April 28, 2025

House Committee Hears Testimony on Bill to Cut DART's Funding by 25%

fox4news.com

A bill in the Texas House would reduce what Dallas Area Rapid Transit can collect in taxes from member cities.

DART gets funding from 13 cities, but some member cities argue they aren’t getting equal benefits from their investment.

DART is the largest public transit system in Texas.

There’s been growing frustration with some of DART’s 13 member cities when it comes to funding and the allocation of resources.

That’s why North Texas Republican Rep. Matt Shaheen is pushing HB 3187.

The bill would reduce what DART collects in taxes by 25%.

Rep. Shaheen believes DART has run out the clock on internal discussions and that legislators need to step in.

"We’re here because of DART’s unwillingness to do what’s right," he said. "DART is now bringing financial harm to many of its member cities. Six of the member cities are forced to overpay DART for their services. And the imbalance is so extreme, one city is receiving less than 50 cents on the dollar."

DART President Nadine Lee told the House Transportation Committee on Thursday that if this bill becomes a law, DART would lose $235 million in the first year.

"I know what happens when you starve a system like DART. Trains will run only every 30 to 60 minutes, making it impossible for employees to get to work, students to get to their classes, or seniors to make doctor’s appointments on time," she said.

The law could require DART to terminate up to 1,000 jobs, she added.

Rich Andreski, the president of the Trinity Metro, told the committee that changes to DART will also impact how Tarrant County residents get to work.

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Call to Action

DART Needs Your Help

Advocate at the local level (city and county officials):

• The importance of transit to your business, family, and the region
• Resolve issues at home in North Texas instead of Austin at the Legislature
• Support voter-approved transit funding sources

Advocate at the regional level to (NCTCOG):

• Develop realistic and achievable Transit 2.0 recommendations
• Prioritize regional funding to jurisdictions with transit
• Pursue more funding tools for regional transit initiatives

Advocate at the state level to (State Senators and Representatives):

• Oppose any legislation that limits transit funding
• The value of public transit in ever-growing North Texas
• Create economic development tools for transit member cities

Bills We're Watching Closely

HB 3187  Shaheen, Matt (R)

Relating to powers of regional transportation authorities.

Companions: SB 1557 Paxton, Angela(Identical)

AI Summary: This bill focuses on enhancing the operational capabilities of regional transportation authorities in Texas by instituting a General Mobility Program that allows municipalities within those authorities to allocate a portion of their sales and use tax revenues for transportation-related improvements. Under this program, municipalities can use up to 25% of the tax for projects including the construction and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, and drainage improvements.

Additionally, the bill modifies the authority's ability to pledge revenues for bond security, changing the cap from all or part to not more than 75%, thus providing increased financial flexibility. The usage of excess revenue is expanded to support operating reserves and further fund the newly established mobility program.

Further adjustments to the sales tax rates allow for more gradual increases, while restrictions on the issuance of obligations prevent authorities from accruing financial obligations when there's an impending withdrawal election. The legislation also continues the collection of taxes in previously withdrawn units until specified obligations are met, thereby ensuring financial stability within those regions affected by withdrawals. The law is set to become effective on September 1, 2025.

Bill History: 04-25-25 H Committee action pending House Transportation

Hearing Link: Starting around the 5 hour mark

SB 1557  Paxton, Angela (R)

Relating to powers of regional transportation authorities.

Companions: HB 3187 Shaheen, Matt (Identical) 

Bill History: 03-06-25 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation

HB 4348  Capriglione, Giovanni (R)

Relating to a prohibition on certain roadway projects and to the distribution of affordable housing funds to local governmental entities that violate that prohibition.

Companions: SB 1993 Hall, Bob (Identical) 

AI Summary: The proposed legislation aims to tighten local governmental entities' authority over roadway projects, reinforcing the importance of community involvement and ensuring road functionality is prioritized.

Delegated Control: The bill amends the Transportation Code to state that municipalities have delegated control over their public roadways instead of exclusive control, allowing for perhaps more oversight and cooperation with higher authorities.

When dealing with the closure of streets or alleys, municipalities are now required to follow a series of steps. This includes soliciting public input through hearings, submitting petitions with specific criteria (like demonstrating traffic congestion will not worsen), and securing voter approval through an election.

In a significant shift, the bill prohibits local governmental entities from engaging in roadway projects that reallocate roadway space (for instance, converting lanes into bike lanes or narrowing lanes) unless creating new traffic lanes. This ensures that vehicular capacity is not compromised.

Additionally, there is a strict complaint process: complaints about violations must be investigated, and findings can result in administrative actions. If violations persist, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs will be notified, which can lead to financial assistance being withheld until the issues are resolved.

Lastly, Section 311.001(c) of the Transportation Code is repealed, further simplifying the framework for municipal road management. This bill is poised to take effect immediately with sufficient legislative support or by September 1, 2025, if not. - Version: FIL

Bill History: 04-29-25 H Meeting set for 8:00 a.m., E2.010 - House Transportation

SB 1993  Hall, Bob (R)

Relating to a prohibition on certain roadway projects and to the distribution of affordable housing funds to local governmental entities that violate that prohibition.

Companions: HB 4348 Capriglione, Giovanni (Identical) 

Bill History: 03-17-25 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation

HB 5049  Shaheen, Matt (R)

Relating to the composition and authority of certain subregional boards of regional transportation authorities.

Companions: SB 2118 Parker, Tan (Identical)

AI Summary: The bill introduces significant changes to the governance structure of subregional boards under the Texas Transportation Code, specifically in Section 452.112 and related sections. A major change is that each municipality in the subregional authority will appoint one member to the board, simplifying the previous arrangement where municipalities collectively appointed 15 members. This shift emphasizes the governance of local municipalities in a more equitable manner.

Another critical modification is the voting structure: the designated member from the principal municipality will have enhanced voting power, able to cast three votes instead of aligning votes based on multiple members per municipality.

The bill also revises member terms; all board members will now have staggered two-year terms, with about half of the members terms expiring each year to ensure continuity and regular turnover. Moreover, the role of the presiding officer will rotate among the members every two years, ensuring no member serves consecutive terms in this capacity, which is intended to promote fairness and shared leadership.

Additionally, several sections of the current Transportation Code are repealed, which reflects a legislative intent to streamline the governing process by removing outdated provisions. Finally, the bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, concluding with the expiration of current board terms and the immediate establishment of the restructured subregional boards. - Version: FIL

Bill History: 04-03-25 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation

SB 2118  Parker, Tan (R)

Relating to the composition and authority of certain subregional boards of regional transportation authorities.

Companions: HB 5049 Shaheen, Matt (Identical) 

Bill History: 03-24-25 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation

Transit in the Headlines

As you can see from the articles and bills we've been posting, there's a lot going on with transit in North Texas. If your company/organization is interested in joining the Coalition, please contact Christy Willhite, Executive Director, cwillhite@transitnorthtexas.org.