The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board heard from the public on Tuesday about the potential loss of bus routes and other services if withdrawal elections in the Park Cities and Addison are successful.
Hans-Michael Ruthe, DART’s director of service planning, said the withdrawal elections could affect at least 11 bus routes, including route 237, which runs along Preston Road, and route 20, which runs along Northwest Highway, as well as SMU shuttle services supported by DART.
DART buses would discontinue stopping in the Park Cities and Addison if voters in those cities opted to withdraw. Paratransit services for people with disabilities provided by DART would also be impacted, as would DART’s on-demand GoLink service in the Park Cities. University Park officials have said they plan to continue paratransit services using another provider if voters choose to withdraw from DART.
Highland Park resident Rhanda Hasley said during the meeting that she’s used the paratransit service since the late 1980s and called for residents to vote to stay in DART.
“I would urge those of you — anyone in Addison, Highland Park, or University Park — to really seriously think about this vote in May because there are many, numerous people who would be affected by the withdrawal if that were to happen. Not all of us drive, and obviously, many of us rely not only on the buses and trains, but also on paratransit. I utilize it several times a week,” Hasley said.
Francis Zalace, who uses a wheelchair, spoke about how DART’s paratransit services allow her to stay connected to the community at First Unitarian Church of Dallas.
“I’m concerned about the potential withdrawal from service that would isolate a lot of people like myself from those vital communities that we connect with,” Zalace said. “I would also like to point out the consideration of how many people that, though they might not live in the Park Cities area, use the DART services that serve the Park Cities area and contribute to that economy.”
Peter Young said he lives in Highland Park and uses DART every week. He questioned the board on potential impacts of withdrawal from DART.
The DART board also approved negotiating a separation agreement with CEO Nadine Lee, who said in a statement that she won’t seek renewal of her contract and will step down. She’s led the transit agency since 2021.
In a statement, Lee said the decision came after “careful reflection on the agency’s progress and its path forward.”
“It has been the honor of my career to lead this extraordinary organization and to work alongside more than 3,800 dedicated employees who move North Texas forward every day,” Lee said. “Together, we navigated one of the most challenging periods in transit history and emerged stronger, more focused, and better positioned to serve our growing region.”
Additional details about the leadership transition, including the appointment of an interim CEO, will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information on Lee’s resignation, read our sister publication, D Magazine.
Highland Park and University Park have approved putting the question of their continued membership in DART to voters, with some officials arguing that the amount they contribute to DART has dwarfed the value of the services they receive in return.
The DART board has made changes in hopes of persuading member cities to remain in DART, including offering to return some sales tax dollars to member cities.
Some of the cities that had called special elections on DART membership, including Plano, Farmers Branch, and Irving, have since voted to call their withdrawal elections off.
Election day is May 2. The last day to register to vote for the May 2 election is April 2 and early voting runs from April 20 to April 28.
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