A bill filed in the Texas Senate this week would change the makeup of the board governing Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
would give each of DART鈥檚 13 member cities one representative on the board. Currently, 15 members serve on the board, with some representing more than one city.
The bill was authored by Republican state Sen. Tan Parker, whose district includes some of DART鈥檚 suburban member cities.
During a committee meeting on Tuesday, DART鈥檚 general counsel Gene Gamez said the bill, if passed, amounts to a 鈥渟ubstantial restructuring of the board.鈥�
SB2118 would amend a section of the state鈥檚 transportation code to do away with board member apportionment based on population, which is currently how board member votes are determined.
鈥淭hat would no longer be the case in this amendment,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ach city would have their appointment.鈥�
In giving each city a seat at the table, the bill would greatly reduce voting power for Dallas 鈥� which currently has eight representatives on the board 鈥� even though its representative would have three total votes.
Parker鈥檚 office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the bill.
Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer, who represents his city on the board, said he鈥檚 open to the idea of reworking the agency鈥檚 governance.
鈥淚 don't have any problem with us really looking at this thing,鈥� Stopfer said. 鈥淏ecause I really do think we need to take a back step and see, you know, what are we really doing?鈥�
Irving was one of several cities to pass resolutions last year signaling support for cutting DART鈥檚 funding amid dissatisfaction with its services.
Other board members expressed clear opposition.
鈥淚 believe that that does not represent the best interests of our region and our population,鈥� said Michele Wong Krause, one of the Dallas representatives. 鈥淚 think the population is very critical to the governance of this agency, and I definitely hope that this does not pass. I don't think it's in the best interest of DART and our region.鈥�
Dallas representative Randall Bryant echoed Wong Krause鈥檚 concerns and said the board should take a 鈥渇orward position鈥� on the legislation.
Board chair Gary Slagel said he鈥檚 open to discussing Sen. Parker鈥檚 legislation at a future meeting.
SB2118 is one of at least three bills filed this session related to DART. Two identical bills in the House and Senate would reduce DART鈥檚 funding by 25%.
The board on Tuesday discussed an alternative to that legislation, instead offering member cities a 5% rebate on their sales tax contributions.
Pablo Arauz Pe帽a is 四虎影院鈥檚 growth and infrastructure reporter. Got a tip? Email Pablo at parauzpena@kera.org.
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