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Resident warns DART withdrawal could leave Farmers Branch paying for years
Summary
A Farmers Branch homeowner cautioned that a May vote to leave DART could stop service quickly while sales-tax payments to DART may continue for years because of outstanding debt, and urged negotiations instead of a precipitous exit.
David Jones, a homeowner at 3554 Golfing Green Drive, urged the Farmers Branch City Council to consider long-term costs before moving forward with a potential May election that he said could lead the city to withdraw from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).
"Pulling out of DART should be considered our nuclear option," Jones told the council during public comment. He said a Dallas Morning News report indicated that withdrawn member cities may still be required to pay their full 1¢ contribution to DART while any outstanding debt obligation remains and that, based on recent estimates, the average length of that obligation would be about 10 years.
Jones described how he and his son used DART’s Green Line to travel to the American Airlines Center for about $12 round trip, saying the service helped them avoid traffic and parking costs. He warned that, even if the city votes to hold an exit election or withdraw, bus service, GoLink services and light-rail station operations could stop soon after ballots are certified while tax payments continue.
Jones said he understood there is a March 17 deadline to decide whether to pull the referendum on withdrawal, and urged the council to use the threat of an election as leverage to negotiate a better agreement with DART rather than as an immediate course of action.
The transcript of the meeting records Jones’ public comment but does not show the council taking formal action on DART during this session.
