Several North Texas suburbs will debate withdrawing from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit agency this week.

DART says it moves more than 220,000 riders every day across more than a dozen cities, but at least four member cities—Plano, Farmers Branch, Irving and Highland Park—say they aren’t getting their money’s worth.

Each of those city councils is scheduled to discuss cutting ties with DART this week. If any councils vote to move forward, the issue would go to voters in May.

“Very, very sad because it is such a gateway,” said Suzy Saverline, who rode the DART light rail from Richardson to Plano with her grandson on Monday.

“We love that we can ride up here and go to the park or go to the farmers market or come up and get ice cream,” she said.

The meetings come just days after DART launched the Silver Line, the region’s most anticipated rail expansion in decades. The new route connects Plano to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Still, cities have raised concerns about funding equity. In 2023, Plano reported that its taxpayers contributed $109 million to DART, while only $44 million was spent on services in Plano.

In downtown Plano, some business owners have other concerns.

“What don’t I like about it? Well, a lot of homeless people, a lot of theft in stores and stuff like that,” said Sam Shah, an employee at Liquid Courage, a shop near the light rail.

But Shah said he still wants DART to stay.

“Convenience, they started the Silver Line going to DFW and a lot of people they ride the train every day,” he said.

Ross Hunt with Hunt Research said the firm surveyed over the weekend among voters in Plano and Farmers Branch. He said the results show voters overwhelmingly oppose leaving DART.

“There really aren’t any groups that are in favor of pulling out of DART,” Hunt said.

Hunt did not disclose who commissioned the survey but said it was “privately funded and conducted on behalf of interested civic leaders in the region.” He added that DART was not involved in the funding.

In a statement, a DART spokesperson said:
“DART has taken a regional approach since it was created by North Texas voters in 1983. The region grows and prospers because of that unity. DART leadership will continue to be transparent and collaborative and operate in good faith because the residents of North Texas deserve that from us. The future of North Texas mobility depends on partnership.”

Plano’s special session is scheduled for Wednesday night at Plano City Hall. It starts at 5 p.m., and as of Monday afternoon, nearly 50 people had signed up to speak.

Meetings in Highland Park and Farmers Branch are scheduled for Tuesday. Irving’s meeting is on Thursday.