University Park Eyes Special Election to Leave DART System
University Park plans special election on DART membership, joining four other cities questioning transit authority participation despite limited service.
The decision puts University Park alongside cities questioning their continued participation in the regional transit authority, though DART currently provides limited service to the Park Cities area. University Park has been a DART member city since the authority’s creation in 1983, contributing sales tax revenue despite receiving minimal transit infrastructure.
“This is about giving our residents a voice in a decision that affects their tax dollars,” said University Park Mayor Tommy Stewart. “We want voters to decide whether continued DART membership serves our community’s transportation needs.”
The special election would ask residents whether University Park should remain in DART or withdraw from the transit authority. Cities can exit DART with voter approval, though the process requires a lengthy transition period and continued financial obligations.
University Park residents currently pay a half-cent sales tax to support DART operations, generating roughly $2.3 million annually for the transit authority. In return, the city receives limited bus service along major corridors like Hillcrest Avenue and Northwest Highway, with no rail stations within city limits.
The nearest DART rail access for University Park residents is the Park Lane station on the Red Line, approximately three miles east of the city’s boundaries near the intersection of US 75 and Northwest Highway.
Neighboring Highland Park has never joined DART, citing concerns about transit-oriented development requirements and local control over zoning decisions. Highland Park officials have long argued that DART membership could force the city to accept higher-density housing near potential transit stops.
The other four cities considering DART withdrawal elections have not been identified, though several suburban municipalities have questioned the value of their transit authority membership in recent years.
DART officials said they respect member cities’ rights to hold withdrawal elections while noting that regional connectivity benefits all participating communities.
“DART serves the entire North Texas region, and University Park residents benefit from the broader transportation network even when they’re not daily transit users,” said DART spokesperson Morgan Lyons.
University Park City Council members plan to discuss election timing and ballot language at their next meeting. The special election could occur as early as spring 2024, depending on council action and state election calendar requirements.
If approved by voters, University Park’s withdrawal would take effect after a transition period lasting several years.