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Carrollton council backs DART interlocal agreements aimed at regional mobility funding
Summary
Council approved consent items that include two interlocal agreements advancing a General Mobility Program and a sales‑tax TERS mechanism intended to create a path toward a 25% reduction in the DART sales‑tax levy; staff said Carrollton’s service level should not be cut and public commenters urged citizen input and state support.
Carrollton’s council on Monday moved forward with interlocal agreements intended to reshape regional transit funding and governance, endorsing a general mobility fund ILA and related sales‑tax TERS plan as part of the meeting’s consent agenda.
Mayor Babcock framed the action as a significant regional step: “This is a major step forward for the region,” he said during the vote.
Why it matters: The package — negotiated by DART, member cities, the Council of Governments and regional partners — is designed to pool local and regional dollars (the council packet cites a $75 million RTC allocation plus DART contributions) and to create a General Mobility Program (GMP) that would direct funding to sidewalk, street and access projects that support transit ridership. Staff said the proposed sales‑tax TERS (a sales‑tax TIRZ‑style mechanism) would capture incremental sales‑tax growth above a $1,000,000 threshold and split it 50/50 for reinvestment in transit infrastructure.
What council heard: Staff emphasized the accords were modeled conservatively and that the plan includes safeguards for project approvals through DART’s program review. In response to council questions about local service impacts, staff said Carrollton “doesn’t actually see a service reduction” in the package as currently presented and noted DART will hold city‑level briefings on specific route changes.
Public comment: One resident who spoke in the public comment period praised the GMP as "a giant step forward" but urged caution, warning of several "ifs" that must be resolved — legislative backing, COG buy‑in and state funding — and flagged a potential DART funding gap in 2027 under the new funding arrangement. The commenter also urged the city to create a citizens' advisory committee so bus, paratransit and pedestrian users can shape how GMP dollars are spent.
What passed: The items were adopted as part of the consent agenda and the mayor declared the vote unanimous.
Next steps: Staff said the ILAs and the TERS model will continue to move through the regional process and that city staff and DART will provide follow‑up briefings on any specific service or project changes tied to GMP funding.
