Overview
- Voters delivered a split decision Saturday, with Highland Park approving withdrawal from Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Addison and University Park choosing to remain.
- Once the results are certified, DART will end all transit inside Highland Park, including paratransit and GoLink, and buses that pass through will no longer stop within the town.
- DART projects about $270 million in lost sales-tax revenue over 20 years from Highland Park’s exit, while the town’s 1% DART sales tax continues until agency debts are paid.
- Residents who rely on DART in Highland Park will need to reach stops in neighboring Dallas or University Park for regional trips, which could add time and distance for daily commutes and medical rides.
- The votes follow months of debate over what member cities pay versus the service they receive and come after DART adopted tax and board changes that led other suburbs to cancel withdrawal elections, leaving 12 cities in the agency.