Dallas City Council Agrees to Updated DART Governance Structure

Yesterday, the Dallas City Council agreed to approve a resolution endorsing a reformed governance structure for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system.

The proposed model would give Dallas 45% of the voting share and seven board seats. It will also ensure that every member city retains representation on the board and no city controls a majority of the board seats.

"These principles reflect Dallas' good-faith effort to preserve a strong, collaborative system for the entire region," reads a city press release on the resolution.

DART member cities spent months negotiating the proposed governance structure, a process that was sparked due to concerns over governance, service, and funding. Six member cities called for withdrawal elections scheduled for May.

"Throughout the process, Dallas remained at the table, committed to protecting public transit as a critical engine for economic growth and mobility across North Texas," the press release states.

The city's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reviewed the status of negotiations on Jan. 20 and provided the city guidance on the resolution.

City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said, "Today's vote is a step in the right direction and reflects a decision made with the health of the entire system in mind. Dallas residents rely on DART to travel to work, school, and medical appointments throughout the region, and this action is a win-win for the City of Dallas, DART, and the entire region."

She continued, "Today's vote affirms Dallas' commitment to ensuring regional transit not only remains strong but continues to thrive."

Now that the agreement is in place, the city's attention will turn to funding solutions. The DART board continues discussions this week and the Regional Transportation Council is due to consider its role in the proposal.