Addison council votes 5-2 to keep May 2 DART withdrawal election on the ballot

Addison 's City Council voted 5-2 on Feb. 24 to deny an ordinance that would have cancelled a May 2 special election on whether the town should withdraw from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, leaving the withdrawal question on the ballot.

The council's discussion stretched more than three hours and followed a nearly four-hour public-comment period in which dozens of residents, business owners, civic leaders and DART representatives urged opposite outcomes. Supporters of rescinding the election pointed to a recently negotiated interlocal agreement and a General Mobility Program (GMP) that would return an estimated $8.2 million to Addison over six years for projects that must be used for transit or complementary mobility. Opponents said the decision is sufficiently important that voters should decide.

"We have eligible projects ready to go that can be funded with our DART refund rather than issuing debt or funding it out of the general fund," Councilmember Chris (speaker 6) said, urging colleagues to accept the regional offer. "It's $8,000,000 that will not be available to us if we choose to move forward with an election tonight."

Staff outlined the deal brought forward by DART and regional partners: a six-year GMP funded in part by DART and matching funds from the Regional Transportation Council, an ILA that would create a city seat for each member city and adjusted board voting weights, and program rules limiting GMP dollars to public-transit or complementary-transportation uses. Staff said some previous "clawback" language had been revised in the latest draft of the GMP; the ILA would have to move through legislative or other regional steps to be finalized.

Several residents stressed the local impact of DART service. "DART is civic infrastructure," said Chanel Blanton, a local resident and DART rider. "Our restaurants and hotels depend heavily on the bus network to bring the workforce that makes Addison's hospitality industry function." Others pushed for public oversight. "Let the citizens vote on this project," said James Burke during public comment.

Council members split along message and process lines. Those favoring cancellation argued the regional package represented meaningful governance and funding concessions and would permit Addison to use GMP funds for connectivity projects such as a circulator or pedestrian improvements around the Silver Line station. Those opposing cancellation said the law grants Addison voters a withdrawal option every six years and that such a sweeping policy decision should go directly to voters.

A motion was made "to deny agenda item 5A and allow our citizens to vote on a withdrawal from DART." The motion passed 5-2. The mayor announced the outcome as "item 5A is denied, 5 to 2," which keeps the May 2, 2026 special election on the calendar.

Next steps: with the vote to keep the election, council and staff said they will continue outreach and prepare materials to inform voters about the choice and the practical consequences of either outcome, including potential service and funding implications depending on whether the ILA and GMP are finalized by regional partners. The council did not record a roll-call vote by name in the meeting minutes; the tally announced in open session was 5 in favor of denying the cancellation and 2 opposed.

Actions and formal outcome: the council denied the ordinance to cancel the May 2 election; the election remains scheduled.