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DART officials ask Richardson to back full 1¢ sales-tax membership, outline service priorities including GoLink expansion and Silver Line bridge work
Summary
DART board chair and staff briefed council on recent governance changes, a Jan. 28 vote to require supermajorities for adding service, and proposals to expand microtransit (GoLink) and local circulators. DART asked cities to pass resolutions supporting the full penny sales-tax funding as the legislature considers changes.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) representatives briefed the Richardson City Council on board decisions and service priorities and asked the council to consider passing a resolution supporting DART’s current 1¢ sales-tax membership amid possible state-level changes.
Gary Slagle, DART board member and board chair, said board discussions with member cities found more interest in re-directing efforts into services rather than returning sales-tax dollars to cities. "Instead of returning dollars to the city, the board really felt comfortable that we needed to provide services," Slagle said, describing proposals such as local circulator routes and expansion of microtransit service (GoLink) to increase coverage and last-mile connections.
Kaye Shelton, DART chief of staff, briefed council on city-specific items including redesign work on an aesthetic arch for the Silver Line bridge over U.S. 75; staff said they expect a contract modification and an amended interlocal agreement in March so construction can begin in spring. Shelton also described planned updates to TOD/real-estate procedures, a city-manager working group on how DART might participate in tax-increment finance for economic development, and potential frequency improvements on Route 241 (Spring Valley/Coit corridor) to move from 30-minute to 15-minute peak service.
Former Rowlett mayor and long-time DART board member Mark Enoch appealed to Richardson for a formal resolution supporting the full penny sales-tax membership. "We would love a resolution from your city supporting the full Penny membership," Enoch said, adding that resolutions from multiple member cities strengthen DART’s position when the issue goes to the Legislature.
Slagle said the DART board unanimously approved a Jan. 28 governance change requiring a supermajority for adding service — a measure board members argued would reduce the risk that any single city could drive major service changes without broader regional agreement.
Council members expressed support for DART and several asked staff to prepare a Richardson resolution supporting continued full funding. Council direction included requests that DART continue outreach to large employers, multifamily developments and university stakeholders to help restore ridership post-COVID and to explore local circulator and GoLink expansions.
Ending: DART staff said they will return with memoranda and possible interlocal agreements; several council members asked that a resolution supporting the 1¢ sales tax be placed on a forthcoming agenda.
