After leaders in four member cities scheduled elections to consider leaving the Dallas Area Rapid Transit agency next May, a fifth North Texas town may join the ranks.
Addison’s City Council could join Irving, Plano, Highland Park and Farmers Branch if town leaders vote at a special meeting Tuesday, Dec. 2, to put its membership in DART on the ballot. DART services in Addison would cease immediately if voters choose to leave the agency on May 2.
Addison, a town of about 17,000 people in northern Dallas County, contributed $16.7 million in sales tax in the 2023 fiscal year, according to DART data.
The council’s meeting comes just weeks after the transit system launched its $2 billion Silver Line, a 10-stop route between DFW International Airport and DART’s Shiloh Road Station in Plano.
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Every six years, DART’s 13 member cities can hold elections to withdraw from DART under state law. The next opportunity comes in 2026.
Cities wouldn’t stop paying right away if the election resulted in a withdrawal from DART because there are still obligations to pay off debt associated with cities’ contributions.
A decision at the ballot box could still be avoided: Cities have until 45 days before the scheduled votes to call off the elections.
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