The Plano City Council voted unanimously to put the city’s future partnership with DART in voters’ hands.<\/p>\n
PLANO, Texas \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight\u2019s vote ensures that Plano residents have a voice in shaping the city\u2019s transportation future,\u201d Mayor John B. Muns said in a statement. \u201cThis decision begins a broader discussion about what system best meets Plano\u2019s evolving needs while keeping our community connected.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
City leaders say the imbalance has persisted even as Plano\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Plano is one of three DART member cities<\/a> \u2014 along with Highland Park and Farmers Branch \u2014 considering leaving the agency, a move that could reshape the region\u2019s public-transit landscape. Highland Park has already called a special election on its future with DART<\/a>.<\/p>\n DART leaders warn that losing Plano\u2019s roughly $110 million annual contribution would significantly affect the service system-wide.<\/p>\n