yet voted.
Member cities that pass the agreement would pledge to pursue a “united legislative agenda” with DART, and to refrain from other bills that could take away the agency’s funding. As The Dallas Express exclusively reported, then-Board Chair Gary Slagel wrote a letter in July 2025 asking member city mayors to drop reform legislation in exchange for funding under a prior GMP.
Power Shift Promised: Dallas Drops to 45% Board Share — But Will the Legislature Approve?
Dallas currently holds a vast majority of seats on the DART Board, while some cities, like Farmers Branch, are forced to share a single seat.
Farmers Branch Mayor Terry Lynne previously told The Dallas Express he thought “every city should have a representative seat at the table.”
As cities approach the deadline to cancel elections, DART has been negotiating with member cities to plan governance reforms aimed at reducing Dallas’ power and improving other cities’ representation.
In line with these negotiations, Dallas approved a measure on February 11 to reduce its share on the board t0 45% and offer at least one seat to every member city, as The Dallas Express reported.
But the Texas legislature would still need to sign off on final changes to the DART Board, Muns previously told DX. Earlier negotiations at the legislature had proven rocky, with Democratic state Rep. Yvonne Davis claiming in June 2025 that the agency pushed an “outright lie” about her.
“They didn’t act in the 89th Legislature,” Liscio said. “That sent a very clear message, at least for some of our council members, that they’re just not interested… They knew the six-year window; they did not care. So it sort of put the burden back on DART to do better negotiating.”
‘All Leverage Is Gone’: Councilman Reid’s Warning
Before the Farmers Branch City Council voted on February 24 to call off the withdrawal election, Councilman David Reid expressed concern about what this would mean for negotiations.
“Now the pressure is off DART. The only reason they came to the table was because of the threat that us and the other five cities posed, in regards to our desire to bring it to a ballot,” Reid said at the time. “Once it’s over, all leverage is gone. We cannot do anything for another six years.”
Meanwhile, the next town over took a different approach. Addison kept the issue on the ballot.
“By the time the 90th comes up, the window is shut for anyone in any of these 13 member cities,” Liscio said. “I would certainly hope we won’t stand alone in the sense that we’re asking the questions that need to be asked.”
