The Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved a resolution endorsing a restructured governance model for Dallas Area Rapid Transit, signaling the city’s commitment to maintaining a stable regional transit system amid ongoing negotiations with member cities.
Under the proposed framework, Dallas would hold 45 percent of the voting share and seven seats on the DART Board. The model also ensures every member city retains representation and prevents any single city from controlling a majority of seats.
The vote follows months of discussions among DART member cities over governance, service and funding concerns. Six cities have called for withdrawal elections scheduled for May 2026. City officials said Dallas remained engaged in negotiations throughout the process to preserve public transit as a regional asset.
The City’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reviewed the status of negotiations on January 20 and provided direction that led to the resolution approved Wednesday.
City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said the vote reflects a commitment to the long-term health of the transit system, noting that Dallas residents rely on DART for access to jobs, schools and medical services across North Texas.
With a governance agreement endorsed, discussions are expected to shift toward funding. The DART Board is scheduled to continue deliberations this week, and the Regional Transportation Council will consider its role in the proposed agreement on February 12.
