The measure would not raise tax rates in DART's 13 member cities, where the agency collects a 1 percent sales tax. Robert Pope, vice chairman of DART's board of directors, said the expansion is necessary to combat increased congestion and air pollution as the metropolitan area grows. We've got to get ahead of the curve and get a transit system in place to address the problems. Heritage Foundation Visiting Fellow Wendell Cox said that most new transit riders are former bus or car pool passengers, lessening the rail system's impact on congestion.
Transit remains one of the costliest ways to move people from one place to another.
Rowlett Mayor Shane Johnson disagreed. Several hundred thousand cars coming off the highway each day does make an impact. He said the rail system will have a positive effect on his city of 45,000 residents. This is an opportunity to speed up Rowlett's connection to the rest of metroplex. It will open doors for economic growth throughout our community and the metroplex, creating an atmosphere for more business development.