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Dallas Approves DART Governance Overhaul to Head Off Member Exits

City leaders endorsed reduced control to entice six suburbs to cancel May withdrawal votes before a Feb. 23 reversal deadline.

Overview

  • Dallas City Council voted 15–2 to back a model cutting the city’s voting share to 45% with seven board seats, eliminating any single-city majority.
  • The plan guarantees each of DART’s 13 member cities a board seat, addressing long-running concerns about representation and influence.
  • Farmers Branch, Irving, Highland Park, University Park, Addison and Plano have scheduled May 2026 withdrawal elections and can rescind them by Feb. 23.
  • The Regional Transportation Council is slated to review partnership funding scenarios on Thursday, and separate approval by the Texas Legislature would be required to formalize board changes.
  • DART estimates departures could disrupt about 800 bus stops, 13 GoLink zones, two Trinity Railway Express stations, two Silver Line stations and 10 light rail stations across the region.