A controversial bill that would cut funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit has a slim chance of becoming law after it missed an important deadline this week.
House Bill 3187 鈥� what the agency called a 鈥淒ART killer鈥� bill 鈥� failed to get a second hearing before last week鈥檚 deadline.
Advocates with the Dallas Area Transit Alliance (DATA) celebrated the bill鈥檚 likely demise.
鈥淲e've been fighting very hard against HB 3187, and from what we can tell, it's pretty much dead,鈥� said DATA member David Yaqubian. 鈥淭he state has other priorities. It's not a good hill for them to die on.鈥�
The legislation, authored by Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano), proposes to cut DART鈥檚 funding by at least 25%, although some agency leaders say the cuts would be much deeper. Yaqubian said his group has been in contact with House staff about where the bill stands.
鈥淲e're getting the feeling that they're just not particularly interested in it or they recognize that this is just a hot potato not worth passing along,鈥� Yaqubian said.
While the House bill was left in committee, an identical Senate version, SB1557, could still have a chance of moving through the legislature. A spokesperson for DART told 四虎影院 the agency is not 鈥渢aking anything for granted鈥� until the end of the session in June.
鈥淎s in every legislative session, DART will continue to monitor the progress of bills that may impact the agency," Jeamy Molina, chief communications officer for the agency, told 四虎影院 in an email.
The efforts to cut DART's funding are led largely by city officials in Plano. During a meeting of the House Transportation Committee last month, Mayor John Muns told legislators the city isn't getting its return on the investment of sales tax dollars it gives to DART.
"The DART system has empty buses, empty transit stations, and little demand for service in our community," Muns said. "In the eyes of our city, there is a lack of accountability, and at worst, prime example of government waste."
A spokesman for Plano told 四虎影院 in a written statement the city was encouraged by the "overwhelming, bipartisan support from the House Transportation Committee.
"Although the clock ran out in the House, we remain hopeful the Senate will act," the statement read. "Regardless of the outcome, we remain committed to pursuing relief for our citizens from this egregious inequity."
Rep. Shaheen and Sen. Angela Paxton, who authored the Senate version, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The regular legislative session ends on June 2.
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.
四虎影院 is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider . Thank you.
