DALLAS COUNTY, Texas - The Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors has scheduled a public hearing for March 24, 2026, as the agency prepares for potential service changes tied to upcoming city withdrawal elections.
The hearing is required by law and comes ahead of a May 2, 2026 election in which voters in several member cities will decide whether to continue participating in DART. Cities currently calling for withdrawal elections include Farmers Branch, Highland Park, Irving, Plano, and University Park.
Voters in those cities will determine whether their municipality will continue contributing 1 percent of local sales tax revenue to DART in exchange for transit services. If a city successfully withdraws, DART officials said services in that city would cease immediately after the election is canvassed, potentially as early as May 3, 2026.
Although only residents of the five cities will vote, DART said a successful withdrawal by any member city would have systemwide impacts affecting riders throughout the service area. To prepare the public, DART will host community education meetings in February and March across all 13 member cities and virtually.
If all five cities on the ballot withdraw, DART said potential service changes could include the closure of multiple rail stations, including Downtown Plano, Belt Line, Hidden Ridge, Farmers Branch, Irving Convention Center, Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing, Las Colinas Urban Center, North Lake College, Parker Road, Shiloh Road, University of Dallas, West Irving, and 12th Street stations.
Additional impacts could include changes to Red, Orange, Green, and Silver Line service, as well as Trinity Railway Express operations. Bus routes operating entirely within withdrawn cities would be eliminated, while routes connecting through those cities could be modified or discontinued.
GoLink service could be altered or eliminated in several areas, including Cypress Waters, Keller Springs, Park Cities, East Telecom, and multiple zones in Plano, Irving, and Farmers Branch. Paratransit service would also end in any city that withdraws, with trips beginning or ending in those cities no longer provided.
DART officials are encouraging riders, residents, and stakeholders to attend community sessions, submit feedback, and participate in the formal public hearing during the DART Board meeting scheduled for March 24, 2026, at 6 p.m.
For a full schedule of pre-hearing events and to submit a comment, please visit the following link: http://www.dart.org/PublicHearing
