Farmers Branch council orders May 2, 2026 ballot question on DART membership after weeks of debate

The Farmers Branch City Council voted Nov. 4 to place an ordinance on the May 2, 2026 ballot asking residents whether the city should withdraw from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system.

Mayor and council read Ordinance No. 3977, which would “order an election to be held in and throughout the City of Farmers Branch, Texas on 05/02/2026 to dissolve the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system in the City of Farmers Branch, subject to the continued collection of sales taxes for the period required by law.” The council approved the measure after deliberation and public comment.

The mayor told the public the council was not voting that night to leave DART but was authorizing a voter referendum and urged continued dialogue between Farmers Branch and DART leadership. Following the vote, council members also directed the city manager to continue negotiations with DART, to investigate alternative transportation models and to develop and distribute a survey of residents about public transportation.

Public comment at the meeting was extensive and strongly mixed. Transit advocates and DART officials warned withdrawal would disrupt regional mobility and leave the city responsible for DART debt while reducing residents’ access to jobs, medical care and paratransit services. Patrick McMorgan, representing the Dallas Area Transit Alliance, said the alliance shares some frustrations with DART but urged council members not to call a pull‑out referendum, noting that the city would remain responsible for debt and would still need to provide alternatives for seniors and people with disabilities.

Randall Bryant, chair of the DART board of directors, urged additional negotiations and asked the council to delay a vote by 30 days to allow for “real compromise and real solutions.” Nadine Lee, who identified herself as president and CEO of DART, cited recent service and safety investments and studies showing significant economic development near stations.

Residents, employees and nonprofit leaders pressed opposite themes. Several speakers, including a student who uses DART for college classes and representatives of Envision Dallas (an employer of people who are blind), described DART as essential to employment, education and daily life. Others argued Farmers Branch does not receive equitable service for its contribution and raised governance and safety concerns. Councilmembers repeatedly cited a long history of unresolved negotiations with DART over service levels, cost allocation and board representation.

Council debate reflected the split. Some councilmembers said they supported public transit but expressed frustration at what they described as slow progress toward equitable service and governance changes. A motion to delay action for 30 days to allow further talks with DART failed. The ordinance calling for the May 2, 2026 election was approved later in the meeting.

The transcript does not show a roll‑call vote tally in the public record read at the meeting; the mayor announced the motion passed. Councilmembers also voted to instruct the city manager to continue negotiating with DART and to evaluate and pilot alternative mobility solutions, and to produce a resident survey to inform voter education before May.

Why it matters: The ballot measure will hand the ultimate decision to Farmers Branch voters. A withdrawal, if approved by voters, would change the region’s transit governance and require city leaders to identify replacement mobility services and transition plans for riders who depend on DART services.

What’s next: The city will continue talks with DART leadership and begin outreach and a resident survey as directed by council. If council later chooses to withdraw the ordinance, state law provides deadlines and procedures to remove a question from a scheduled election.

Source: City of Farmers Branch City Council meeting transcript, Nov. 4, 2025.