What’s Next for Keep DART in Plano
The past few months have been a reminder of what happens when a community decides to show up.
Residents spoke at meetings. Riders shared their stories. Volunteers organized events, knocked on doors, and helped neighbors understand what was at stake. Plano showed that people care deeply about how their city moves and how regional decisions affect everyday life.
On February 20, the DART Board approved an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) framework designed to support city mobility projects tied to canceling withdrawal elections. Just three days later, on February 23, the Plano City Council voted to rescind the May 2 DART withdrawal election.
That was a big moment.
Keep DART in Plano started at 3:00 AM the night the withdrawal election was called. It began as a small group of residents trying to understand what had just happened and how to respond. The goal was simple: rescind the election and make sure Plano stayed connected to the region.
Over time, that goal shifted and grew.
What started as a rapid response turned into something bigger. We heard from riders who depend on transit every day. From families trying to get to work and school. From residents who want Plano to stay competitive and connected as North Texas grows.
Today, our work is about more than stopping something. It’s about helping build what comes next.
We’re encouraged to see the City of Plano and DART working together again. Collaboration is a good start. But optimism depends on transparency. Residents deserve clear information about how General Mobility Program (GMP) funds will be used, how new programs like Via are implemented, and whether those investments are actually improving mobility across the city.
That’s why, at the February 23 council meeting, we asked for a few specific, actionable next steps:
Create a Transit and Mobility Committee to keep this work moving in public, not behind the scenes.
Appoint a rider as Plano’s representative on the DART Board.
Publish clear, measurable results from PlanoRides (the Via pilot), including performance metrics the public can actually track.
Our focus moving forward is simple: better outcomes for riders.
That means advocating for transparent spending, measurable results, and mobility investments that improve access to jobs, healthcare, education, and everyday destinations. It also means continuing to support strong regional partnerships that recognize Plano doesn’t exist in isolation. Our economy, workforce, and communities are connected across city lines.
Encouraging ridership remains one of our biggest goals.
Transit works best when people experience it for themselves. That’s why we’ll keep hosting community rides and outreach events to help more residents try DART, ask questions, and see how regional mobility works in practice.
Our next community ride departs from Shiloh Road Station at 3:15 PM on Saturday, February 28, traveling aboard the Silver Line to 3 Nations Brewery near Downtown Carrollton.
Looking further ahead, regional transit discussions are expected to return to the Texas Legislature in 2027. KDIP plans to continue working alongside residents, DART leadership, city officials, and regional partners to make sure Plano remains constructive, collaborative, and focused on long-term success.
Because at the end of the day, strong transit isn’t just about trains or buses. It’s about access, opportunity, and making sure people can get where they need to go.
Thank You to the Community
This progress was not achieved by any single organization or individual.
It happened because residents chose to participate.
To everyone who attended meetings, volunteered their time, donated resources, shared information, or encouraged a neighbor to engage in civic discussion, thank you!
Community leadership begins when residents show up for one another.
Keep DART in Plano will continue showing up alongside you.
