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Multiple speakers urge Plano council to oppose DART funding cuts; council took no action
Summary
More than a dozen public speakers urged the council to oppose cuts to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) funding and to press state lawmakers against bills that would reduce regional transit funding; the comments were part of the public-interest portion of the meeting and prompted no immediate council action.
At the March 25 Plano City Council meeting, several residents and regional advocates urged city leaders to oppose proposed reductions to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) funding and to lobby state lawmakers to preserve transit resources.
Jessica Berner, speaking by Zoom, told the council "I just wanted to voice my support for DART funding. It is enormously impactful for everyone who lives in Dallas and DFW," and warned that budget cuts ahead of major regional events could create reputational problems. Daniel A. Rodriguez, a commuter who uses DART services from Fort Worth to Plano, told the council he observed packed buses and more riders choosing transit to avoid traffic.
Sahara Khan, a Dallas ISD teacher, said public transit was a "lifeline" for many students and families and described an individual student who dropped out after a route was removed. Tyler Wright of the Dallas Area Transit Alliance and other regional advocates asked council members to use their influence with state legislators and to join a regional delegation going to Austin to oppose bills that would reduce DART's funding.
Several speakers described DART as critical to education access, workforce mobility and public safety. "Now is not the time to cut funding for DART, but to continue to support our hardworking students," Sahara Khan said. Other speakers noted the regional nature of the service and asked for Plano to take a public stance or to work with regional partners.
Council did not take any action in response to the public comments during the meeting; comments of public interest are not debatable items and the presiding officer noted the council may respond with factual information or place an item on a future agenda. Staff and councilors did not announce a follow-up agenda item on DART funding during the meeting.
Ending
Speakers asked council to contact state representatives and to participate in regional advocacy; organizers said they planned further outreach, including a trip to Austin, to press the case to lawmakers.
