By a unanimous 9-0 vote, the Irving City Council has approved a special election for May 2026, allowing residents to decide whether the city should remain a member of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) or withdraw to pursue alternative transportation options better suited to the community’s needs.
“We understand how important public transportation is for our community and are committed to ensuring Irving residents continue to have low-cost mobility opportunities,” said Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer. “We have been concerned with DART reducing service levels to our community over the years and, according to the 2024 Irving Resident Satisfaction survey, only 1% of residents use DART or TRE service daily while investing more than $115 million annually into the system.”
Irving has been a DART member city since 1983, contributing an estimated $2 billion in sales tax revenue over four decades. However, city leaders say that despite the substantial investment, service quality and reliability have continued to decline.
According to city data:
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DART ridership has dropped from 71 million riders in 2013 to 48 million in 2023.
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Irving’s annual sales tax contribution to DART has more than doubled — from $52.4 million in 2013 to $107.8 million in 2023.
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In 2024, Irving paid more than $115 million into the system, even as service levels decreased.
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DART plans to eliminate two additional bus routes in Irving (Routes 225 and 255), reducing local bus connectivity by 29%.
If those cuts move forward, only three of Irving’s eight rail stations will still have connecting bus service — leaving just 38% of the city’s rail access points served by local transit.
City officials said the May 2026 election will give residents the opportunity to decide whether to continue the city’s partnership with DART or explore new mobility options that provide greater value for taxpayers and improved access for residents.
For more information, visit IrvingTX.gov/Transit.
