By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
PLANO — The Plano City Council voted 8-0 on November 5 to let residents decide whether the city should withdraw from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system, scheduling a May 2026 ballot measure after months of debate over cost, service, and representation.
The decision followed more than three hours of staff presentations and public testimony. City officials said the vote gives residents a voice after years of stalled negotiations with DART. Opponents warned it could disrupt transportation for thousands of riders who rely on buses and trains across Collin County.
Billions Paid, Uneven Return
Plano’s policy and government-relations director, Andrew Fortune, outlined the city’s financial history with DART, saying Plano has contributed more than $2.2 billion since joining in 1983. In 2023 alone, the city paid $109.6 million but received $44.6 million in DART spending.
“Not even fifty cents on the dollar,” Fortune said. “We realize it’s not always dollar-in, dollar-out, but to be the second-largest payer and see that inequity was rightly a cause for alarm.”
He added that Plano’s $120 million annual contribution now exceeds what the city spends on police and economic development combined. City officials had pressed DART for a 25 percent mobility-fund return; the agency offered 5 percent.
“The world has changed,” Fortune told the council. “People’s movement has changed. We need modernized, equitable service commensurate with our investment.”
Council Cites Cost and Representation
Councilmember Rick Horne said the city’s DART payments rose from $86 million in 2020 to about $131 million this year without clear improvement.
“The one-cent model worked in ’83, but I’m not sure it helps us now,” he said.
Plano shares one of its two DART board seats with Farmers Branch, while Dallas holds a majority. “That’s been a point of contention for many of the cities,” Fortune confirmed.
Mayor John Muns said the resolution “gives our citizens the right to decide.” If not held this cycle, the next eligible withdrawal vote would be in 2032.
What Happens if It Passes
Under state law, DART service would stop immediately once the election is canvassed, though Plano would continue paying its share of DART’s debt for up to 10 years.
“The statute is clear,” Fortune said. “All service stops, but DART could still contract with cities for limited service.”
He said staff are developing contingency options with private transit providers and have budgeted $4 million for planning.
“If the community chooses to leave DART, there would already be an alternative in place,” Fortune said. “If they choose to stay, it becomes an additive benefit either way.”
Continuity for seniors and residents with disabilities was a central concern.
“I absolutely believe we could achieve that,” Fortune said. “Continuity of service is so important to stand up that option months in advance.”
DART and Residents Push Back
DART President Nadine Lee urged the council to remain in the system, citing new investments.
“The DART Board authorized $28 million in a single-year mobility program,” Lee said. “We’ve expanded GoLink to cover all of Plano, invested $110 million in safety and reliability, and crime on DART is down double digits.”
Many residents opposed withdrawal. Alex Flores, a Plano resident on the autism spectrum, said DART provides essential independence.
“Without DART, as an autistic adult, I would not be able to do what I do with my life,” he said. “With micro-transit, all I can think of is terror.”
Commuter Tyler Wright told the council, “If you pull out of DART, I’m not sure how I’m going to get to work,” adding that Plano leaders have long held key finance positions on the agency’s board.
Other speakers warned that a withdrawal could reduce property values and weaken transit-oriented development around the new Silver Line corridor.
Plesa Warns of “Double Spending”
State Representative Mihaela Plesa (D-Plano) released a statement a day later criticizing the council’s decision to proceed without a detailed mobility plan.
“Fiscal accountability matters, but so does responsibility to the families who keep our community moving,” Plesa said. “If this measure passes as written, DART buses and trains would stop running in Plano at 12:01 a.m. the next day — leaving workers, students, and members of our IDD community without reliable transportation overnight.”
She cautioned that Plano would still owe DART debt for up to a decade.
“Taxpayers could be paying for a service they no longer receive while simultaneously funding the creation of a new regional mobility plan. That’s not fiscal reform — that’s double spending.”
Plesa added, “Growth doesn’t stop at city limits, and neither should our vision for mobility.”
Next Steps
The May 2026 ballot will ask voters whether Plano should end its DART membership while continuing sales-tax payments to retire existing debt. The council can rescind the election up to 45 days before the vote if new terms are reached.
In the meantime, Plano staff plan to hold public workshops and refine backup transit proposals.
“We remain engaged with DART and the other member cities through the North Texas Commission and the Council of Governments,” Fortune said. “We are looking for a way to reform the current system.”
The outcome next May will determine whether Plano reforms its partnership within DART — or builds a new system of its own.
For continued coverage of Plano City Council, local elections, and regional transit updates, visit our Local News section