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Irving council orders May 2, 2026 special election on DART membership after hours of public comment
Summary
After hours of public testimony for and against Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Irving City Council voted 9–0 to place a May 2, 2026 special election on the ballot asking residents whether to continue the city’s DART membership.
After extended public comment and council debate, the Irving City Council voted unanimously Nov. 6 to order a special election on May 2, 2026 asking voters whether the city should continue membership in the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system.
The decision followed more than an hour of public testimony from residents, transit advocates and regional officials. Brad Lamortis, who identified himself as an Irving resident, urged the council to give voters the choice, saying: “Let’s give our voters the chance to choose the future of transit in Irving.” Opponents and supporters traded claims about costs, ridership and service reliability during the public comment period.
Nadine Lee, president and CEO of DART, defended the agency’s record in Irving, saying the city has seen ridership growth and “DART investments in Irving outpaced the sales tax collections.” Residents and regional leaders cited figures in disagreement: several speakers and council members referenced analyses that put Irving’s annual DART contribution near $102 million with roughly $123 million in services returned to the city, a point disputed in council discussion.
Council members repeatedly framed the vote as a step to let voters decide rather than an immediate policy change. Mayor Stauffer and Councilmember Dennis Webb described ongoing negotiations with DART over governance and service levels. Webb said he had drafted a proposal demanding clearer accountability and equity in service delivery and that calling a referendum would let residents decide.
Speakers in favor of withdrawing or holding a referendum argued Irving pays a disproportionate share of DART funding and has lost routes serving local riders. “We need results,” Brad Lamortis told the council. Speakers opposing withdrawal warned of immediate loss of service and of the city’s continuing debt obligations tied to DART bonds. Pamela Floyd, a Las Colinas homeowner, told council: “If Irving chooses to withdraw from DART, all transit services will cease immediately the day after the vote.”
Council members cited multiple unresolved questions about alternatives, including whether microtransit or ride‑hailing partnerships could match DART’s coverage and paratransit accessibility. Council and staff said they were exploring bids with ride‑share and microtransit providers to develop contingency plans should voters choose withdrawal.
The motion to order the special election passed 9–0. The ordinance directs staff to place the question on the May 2, 2026 ballot so that qualified voters may decide whether to continue the collection of the sales tax that funds DART membership.
