Statement on C4’s Final Meeting

Last night’s Collin County Connects Committee (CCCC) meeting underscored both the gravity of this decision and the growing disconnect between those impacted by transit policy and those driving it.

To be clear, the committee was not unanimous. Some members expressed preferences and supported moving forward. However, as the meeting progressed, more questions were raised than answered — particularly around cost certainty, service coverage, long-term viability, and the consequences of eliminating fixed-route bus service, especially for Plano’s most vulnerable residents.

Those concerns were not abstract.

One committee member, who works directly with riders to access DART paratransit services, raised critical questions about ADA compliance and real-world accessibility. Another noted that non-member cities face limitations when transferring riders into DART paratransit, while remaining a member city ensures eligible riders can access the rides they need without artificial caps. These realities matter to seniors, people with disabilities, and residents who rely on transit for basic mobility.

As these questions surfaced, several lines of inquiry were curtailed by legal guidance, leaving essential issues unresolved. The result was a process where concerns accumulated without full examination, contributing to hesitation among members unwilling to endorse outcomes that lacked clarity or safeguards.

While there was one notably forceful objection to including DART as an option, the broader tone of the committee reflected unease — not confidence — in the vendor alternatives presented. Concerns about fragmentation, scalability, accessibility, and loss of regional connectivity were raised repeatedly. Even where support existed, it was often conditional.

During the meeting, the committee and City staff publicly acknowledged and thanked community members in attendance — including advocacy groups such as Keep DART in Plano — for sustained engagement and participation throughout this process. We appreciate that recognition and remain hopeful City Council will hear the message emerging from the committee’s work.

However, it is difficult to reconcile that acknowledgment with how the process itself was structured.

One committee member stated plainly that it was irresponsible to expect meaningful outcomes from four meetings compressed into two weeks, all held on week nights, with one meeting serving as an introduction and another functioning as a conclusion. That left, at most, two working sessions to evaluate complex transit systems, contracts, costs, legal obligations, and long-term impacts. While this timeline was framed as an effort to empower citizen participation, multiple members made clear that they did not feel empowered to make an informed decision.

This constraint was not incidental — it was imposed.

City Council specifically hobbled the committee’s ability to perform its charge. Other cities, including Carrollton, formed advisory groups well before placing any ballot measure, made clear they would not consider withdrawal until alternatives were fully developed, and provided their committees with substantial detail on proposed service models, costs, and timelines.

Plano did not.

When committee members requested additional information regarding procurement, contracts, and pricing structures, they were told that releasing such details could harm the city by allowing vendors to “price each other up.” As a result, members were asked to evaluate proposals without access to the very information needed to assess viability, risk, or long-term sustainability.

That is not empowerment. It is constraint.

What this process has made increasingly clear is that the city is prioritizing the protection of its pocketbook over the protection of its most vulnerable residents. Whether this initiative is driven by City Council, city management, future political ambitions, or some combination thereof remains unclear. What is clear is that it is not being driven by the people most impacted — transit riders themselves.

City Council initially punted the decision to voters by placing DART withdrawal on the ballot, avoiding a direct policy position. The committee was then asked to evaluate replacement options under narrow constraints — and when that process surfaced unresolved risks, the issue was effectively punted back to Council.

Transit planning should begin with riders, access, and mobility. Instead, financial recapture has dominated the conversation.

That is unacceptable.

We are calling on every Plano resident who depends on transit — seniors, people with disabilities, service workers, students, business owners, and downtown Plano residents — to speak at the December 16 City Council meeting. If the city is moving forward with a solution it claims is viable, it must do so on the public record, fully aware that its own transit riders, business owners, and residents have raised serious objections.

If Council will not listen voluntarily, then we must make ourselves impossible to ignore.

Transparency Disclaimer

For full transparency, one member of the Collin County Connects Committee also serves on the board of directors of Keep DART in Plano. We explicitly requested that this individual refrain from advocating for our organization’s position during committee proceedings, as we believe strongly in the separation of roles and responsibilities.

This statement was written by members of our organization who do not serve on the committee, based on their experience observing these open meetings and reviewing publicly available materials.

We are disclosing this voluntarily because transparency matters — especially when the city has failed to provide it.

🚍 Let’s Talk Facts: DART Is Improving, Whether Plano Acknowledges It or Not

There’s been a lot of talk lately claiming DART isn’t responding to rider needs or making improvements. We counter with the following:

🔧 Major System Investments Already Underway

These aren’t proposals — these are funded, approved, and in motion:

• ✅ Nearly 500 brand-new buses ordered

• ✅ $7.1 million federal grant awarded specifically to support that fleet replacement

• ✅ Part of a long-term $2.5 billion modernization plan (“DART Transform”)

• ✅ $24.6 million in new safety + cleanliness contracts, including:

• Upgraded surveillance across trains, buses, and stations

• Expanded cleaning schedules for shelters and stops

• Improved monitoring and response systems

These improvements directly address long-standing concerns about safety, reliability, and rider experience.

🚌 Meanwhile in Plano…

Plano asked DART to delay introducing the upgraded buses — despite the fact that one of the top local complaints is “the buses feel old.”

At the same time, the city is exploring alternatives like Via — though it’s important to note: Via is not a confirmed replacement option.

It’s simply the direction council discussions are trending.

The timing, potentially rolling something out before the election, feels less like planning and more like marketing.

And if Plano believes new vehicles could increase rider confidence?

➡️ Then DART upgrading its fleet is the exact same strategy.

You shouldn’t criticize DART for improvements while trying to replicate the same concept elsewhere.

🗺️ Coverage Reality Check

A common talking point has been:

“DART doesn’t serve all of Plano.”

Here’s the full picture:

• DART did consider creating a citywide GoLink coverage zone, including Denton County areas.

• But with Plano now pushing to take back a portion of the 1% DART sales tax, expecting additional coverage at the same time isn’t realistic.

You can’t cut funding and expand service at the same time.

💰 And Yes — About Those Bonuses

People love to mention the bonuses — without context.

Here’s what’s missing from those posts:

• They weren’t random.

• They weren’t unlimited.

• They weren’t handed to one person.

These bonuses were tied to performance metrics, including:

• Ridership improvements

• Grant success

• Operational efficiency

• Modernization milestones

• Safety and compliance targets

• Customer-experience improvements

If the goal is a cleaner, safer, more reliable transit system — then compensating leadership tied to measurable outcomes is part of running a professional regional agency, not a scandal.

📣 The Bottom Line

DART is modernizing.

DART is investing.

DART is improving service and infrastructure, not shrinking from responsibility (Plano, I see you!)

• Cleaner stops

• Better technology

• Fleet upgrades

• Safety improvements

• Federal funding success

• System-wide modernization

Cutting funding now doesn’t create better transit, it undermines a system already in the middle of improvement.

Once a regional network weakens, rebuilding it is far harder and far more expensive.

👇 If we want better transit in North Texas, the path forward is simple:

📌 Improve it — don’t abandon it.

📌 Invest — don’t siphon funding away.

📌 Fix service — don’t dismantle the system serving thousands every day.

Whether it fits the narrative or not:

DART is moving in the right direction — and Plano benefits from that progress.

⸻

📍 Research + content funded by Keep DART in Plano.

For transparency: this analysis reflects publicly available reports, contracts, grant filings, and agency updates as of publication.

Verified Facts vs. Interpretation / Analysis

(This section is included for transparency. “Verified Facts” are directly supported by published sources. “Interpretation/Analysis” reflects conclusions drawn from those facts and the public policy context.)

Blog Statement	Category	Notes	Source
DART is replacing its aging fleet with nearly 500 new buses.	Verified Fact	Confirmed by DART procurement release.	https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dart-to-transform-fleet--enhance-passenger-safety-and-experience-with-new-gillig-cng-bus-purchase
New buses have already started arriving and are entering service.	Verified Fact	Confirmed by implementation announcement.	https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dart-celebrates-arrival-of-first-new-buses-that-will-revitalize-entire-fleet
A $7.094M federal grant is supporting the fleet modernization effort.	Verified Fact	Federal grant award announcement.	https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dart-receives--7.094-million-fta-grant-to-support-bus-replacement
DART is investing in system-wide modernization, including planning, new technology, and service expansion.	Verified Fact	Strategic plan document.	https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dallas-area-rapid-transit-releases-point-b-strategic-plan-annual-report-highlighting-major-investments-and-accomplishments
DART has expanded safety, surveillance, and cleaning measures through approved contracts.	Verified Fact	Official contract approval release.	https://www.dart.org/about/news-and-events/newsreleases/newsrelease-detail/dallas-area-rapid-transit-approves-security-and-cleaning-contracts
Media has documented the need and movement toward improving system safety.	Verified Fact	Third-party reporting confirms security investments and modernization are underway.	https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dart-millions-security-system-overhaul-violence-trains/3947056/
These system upgrades demonstrate meaningful improvement in response to rider concerns.	Interpretation / Analysis	Analysis based on documented investments and modernization timeline.	Synthesized from sources above
The improvements show that DART is evolving and responding to regional needs rather than stagnating.	Interpretation / Analysis	Reasoned conclusion based on modernization rollout, new fleet, and strategic plan.	Synthesized from sources above
Plano appears to be evaluating or moving toward withdrawal from full bus service.	Verified Fact	Confirmed via independent reporting on withdrawal proposal.	https://www.keranews.org/transportation/2025-11-19/plano-proposal-dart-transit-withdrawal-bus
The timing and scope of improvements may contradict claims that DART is not improving or investing in the system.	Interpretation / Analysis	Conclusion based on fact timeline and public messaging context.	Synthesized from full source packet

🟦 Where interpretation is included, it is based on publicly available evidence, context, and policy analysis — not speculation or unpublished claims.

A Major Update — and a Critical Moment for Transit in Plano 🚍

Greetings from Keep DART In Plano!

Hello everyone,

Thank you again for signing up at KeepDARTinPlano.org and for standing with thousands of neighbors who believe in transparent, accountable, rider-focused public transit for our city.

We’re officially a 501(c)(4)!
This important milestone allows us to advocate more strongly, speak more boldly, and organize more effectively. Your support is the reason this movement is growing.

We launched Facebook, YouTube and Instagram! (Still looking for volunteers to assist us with these!) And we’re providing a link to our Google Drive with all of our collected information so far!

🚍 What We’re Doing Next

To spotlight the real rider experience, we are organizing a Bus Ride-A-Thon and inviting the entire City Council to join us.

We need volunteers for:

• Route planning

• Outreach

• Rider engagement

• Event logistics

If you can help, join our weekly Tuesday calls at 7:30 PM.

✊ Your Call to Action

If you believe Plano deserves:

✓ Strengthen our partnership with DART
✓ Decisions made in daylight—not behind closed doors
✓ Transit solutions based on data and rider needs

Now is the moment to get involved.

Please:

1. Forward this email to three neighbors

2. Ask friends to sign up at KeepDARTinPlano.org

3. Check out TransitTruths.com

We’re building a community that will not be dismissed—and we’re just getting started.

Thank you for standing with us,
Keep DART in Plano

🚨This overview may be lengthy!🚨

🔎 A New Piece of the Puzzle

Over the last several weeks, we’ve been working to understand why Plano chose to initiate a DART withdrawal election—especially without a clear replacement plan.

And now, we’ve learned something significant:

City of Plano representatives have been meeting with other city councils and encouraging them to call their own withdrawal elections.

This was happening behind the scenes while residents were repeatedly told that “DART won’t negotiate.” Our first FAQ has already documented—and proven—that this narrative is false.

These revelations—and the City’s decision to pursue a low-turnout special election—paint a troubling picture of a process driven not by residents, but by City leadership.

To get answers, we have recently submitted open records requests for all emails sent to or from Councilmember Maria Tu and Andrew Fortune this year. We intend to shed light on how and why these decisions have unfolded.

🔨 What the City Is Now Proposing

Plano is negotiating a new agreement with DART—one that dramatically reshapes transit in our city. Here’s what it includes:

1. Elimination of All Local Transit Service

By January 1, 2029, DART would discontinue:

• All standard bus service

• All GoLink and microtransit service

• All non-rail transit inside Plano

Only rail and express buses would remain.

2. A Partial Sales Tax Giveback

Beginning in 2026, DART would return a portion of Plano’s 1% transit sales tax:

• 25% in 2026

• 35% in 2027

• 45% in 2028

• 50% annually from 2029–2031

Funds must be used on mobility projects only.

3. Plano’s Restrictions

Plano would be required to:

• End all legislative efforts about DART governance or funding

• Halt the withdrawal process

• Undo previous withdrawal actions within 72 hours

• Accept that DART can suspend payments if Plano restarts withdrawal or legislative pushes

This is a major departure from what many believed this process was about.

🚍 Why This Matters for Riders

Cutting bus and demand-response service without a proven, scalable replacement will directly affect:

• Seniors

• Workers

• Students

• People with disabilities

• Anyone who relies on transit for daily mobility

This is not a minor change—this is a structural redesign of how (and whether) thousands of people get to work, school, healthcare, and essential services.

❗Microtransit Is Not a Replacement

Plano has suggested it may “develop its own system,” often pointing to microtransit as the alternative.

But independent research—including a widely cited MIT analysis—shows that microtransit:

• Moves significantly fewer riders per hour

• Costs far more per trip

• Requires heavy subsidies

• Consistently fails to scale

• Performs worse than fixed-route service even in lower-density areas

Replacing fixed routes with microtransit is not modernization—it’s degradation.

Residents deserve a transit plan rooted in evidence, not experiments.

⚠️ A Critical Issue: Timing, Turnout & Trust

More than 100 residents showed up at City Council asking the City to delay the DART withdrawal vote until a real, vetted transit plan was in place. These weren’t outside groups—these were the very residents who elected the council.

Despite this overwhelming request for transparency and due diligence, the Council moved forward with a May special election, one of the lowest-turnout moments of the year.

And here’s the deeper issue:

A decision this consequential shouldn’t have been rushed onto the earliest possible ballot. Plano should have delayed until the City could come to the table with a viable, thought-out backup plan—but the goal here is clearly to use this election as a negotiation tactic, not a community-driven decision.

In all honesty, many of us don’t believe this ever should have gone to a ballot without a plan. But even if Council insisted on putting it to voters, they had options:

• They could have placed the measure on the high-turnout November ballot;

• Or simply waited until a feasible, transparent transit alternative existed.

They chose neither.

Instead of responding to residents who asked for more time, more information, and more clarity, the Council advanced a process that minimizes participation and maximizes their leverage over DART. It raises serious questions about why this timeline was chosen, who benefits from rushing it, and why public input was disregarded at the very moment it mattered most.

TL;DR

Plano pushed forward a DART withdrawal election without a real transit plan, despite more than 100 residents asking the City to slow down and do this responsibly. Meanwhile, City representatives were encouraging other cities to withdraw from DART—even as Plano publicly claimed that “DART won’t negotiate,” a narrative we’ve proven false.

Instead of delaying the vote, the Council selected a low-turnout May election, signaling that this is being used as a negotiation tactic, not a community-driven decision.

The City’s proposed agreement would eliminate all buses, GoLink, and microtransit by 2029, with no viable alternative in place.

We need a transparent plan, not rushed politics. Join us, speak up, and help us protect reliable transit in Plano.