DART Board Meeting: Potential Service Cuts, Fare Hikes, and Route Eliminations

Public Input on DART Service Changes

• 📢 Tonight at 6:00 PM, the DART board will hold a public hearing on significant service and fare changes that could impact riders across the entire system.
• ⚠️ If approved, these changes, which are the biggest service reductions in DART's history, would take effect in 2026, but planning must begin now due to anticipated financial constraints.

Proposed Service Reductions

• 📉 The current proposal includes the elimination of nine bus routes and reduced frequency for buses, trains, and GoLink services.
• 🚗 GoLink will transition to rally point pickups, with potential premium curbside fees, and paratransit fares are set to increase from $3.50 to $6, with a smaller service area.

Fare Restructuring and Financial Context

• 💰 Discussions include restructuring fares, such as replacing the TR one-way pass with a three-hour regional fare.
• 📊 These potential cuts come as DART faces financial challenges, partly due to the general mobility program, which redirects 5% of sales tax revenue to member cities for local projects.

Impact on World Cup Preparations

• ⚽ The proposed service cuts could affect DART's ability to support the 2026 World Cup preparations, impacting all modes of transportation, including TRE services.
• 💬 Riders and taxpayers are encouraged to voice their opinions at the public hearing or submit comments online before the board finalizes decisions next month.