In a move that threatens to derail the future of public transportation in North Texas, the Texas Legislature is advancing House Bill 3187 — a measure that Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) warns could spell catastrophe for the region’s mobility, economy, and quality of life.

H.B. 3187 would strip DART of its voter-approved sales tax funding, gutting the agency’s budget and unleashing a cascade of devastating consequences: the elimination of more than 5,800 local jobs, the cancellation of key infrastructure improvements, and service cuts exceeding 30%, according to the agency.

“This bill isn’t a tweak to funding. It’s a full-on dismantling of the DART system,” said Jeamy Molina, DART’s chief communications officer. “The people of North Texas voted twice to fund a unified, regional transit system. House Bill 3187 completely ignores their voice and puts the future of public transportation in jeopardy.”

Impact on DART

DART’s sales tax revenue was authorized twice through a democratic vote by the communities it serves. The agency says the proposed legislation, by forcibly redistributing this funding, would override the will of the electorate and undermine decades of regional planning.

Officials add the damage wouldn’t stop at operational setbacks. More than $3.5 billion in planned transit-oriented development projects near rail stations would be stalled or canceled outright. Economic growth, especially in historically underserved areas, would also halt.

Far-Reaching Impact Beyond Transit

DART says the repercussions of H.B. 3187 ripple well beyond buses and trains. 

Reduced transit access means reduced opportunity for essential workers, low-income families, and anyone who relies on DART to reach a job, a classroom, or a doctor’s office. 

It also weakens North Texas’s position on the global stage. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, a functional, efficient transit system is vital. H.B. 3187 puts that readiness in doubt.