DART

DART leaders are split over whether to give member cities total control over who represents them.

Local leaders are regrouping after months of debate over funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

The union representing Dallas Area Rapid Transit employees said it will call for a strike against Transdev if necessary, and is urging DART to intervene.

House Bill 3187 didn't get a second hearing before last week's deadline. But an identical version in the Senate could still advance in the few weeks remaining in the regular session.

A contentious bill written by North Texas state Rep. Matt Shaheen was voted out of committee Tuesday.

Members of the House Transportation Committee held a first hearing over a controversial bill to cut DART's funding by 25%.

Anthony Ricciardelli, Plano's new representative on the DART board, said he wants what's best for DART, Plano and the region. "I don't think those are mutually exclusive."

The Regional Transportation Council voted to pursue work over the next two years to come up with a new way to "deliver transit in the region" as Dallas Area Rapid Transit faces efforts to reduce its funding.

The Texas Legislature is considering bills that transit officials warn could hamper public transportation in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth regions.

DART board members approved a resolution to direct 5% of its tax collections back to certain member cities. Meanwhile, the city of Dallas is backing full funding for the agency.

DART and the Urban Land Institute hosted the inaugural Transit Oriented Development Summit this week.

The Dallas Area Transit Alliance held a press conference on Monday to speak out in opposition to bills that would cut DART's funding.