Dallas Teens Advocate for DART Funding Amidst City Departures

The Dallas Public Transit Society

• 💡 Four teens, calling themselves the Dallas Public Transit Society, are actively campaigning to protect funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).
• 🎯 The group, whose oldest member is 17, aims to increase long-term ridership and advocate for public transit in a car-centric region.

DART's Funding Challenges

• ⚠️ Several North Texas cities, including Plano, Highland Park, Farmers Branch, and Irving, are considering or have decided to let voters decide on cutting DART funding.
• 💰 These cities argue they are not receiving sufficient value for the 1% sales tax contribution they make to DART.
• 📌 Addison is also set to hold a special election regarding its DART membership, despite being a member since 1983 and having a stop on the new Silver Line.

Youth Advocacy and Vision

• 🚀 The teens, students at Booker T. Washington High School, were inspired to act after learning about DART's funding battle.
• 💬 They believe that increasing youth ridership now will cultivate lifelong public transit users.
• 🚗 They argue that a better-funded bus and rail network, not more highways, is the solution to traffic congestion, which costs drivers nearly three full days annually.

Growing Support and Attention

• 📈 The Dallas Public Transit Society's petition has garnered hundreds of signatures, and their social media posts are gaining traction.
• ✅ DART officials have acknowledged and expressed excitement about the students' engagement and advocacy.