Last night, the Irving City Council joined Plano, Farmers Branch, and Highland Park in voting to hold a public referendum next May on whether to withdraw from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system.
The council chambers were full — filled with neighbors, riders, cyclists, advocates, and community leaders who came to speak about what DART means to them and to our region.
Passion, Presence, and PurposeJust like in Plano, DART leadership was present — including the CEO, Board Chair, and several Board members— to answer questions and share the system’s progress. Unlike what one might expect, the format gave them the same two minutes that each of us had. And while that may have limited what they could say, their message was clear: DART wants to work with Irving, not against it.
Speaker after speaker — from students to business leaders to people with disabilities — echoed the same theme:
“Don’t take this to a vote. Don’t turn away. Choose connection.”
The remarks were passionate, informed, and deeply human. No one denied that DART has challenges — but most of us who rely on or advocate for it know that improvement comes from partnership, not separation.
Why This MattersThis vote isn’t just about trains and buses. It’s about how people move through life.
For cyclists, DART means safe first- and last-mile connections.
For people with disabilities, it means independence through paratransit service.
For workers, it means access to jobs that might otherwise be unreachable.
And for all of us, it means a more connected, less congested, more sustainable region.
When cities withdraw, those links begin to unravel — and the people who depend on them are the ones who feel it first.
Where We Go from HereNow, the decision moves to the voters next May. That gives us six months to make sure every person in our region understands what’s at stake.
Over the coming months, BikeDFW and our partners will be working to:
The Road AheadIf there’s one thing this process has reminded us, it’s that public participation matters. Even when votes don’t go the way we hope, showing up still changes the conversation.
Over the next six months, we’ll need to stay strong, stay positive, and stay focused on facts. The future of DART — and the freedom to move safely and affordably across North Texas — depends on it.
Did You Know?Every weekday, DART provides nearly 150,000 trips across 700 square miles of North Texas — connecting 13 cities through rail, bus, paratransit, and microtransit services.
Each one of those trips represents someone getting to work, to school, to a doctor, or to someone they love.
That’s what connection looks like — and that’s why we’ll keep showing up.
The council chambers were full — filled with neighbors, riders, cyclists, advocates, and community leaders who came to speak about what DART means to them and to our region.
Passion, Presence, and PurposeJust like in Plano, DART leadership was present — including the CEO, Board Chair, and several Board members— to answer questions and share the system’s progress. Unlike what one might expect, the format gave them the same two minutes that each of us had. And while that may have limited what they could say, their message was clear: DART wants to work with Irving, not against it.
Speaker after speaker — from students to business leaders to people with disabilities — echoed the same theme:
“Don’t take this to a vote. Don’t turn away. Choose connection.”
The remarks were passionate, informed, and deeply human. No one denied that DART has challenges — but most of us who rely on or advocate for it know that improvement comes from partnership, not separation.
Why This MattersThis vote isn’t just about trains and buses. It’s about how people move through life.
For cyclists, DART means safe first- and last-mile connections.
For people with disabilities, it means independence through paratransit service.
For workers, it means access to jobs that might otherwise be unreachable.
And for all of us, it means a more connected, less congested, more sustainable region.
When cities withdraw, those links begin to unravel — and the people who depend on them are the ones who feel it first.
Where We Go from HereNow, the decision moves to the voters next May. That gives us six months to make sure every person in our region understands what’s at stake.
Over the coming months, BikeDFW and our partners will be working to:
- Share accurate, accessible information about what DART provides — and what leaving would mean.
- Reach out to the communities most affected — people with disabilities, students, workers, older adults — and ensure their stories are heard.
- Build bridges between advocates, from cyclists to transit riders to environmental and accessibility groups, to stand together for connection.
The Road AheadIf there’s one thing this process has reminded us, it’s that public participation matters. Even when votes don’t go the way we hope, showing up still changes the conversation.
Over the next six months, we’ll need to stay strong, stay positive, and stay focused on facts. The future of DART — and the freedom to move safely and affordably across North Texas — depends on it.
Did You Know?Every weekday, DART provides nearly 150,000 trips across 700 square miles of North Texas — connecting 13 cities through rail, bus, paratransit, and microtransit services.
Each one of those trips represents someone getting to work, to school, to a doctor, or to someone they love.
That’s what connection looks like — and that’s why we’ll keep showing up.
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