Addison council votes to send DART withdrawal to voters after hours of public comment

The Addison City Council voted Dec. 2 to place a May 2, 2026 election on the ballot asking residents whether the town should withdraw from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system (DART), after a lengthy public-comment period in which dozens of speakers urged both sides of the question.

The council’s decision came after Deputy City Manager Ashley Shroyer presented staff findings and the ordinance language, describing a FY23 cost-allocation snapshot that showed Addison contributing $16.3 million to DART while receiving about $9.5 million in local service value in that year. Shroyer told the council the independent snapshot did not include the recently opened Silver Line and that the town’s current estimate of the repayment period for outstanding DART obligations is roughly 2.9 years. “If the ordinance passes, DART service would cease the day after the election and the town’s 1¢ sales tax would remain committed to DART until the exit obligation is repaid,” Shroyer said.

Residents and regional officials packed the meeting and spoke for and against sending withdrawal…