The Plano City Council voted unanimously to put the city’s future partnership with DART in voters’ hands.

PLANO, Texas — Plano residents will vote in May on whether the city should continue its membership in Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), following a unanimous City Council vote Wednesday night.

The decision allows voters to weigh in on a decades-long debate over how much value Plano receives from the regional transit agency compared with how much it contributes.

“Tonight’s vote ensures that Plano residents have a voice in shaping the city’s transportation future,” Mayor John B. Muns said in a statement. “This decision begins a broader discussion about what system best meets Plano’s evolving needs while keeping our community connected.”

Plano has been a DART member since 1983, contributing more than $2.2 billion in local sales-tax revenue. An independent analysis by Ernst & Young found that in 2023, Plano taxpayers paid $109 million to DART, while only $44 million was spent within the city.

City leaders say the imbalance has persisted even as Plano’s western corridor, home to corporate campuses and new development, lacks rail access. Requests for additional bus and GoLink service zones were denied, the city said.

Transportation service will continue regardless of the outcome, officials emphasized. The city has set aside funding for alternative options to support residents who depend on public transit, including seniors, people with disabilities and those on fixed incomes

Plano is one of three DART member cities — along with Highland Park and Farmers Branch — considering leaving the agency, a move that could reshape the region’s public-transit landscape. Highland Park has already called a special election on its future with DART.

DART leaders warn that losing Plano’s roughly $110 million annual contribution would significantly affect the service system-wide.

DART CEO Nadine Lee has called the potential withdrawals “heartbreaking,” noting they come just after the opening of the new Silver Line rail connection and months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will rely heavily on regional transit.

Plano’s ballot measure will ask residents whether the city should remain a DART member or pursue other mobility options. If voters choose to leave in the May election, city officials say they will work with regional partners to develop replacement transportation programs.