Full Breakdown
Highland Park Voters Exit DART, Ending Transit Services
5/4/2026, 1:02:09 PM
Highland Park’s Withdrawal from DART
On May 2, 2026, Highland Park voters approved leaving DART, with nearly 70 % in favor. City council will certify the vote on May 13; DART will end bus, GoLink and paratransit service on May 14. Buses will travel through without stopping. Addison and University Park voted to stay, keeping the system at 12 members.
Historical Context
DART, Texas’s second-largest transit agency, has served North Texas since 1983. Prior municipal exits were Flower Mound and Coppell in 1989. Tensions resurfaced after Plano announced a pull-out, prompting votes in other suburbs; Plano, Farmers Branch and Irving later renegotiated, making Highland Park the first successful withdrawal in three decades.
Key Stakeholders
Randall Bryant – DART board chair; Highland Park City Council and voters; DART officials; Addison and University Park residents.
Financial and Service Impact
Highland Park provides about 1 % of DART’s sales-tax base, paying $6.3 million in FY 2023 and receiving $1.9 million in services. DART projects a $270 million revenue loss over 20 years. The exit will close 15 bus stops, end GoLink and paratransit, and remove park-and-ride sites. Route 237 will run through without stops.
Implications
The loss cuts transit options for commuters and riders with disabilities in the Park Cities, weakening North Texas’s network as planners seek expanded service. DART cites the need for a “fair, modern governance and funding model” to align tax contributions with service levels.
Official Statements & Responses
DART board chair Randall Bryant said the agency “focuses on expanding this system with partners who recognize that transit drives economic growth, connects people to opportunity, and strengthens communities.” He added that the future of North Texas “will be shaped by the cities that choose to move forward with DART” and that DART will seek a modern funding framework in the upcoming legislative session.
Criticism & Opposition
Suburban members argue they overpay in sales taxes relative to the limited bus and rail service they receive—Highland Park has no rail access. The exit reflects concerns about cost-benefit balance and a desire for local control over transit funds.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The future of North Texas will be shaped by the cities that choose to move forward with DART,” — Randall Bryant, Chair, DART Board of Directors
- “We are focused on expanding this system with partners who recognize that transit drives economic growth, connects people to opportunity, and strengthens communities.” — Randall Bryant, Chair, DART Board of Directors
- “We are focused on expanding this system with partners who recognize that transit drives economic growth.” — Randall Bryant, Chair, DART Board of Directors
- “fair, modern governance and funding model” — Randall Bryant, Chair, DART Board of Directors
What’s Next
The Highland Park City Council will canvass the results on May 13; DART services end the next day. DART will contact affected paratransit riders, adjust routes and lobby the Texas legislature for revised funding rules. Addison and University Park will keep full DART service while the agency watches for further membership changes.
