Carrollton resident Jane Harman has spent the past few weeks calculating what her life might look like if her only route to medical care disappeared. Harman, who depends on DART to reach her doctor and physical therapy appointments in Plano, worries a potential shakeup in the region’s transit system could strand her altogether.
She shared her fear directly with DART leaders during a Nov. 5 special-called meeting. “I’m terrified at what’s going to happen if you vote me out. That’s what it amounts to,” she said. “I’ve been trying to hold my tears back for days over this. I don’t want to lose access to my medical care.”
She’s not alone. Another resident put it simply: “When I think of DART, I think of safety and I think of a guaranteed trip to and from my home.” For riders who rely on public transit for work, medical needs or daily life, the possibility of sweeping changes has introduced a level of uncertainty.
A New Proposal From Plano
The anxiety comes as Plano — along with Highland Park, Irving and Farmers Branch — weighs whether to break from DART entirely. But instead of heading straight for the exit, Plano has put a new proposal on the table that could preserve at least part of the system.
The city is asking DART to extend its service agreement for five more years, from 2026 to 2031. During that time, Plano wants to keep rail and express buses but phase out standard bus routes, demand-response service and other non-rail options by Jan. 1, 2029. In return, Plano is asking for a phased refund of its annual sales tax contribution: 25% next year, 35% in 2027, 45% in 2028 and 50% from 2029 through 2031.
“DART is carefully evaluating the feasibility of this request,” a spokesperson for the agency told Local Profile. “We are committed to full transparency and will continue working in good faith with our city partners throughout the process to ensure they have clear, timely information as we move forward together.”
A Growing Frustration Over Costs
The proposal comes after months of mounting frustration over how much Plano pays into DART versus how much it receives. An analysis found that in 2023, Plano contributed $109 million in tax revenue to the system, while only $44 million was spent within the city. That financial mismatch, coupled with reports that DART awarded more than $800,000 in executive bonuses last year, has sparked criticism from both city and state leaders.
Photo: City of Plano
State Representative Matt Shaheen called the gap unacceptable, describing it as an “extreme imbalance” that can no longer be ignored. Plano leaders, including the city’s director of policy and government relations, Andrew Fortune, have also noted that the city now sends more than $120 million to DART each year, more than its combined budgets for the police department and economic development.
Those concerns helped fuel support for House Bill 3187 during the last legislative session, which sought to return 25% of DART sales tax revenues to member cities. Although the bill failed, DART later approved a smaller 5% redistribution plan and agreed to keep working with Plano on potential reforms.
What Happens Next
Plano officials say the Collin County Connects Committee will play a central role in shaping the city’s transit future, offering recommendations on what a modern system should look like. They note that some neighborhoods still receive no transit service at all, and addressing those gaps has become a key priority as the city explores new options.
Leaders emphasize that whatever path Plano takes, any solution must maintain strong connections to surrounding cities — a goal they say will remain in place regardless of how residents vote next year.
“Plano wants every resident to have access to reliable transit, and that means full connectivity across our entire city,” Mayor John Muns told Local Profile. “The Collin County Connects Committee will help us ensure people can reach everything from jobs and medical facilities to entertainment areas and neighboring cities through a system that truly serves the whole community.”
But the stakes remain high. If the new agreement isn’t approved, and if Plano voters ultimately decide in a potential May election to withdraw from DART, the change would be immediate.
“If they have a successful withdrawal election, all services, that means bus, rail, Silver Line, micro transit, paratransit services would stop the day after the election is certified,” a DART spokesperson confirmed to Local Profile. “We’re continuing to try to work with all of our cities in good faith and be transparent and collaborative for the residents of North Texas.”
For riders like Harman, the coming months represent more than a policy debate. They could determine whether she can continue accessing the care that keeps her healthy and mobile. City leaders say no matter the outcome, their focus will be on finding a transit future that doesn’t leave residents behind.
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