DALLAS, TX — Dallas City Councilwoman Carolyn King Arnold is calling on members of the Texas House of Representatives to oppose House Bill 3187, a proposed measure that would threaten the future of public transportation in North Texas by undercutting DART’s dedicated funding. The bill seeks to interfere with the 1% local sales tax that is currently collected by DART member cities, placing vital infrastructure, transit services, and ridership at risk.
“For decades, our communities have invested in public transit to ensure access to opportunity, mobility, and economic equity,” said Councilwoman Arnold. “HB 3187 undermines that local investment and would devastate the progress we’ve made—not just in Dallas, but across the region.”
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) provides service to over a dozen cities, all of which have committed a portion of their sales tax revenue to maintain and expand transit services. HB 3187 would disrupt this funding mechanism, allowing the state to potentially reallocate or limit local funds. The result: fewer buses and trains, delayed infrastructure, and disproportionate harm to residents who rely on transit the most.
If passed, HB 3187 would:
- Cut essential bus and rail services, especially in low-income and transit-dependent neighborhoods;
- Halt or delay infrastructure projects crucial to regional development;
- Create further disparities in mobility for seniors, working families, and the disabled;
- Strip local governments of the authority to manage their own tax revenues for voter-approved purposes.
“Transit is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” Arnold emphasized. “And the state should not have the power to override the will of local voters who approved this funding decades ago. We urge every member of the Texas House to stand with our cities and protect DART.”
CALL TO ACTION: Councilwoman Arnold is asking North Texas residents and transit advocates to contact their state legislators immediately and urge a NO vote on HB 3187. “This bill would take us backwards at a time when our city and our region are
striving for progress, equity, and smart growth.”
For media inquiries or to support advocacy efforts, please contact the Office of Councilwoman Carolyn King Arnold.
