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Community Impact •

DART prepares for potential service cuts ahead of May withdrawal elections

Dallas Area Rapid Transit officials are preparing for potential service changes if any member cities vote to withdraw from the agency in upcoming May special elections.

At their Jan. 13 meeting, DART’s board of directors called a public hearing to receive public input on “potential service modifications” that could become necessary depending on the upcoming May withdrawal elections.
Community Impact •

Plano continues search for alternative transit service amid DART negotiations

As Plano heads toward a May special election that could determine its future with Dallas Area Rapid Transit, plans for the city’s alternative public transit service are still under review.

At their Jan. 12 meeting, Plano City Council members received an update from Director of Policy and Government Relations Andrew Fortune on negotiations with DART and the city’s progress on establishing an alternative option.
Community Impact •

Plano receives alternative transit report as DART vote approaches

Plano City Council received a split recommendation Dec. 16 from the Collin County Connects Committee on alternative transit options as voters prepare to decide the city’s future with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system in a May special election.

At their Dec. 16 meeting, Plano City Council members received an update on the committee’s work over the last several weeks. The citizen-led transit committee was tasked with making a recommendation on alternative transit and concluded its work without a formal consensus Dec. 11 due to questions about cost, coverage and paratransit.
Community Impact •

Silver Line connects riders from Plano, Richardson to DFW Airport

Nearly two decades after its initial conception, the 26-mile, $2 billion Silver Line transit rail from transportation agency Dallas Area Rapid Transit is now open.

As of Oct. 25, riders can hop on the train and travel to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in less than an hour. The Silver Line has two stations each in Plano and Richardson, and six additional stations that touch Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Coppell and Grapevine.
Community Impact •

North Texas Food Bank, Collin County brace for ‘empty pantries, skipped meals’ amid SNAP benefit delays

North Texas Food Bank and Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks, are bracing for “a surge in need.”

Rising food costs are already causing food banks to see an increased need, according to a statement from Feeding Texas.

In addition, on Nov. 1 individuals are expected to lose assistance from SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The program provides qualifying individuals and families monthly food benefits.
Community Impact •

Plano to consider special election to leave DART system

Plano City Council will consider calling a special election at a special meeting Nov. 5 that will determine if Plano will remain part of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, or DART, system, according to a city news release.

If council votes to call the election, Plano voters will decide in a May 2026 election if the city should withdraw from DART in favor of alternative transit solutions or remain with the agency.
Community Impact •

New Plano firefighter schedule to assist with recovery, retention

A new shift schedule aimed at increasing firefighter recovery time is now in place at Plano Fire-Rescue, making the department the first all-paid fire department in Texas to adopt a “24/72” shift schedule. Plano City Council approved a contract at the Sept. 16 meeting with the Plano Firefighters’ Association that will allow firefighters to work 24 hours on duty followed by 72 hours off—a shift from the current 24-hours on, 48-hours off schedule.
Community Impact •

The art of rapid growth: Prosper plans $192M bond to expand roads, facilities and public safety

Prosper residents will vote this November on a $192.3 million bond aimed at funding road improvements, town facilities and public safety services to support the town’s rapid growth. Since voters approved a $210 million bond in 2020, Prosper’s population has increased by a rate of about 50%, according to data from the Prosper Economic Development Corporation.

Deputy Town Manager Bob Scott said growth required the town to accelerate the 2020 bond program to finish in six years, rather than the initially planned 10 years. As a result, town officials are expecting to run out of capacity from the 2020 bond by next year, Scott said.
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