Dallas Area Rapid Transit staff briefed Rowlett officials on Aug. 18 about the proposed FY2026 budget, a set of service‑change options and next steps in the agency’s approval calendar.

Jamie Adleman, DART executive vice president and chief financial officer, said agency cost drivers for FY26 include the new Silver Line commuter‑rail operating costs coming on earlier than anticipated, the agency’s general mobility program (GMP) allocation, World Cup service planning and general inflationary pressures. Adleman said the proposed operating budget increases 5.1% year over year, but noted that about 4.1 percentage points of that growth reflect new Silver Line service.

DART presented a narrowed set of service‑change proposals after public hearings. The agency originally modeled up to $60 million in potential reductions; staff reported those options had been refined to approximately $25 million in service changes. Adleman emphasized DART’s staff recommendation balanced budget needs while minimizing rider impacts and said there are no proposed reductions to paratransit or GO Link services.

For Rowlett specifically, DART staff said the only change in the current recommendation is a modest difference in peak‑period frequency on a fixed route: a peak headway moving from 15 minutes to 20 minutes on the affected route. Staff said weekend frequency will not change. The presentation also noted an operational addition: the Firewheel Town Center connection is being added in September, which DART described as an improvement for local connectivity.

Adleman explained the GMP — legislated as part of a regional compromise and initially funded by an allocation of DART sales tax revenue — will direct 5% of DART’s sales tax to a mobility program. For the first two years, that program’s allocations will be paid based on the Ernst & Young cost‑allocation study’s donor‑city formula; DART staff said they are reviewing that methodology and plan to update the cost allocation to reflect additional transit value factors and regional connectivity.

DART outlined next steps for its budget schedule: a board-level discussion Aug. 26, an area city managers/finance directors briefing on Aug. 28, a Committee of the Whole meeting Sept. 9 and a potential final board vote Sept. 30. Adleman offered one‑on‑one briefings for elected officials and city staff to discuss local impacts.

Rowlett leaders asked DART staff for quarterly updates and operational clarifications (signal timing, station wayfinding and World Cup planning). DART said it will continue to seek reimbursements for special events and will focus World Cup planning on security, customer‑service ambassadors and potential targeted bus bridges.

No formal action was taken by the council; DART’s board will consider budget approvals on the schedule presented.