Voters in three Dallas County cities can begin deciding Monday whether to remain in Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
Early voting starts Monday, April 20, in North Texas cities Highland Park, University Park and Addison. The election is set for May 2.
Earlier this year, several suburban cities pushed for changes to the transit system, leading to negotiations that resulted in more board representation and funding adjustments. Many cities dropped plans to hold elections after those changes. Addison, Highland Park and University Park are moving forward with votes.
About 17,000 people live in Addison. Ridership across the DART system is about 200,000, according to The Dallas Morning News, with many commuters traveling into Addison during the workweek using buses and the Silver Line.
“For those that need to access jobs or medical appointments, their voices are not being heard, but those are the voices that we’re standing up for,” DART Board Chair Randall Bryant said in an interview with NBC DFW’s Lone Star Politics.
Bryant said Addison plays a key role in regional transit connections.
“Addison is one of our most integral transit centers for the entire network,” he said.
Cost has been a central issue in the debate. Addison has contributed about $400 million to DART over the years, including $16.7 million in fiscal year 2024.
“I stand here with you, as everyone on this dais does. I believe in public transportation. But we are looking at a 1983 business model that has been broken,” Town Councilman Randy Smith said during a December meeting.
Public opinion has been divided.
“Addison can and will find alternative solutions. As far as the Silver Line, you can hop right across the tollway. We need to vote. You need to give us the vote,” resident Valerie Collins said during a January council meeting.
Recent changes to DART governance reduced the city of Dallas’ majority control, shifting representation and funding based on population across the region. Those adjustments persuaded several cities to remain in the system.
If voters choose to leave, ride-share service provider Via could offer transportation options. However, Addison would still be required to pay into DART until its existing debt is cleared, a process city leaders estimate could take about three years.
The vote comes months after Addison leaders marked the opening of the Silver Line, a project aimed at improving access and supporting development. The city has also approved a $240 million mixed-use project near the station.
“It is kind of baffling,” Addison resident Tyler Wright told The Dallas Morning News. “It seems, in the context of Addison’s history, quite a fast turnaround.”
Two political groups have formed around the issue: Addison Way Forward, which supports remaining in DART, and Addison Deserves Better, which supports leaving.