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Council debates DART letter and demands as May withdrawal election approaches
Summary
After calling a May withdrawal election from DART, Addison’s council debated whether to send a detailed letter asking DART for financial and governance reforms (25–50% returns, governance changes, service flexibility) and whether such a letter could meaningfully avoid the election; staff will draft language reflecting council direction.
Addison’s City Council spent the bulk of its Feb. 3 work session discussing goals and a possible letter to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) after the council previously called a May withdrawal election.
Deputy City Manager Ashley Shroyer and staff summarized alternative approaches other cities have sought — interlocal agreements (ILAs) or general mobility program (GMP) rebates that would return a percentage of the 1¢ sales tax to member cities, and governance proposals to change board voting weights. Several council members and staff said a well‑crafted, specific ask (for example, a phased refund schedule starting at 25 percent and rising toward 50 percent by 2031, or governance reforms that limit a single city’s weighted vote) would be necessary if Dart were to offer terms that would keep Addison from moving forward with a withdrawal election.
Council members emphasized multiple priorities: financial reform (seek a portion of the sales tax returned as either a GMP rebate or via legislative change), service flexibility (preserving rail access such as the Silver Line and federally required paratransit while considering local circulators run or subsidized by the town), governance (one city, one vote or a model that prevents a single city from veto power), and data/security/cleanliness improvements. Some members argued for an immediate GMP as an interim solution; others said only legislative change can free returned funds from mobility‑only restrictions.
The conversation also covered the Addison Transit Center: staff said that, if the town exits, the transit center could become town property subject to negotiated arrangements and federal grant assurances; DART could potentially lease the property from the town. Council members asked staff to get precise usage and ridership data because that data is needed to design any alternative circulator or point‑to‑point service the town might run if it reduces DART bus coverage.
Council did not adopt final language at the work session but asked staff to draft a letter with the agreed bones: (1) a financial ask (a phased rebate target discussed at 25–50 percent over time, with members favoring an approach similar to Plano/Irving/Farmers Branch models), (2) governance reform support for a one city/one vote model with Dallas capped below 45–50 percent weight, (3) demands on safety/cleanliness/data sharing and security, and (4) service clarifications (Silver Line access and paratransit assurances). Some council members said they remained unconvinced the letter would change DART’s position and preferred letting voters decide in May; others said issuing the letter demonstrates good faith and clarifies what would be required for the town to rescind a withdrawal election.
Next steps: staff will draft the proposed letter for council review, collect usage and ridership data requested from DART, and continue manager‑level negotiations with peer cities. Council also discussed the legal and practical mechanics of exit obligations and the possibility of rejoining DART in the future if conditions change.
