The future of DART remains uncertain as several DFW cities deliberate whether or not to withdraw from the transit system.
As a compromise, DART announced in a press release on Feb. 20 that they had approved the General Mobility Plan, an interlocal agreement that changes the agency’s funding and governing structure. This new proposal includes member cities having a seat on DART’s board, new security cameras and light rail station strategies. “This solution is a victory for North Texans,” said Randall Bryant, chairman of the DART Board of Directors, in the news release. “When the DART board, DART staff, member cities and regional partners work together to find common ground, we are able to focus on solutions.”
According to a DART Board of Director’s meeting called the same day of the press release, the cities of Plano, Irving and Farmers Branch have agreed with this plan and will continue partnering with DART, while Addison and Highland Park move ahead with a May 2 ballot vote on whether or not to leave DART.
The DART website said that if a city successfully withdraws after the vote, it would lead to a complete removal of all services from them, including the closure of several rail stations, changes in service for the Silver Line, elimination of bus routes and the modification of GoLink services.
DART can be an important resource for Richland students, and for some, it’s their only method of transportation to campus.
For Moyosore Giwa, a Richland student, DART is a convenient source of travel. “It’s my first time taking it in, like, over a year,” Giwa said. “I frequently took it, but this year, [this] is my first time taking it.” These potential service changes could mean less students being able to make the trek to class.
For some, home is a lot farther away than it is for others. “I feel like my situation is complicated because I’m an international student. It’s not as easy for me,” said Kathy Peng, a Richland student who also attends classes at Mountain View. “I take classes between two campuses. I take the bus frequently,” Peng said.
While a lack of transportation could potentially cause Richland students to drop classes, DART says that they will continue to be able to provide access. Jeamy Molina, DART’s EVP and chief communications officer, said in a public hearing that “these changes reflect what our riders and communities told us last year: ‘minimize disruption while maintaining access’.”
DART will have a series of community meetings to provide information on potential 2026 service changes, including a public hearing on March 24. For more information, visit DART.org/PublicHearing.
