Texas bill would slash DART funding, service

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has issued a warning about Texas House Bill 3187, which, if approved, would redistribute 25% of DART's sales tax funding to other transit-related projects. The measure would slash DART service, jobs and access to public transportation in Northern Texas, transit agency officials said yesterday.

The bill passed the Texas House Transportation Committee and is now moving through the Texas House of Representatives. Within its first year, the bill would wipe out 5,800 jobs across North Texas, cancel planned capital improvement and cut service levels by more than 30%, said DART officials in a press release.

DART's 1 cent sales tax collection from each of its member cities would be cut by 25% and redirected to other transit related projects. This would result in over $3.5 billion worth of transit-oriented development projects near DART rail stations being delayed or cut, reducing transit access for essential workers, senior, people with disabilities and low income families, DART officials said. It would also undermine DART's ability to properly prepare for major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cut.

“This bill isn’t a tweak to funding. It’s a full-on dismantling of the DART system,” said Jeamy Molina, DART's chief communications officer “The people of North Texas voted twice to fund a unified, regional transit system. House Bill 3187 completely ignores their voice and puts the future of public transportation in jeopardy."

The bill's author, State Rep. Matt Shaheen, said there are member cities of DART that overpay for the services they receive, and that he is pushing to make transit services more equitable among the 13 communities that financially support DART, according to a local news article.