Dallas decided Wednesday to sacrifice some of its power to keep the region’s transit service alive.
The high-stakes move is aimed at stopping a half-dozen suburbs from bolting from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
The City Council, in a 13-2 vote, approved a proposed governance framework that would shrink the city’s voting power on the DART board to at least 45%, marking the first time in the agency’s more than 40-year history that Dallas would no longer hold majority control.
The plan also would guarantee each of DART’s 13 member cities at least one board seat, replacing a structure that now gives only Dallas, Irving, Garland and Plano dedicated single-city representation, and would likely expand the current 15-member board.
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“I’m in support of the resolution, not because it’s going to solve the whole thing today, but because it’s necessary,” said Mayor Eric Johnson. “Not sufficient, but necessary.”
The changes aren’t final yet. The proposal still needs the Texas Legislature next year to amend state law before any changes take effect.
But the goal is to try to persuade six cities – Addison, Farmers Branch, Highland Park, Irving, Plano and University Park – to scrap May elections that could let voters decide whether to withdraw from DART.
The six cities have until late February to finalize their special ballots and until March 18 to rescind their election plans altogether.
Most council members framed the move as a rescue effort for the transit agency and for bus and rail service in Dallas. But the vote exposed sharp divisions.
Dissenting views
Council members Cara Mendelsohn and Chad West voted against the deal, saying it lacked tangible concessions from other cities or structural reforms within DART.
Mendelsohn said Dallas, as DART’s largest financial contributor and ridership base, should not surrender majority control without concrete improvements in service, safety or accountability.
West questioned whether other cities are truly committed to building the strongest possible system for Dallas.
“I would rather move forward with just our city and just our municipal partners who want a strong public transit system, rather than potentially weaken the system to appease other priorities,” West said.
Is it enough?
Even supporters acknowledged the risk. Council member Paul Ridley warned that governance changes alone may not stop some cities from leaving.
“But this is an important expression of Dallas’ willingness to show that we are flexible,” he said. “We are willing to be collaborative with our neighboring cities in preserving the service area of DART at the 13 member cities, and hopefully will encourage new cities to join DART in the future.”
Randall Bryant, DART’s board chair and one of Dallas’ representatives, said the board on Tuesday agreed to advance a new funding structure that could reallocate money back to all 13 cities, including Dallas.
He urged the city to view governance concessions as part of a broader regional reset.
“This is not even about winners and losers,” he said. “This is about all of us coming together.”
City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said Dallas could change the terms of the governance proposal depending on whether cities actually vote to leave DART.
“This governance model is subject to change following the success of any pull out elections,” she said. “We wanted to ensure that we would have the ability to go back to the table if that’s what’s needed.”
Meanwhile, the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Regional Transportation Council is expected to weigh proposed changes to DART funding Thursday, adding another layer to a regional debate that now hinges on whether compromise can outpace secession.
DART power shift
What changed: The Dallas City Council agreed to cut the city’s voting power on the DART board to at least 45%, ending majority control for the first time in more than four decades. The plan would give each of the 13 cities at least one seat and likely expand the board, pending legislative approval.Why now: The move is aimed at persuading Addison, Farmers Branch, Highland Park, Irving, Plano and University Park to cancel May elections that could pull them out of DART.The split: Supporters called the step necessary to protect transit service. Critics said Dallas should not give up leverage without firm improvements in service, safety or accountability.