Highland Park Leaves DART, Agency Forecasts 1% Revenue Dip and Suburban Push

TL;DR: Highland Park voted to exit the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, the first departure in 35 years, and DART expects a 1% cut in sales‑tax revenue while eyeing new suburban routes.

Context On Saturday, voters in three member cities decided their transit futures. Addison and University Park chose to stay; Highland Park chose to leave. The decision marks the first DART withdrawal since 1989.

Key Facts DART board chair Randall Bryant and interim CEO David Leininger addressed reporters at DART headquarters on Monday. Bryant thanked Addison and University Park for their confidence and said DART will work with Highland Park officials during a ten‑day transition. The agency estimates the exit will shave roughly 1% off its sales‑tax revenue base.

Bryant framed the loss as a catalyst for growth. “North Texas is growing at a pace few regions in this country can match. More people, more jobs, more opportunities,” he said. “With that growth comes a simple question, how do we move them?”

The agency’s next steps focus on expanding service beyond current boundaries. Plans under review include a new connection between Plano and McKinney and east‑west links serving Mesquite, Lancaster, DeSoto, Duncanville and Cedar Hill. Bryant added that the Northern Corridor studies and southern‑sector connectivity projects are central to DART’s six‑year strategic plan.

Leininger noted that while DART searches for a permanent CEO, his immediate attention will be on the upcoming budget, FIFA‑related activities, and legislative opportunities. He said the next legislative session could open options such as raising the sales‑tax cap, increasing vehicle‑registration fees, or securing state funds from the Texas Department of Transportation.

What It Means Highland Park’s departure trims DART’s fiscal base but also removes a political hurdle, allowing the agency to concentrate on suburban expansion. A 1% revenue dip translates to a modest shortfall that DART hopes to offset through legislative changes and new service corridors. The focus on Plano‑McKinney and southern‑suburban links reflects a broader strategy to serve the region’s rapid population and job growth.

Watch for DART’s budget proposal later this year and the outcome of the upcoming legislative session, which will shape funding options and the timeline for the proposed suburban routes.