I have gotten many questions as I speak with people in Addison. Here are some of the questions, answers, and my thoughts. I will add others here as well.
Transit in Addison and the region
How I Evaluate Transit for Addison
When people ask where I stand on DART, I usually start with a different question:
What’s important to you?
Transit means different things to different people. For some, it’s about shorter wait times. For others, it’s reliability, safety, cost, or just how easy it is to use day to day.
Instead of starting with a fixed position, I wanted a way to think through the decision more clearly. So I built a tool based on 19 factors that reflect what people have told me matters most. Things like total travel time, rider experience, flexibility, cost to Addison, and long-term value.
Using that framework, we’re really comparing two options:
- Staying in DART
- Transitioning to Addison Orbit, powered by Via Transportation, launching April 24, 2026.
There’s also an important reality we need to keep in mind.
A lot of the people using transit today are part of the workforce that keeps Addison running, especially in hospitality, restaurants, and service roles. Many of them don’t have a lot of transportation options and rely on transit every day to get to work.
Any decision we make needs to work for them.
At the same time, both options come with trade-offs. There isn’t a perfect answer here. It comes down to what we prioritize as a community and how we balance cost, service, and access.
My approach is straightforward.
- Focus on outcomes,
- Use real data
- What matters most to Addison residents.
If you want to take a closer look, I’ve made an informal decision tool available so you can weigh the factors for yourself. You can use this informal tool to evaluate what matters to you and the transit options. Note, this tool is strictly an informal tool and is best used after we have a real time conversation. Also, it works best on a tablet or larger screen (I am not a software developer!) Informal Transit Decision tool.
What happens if the voters vote to exit DART?
I’ve been asked this question many times while talking with residents. This isn’t about advocating for one option or the other. It’s simply an explanation of how Addison Orbit is designed to work.
If Addison voters decide to exit DART, transit service doesn’t go away. It changes how the system works.
Addison has designed the alternative system, Addison Orbit, powered by Via Transportation. This is scheduled to launch on April 24, 2026. Having this system in place is a requirement to provide riders transportation, since DART service would no longer operate in Addison if voters choose to exit. The April 24 launch also allows time to identify and work through any initial issues before full implementation.
Via Transportation, which powers Addison Orbit, is an established provider operating in cities like Denton, Fort Worth, and Arlington, as well as hundreds of cities worldwide. Their system is already integrated** with DART’s GoPass platform.
For riders coming into Addison from other cities, the first part of the trip stays the same. They would continue to use DART services, the GoPass** app (also Addison Orbit app), and pay through the app just like today. There would be no additional charge for the Addison Orbit portion of the trip.
The difference happens at the Town of Addison's boundary.
Since DART service would no longer operate in Addison, the final DART stop would be just outside of town. These are referred to as rally points. From there, Addison Orbit is coordinated through the GoPass system, using location data, GPS, and traffic information, to meet the rider and take them directly to their destination within Addison.
The main change, which can be a friction point, is the transition between DART and Addison Orbit at the edge of Addison.
That’s different from today, and is designed to work smoothly and quickly for riders. At the same time, that extra step may be offset by a simpler final leg of the trip, where riders are dropped directly at their destination instead of making additional transfers or walking longer distances.
What Happens to Silver Line Access If Voters Exit DART?
If voters choose to exit DART, access to the Silver Line does not go away, but how riders connect to it would change.
Under the Addison Orbit model, riders would be transported to and from nearby Silver Line stations, including Knoll Trail Station and Carrollton Station. These would serve as connection points (rally points), with Addison Orbit linking riders between Addison and the rail system.
My Perspective
I believe the Addison Silver Line station itself is too important to lose.
Direct access at the Addison station matters for riders, and it matters for the long-term success of the businesses and development around it. It plays a key role in how people move in and out of Addison.
I also want to be clear that maintaining that level of access would come with a cost, and it won’t be inexpensive. That funding is important to DART and to the long-term success of the rail system.
At the same time, if Addison were no longer a member city, the relationship with DART would shift. Instead of a fixed one-cent sales tax structure, it becomes a service-based partnership. That’s not unusual. DART already works with non-member cities through agreements where it makes sense.
Addison wouldn’t be stepping away from transit. We would be engaging differently.
We would still be bringing riders to the system and supporting access to the rail line. That creates a strong foundation to work together on a solution that keeps the Addison station active.
In my view, there is a practical path forward where Addison and DART continue to work together, and where the Addison Silver Line station remains open or any disruption is minimized.
The goal is simple. Keep strong, direct rail access for Addison while making smart, sustainable decisions for both the city and the regional transit system.
What Happens If Voters Choose to Stay in DART?
If voters choose to stay in DART, my focus is simple: help DART improve and work as well as it possibly can for Addison residents and businesses.
That means not just maintaining the current system, but continuing to improve it.
In my view, transit needs to evolve to better match how people actually move today. That includes looking at a mix of service types, such as:
- Smaller, more efficient vehicles where appropriate
- Point-to-point or on-demand service options
- Circulators within Addison
- Larger buses on longer routes
Not every route needs to run through the center of Addison if more flexible, localized service can better serve people’s day-to-day needs.
We should work with DART to continue moving in that direction and to explore ways to modernize service delivery so it is more responsive, efficient, and rider-focused.
DART is more willing to make changes and has agreed to governance changes (that have to be agreed upon at the State Legislature in 2027). If those changes move forward, Addison would have a dedicated seat on the DART Board, giving us a stronger, more direct voice in decisions that impact our community.
Long term, I believe the goal should be a truly regional transit system that better connects the broader North Texas area. DART currently a small part of the whole region and the solution needs to address the whole region.
The bottom line is if Addison stays in DART, I will work to ensure the system continues to improve, adapt, and deliver real value to the people and businesses it serves.
**Update: As of April 17, we were informed that DART requires an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) to support this system integration. Addison will complete and approve this agreement through City Council. However, The DART Board's next meeting is on May 12, so that will cause a delay. This is an unexpected procedural requirement. The timing does create an unexpected late-stage complication, and we will work through it. The Addison Orbit app is live and available for download. The app will integrate with the DART system, allowing users to plan complete, end-to-end itineraries. Users will continue to pay for the trip via the GoPass app.
Public Safety Endorsements
Is endorsement from Fire and Police a conflict of interest?
I am proud to be endorsed by members of our police and fire community. An endorsement is not a conflict of interest. It means they believe in my approach, not that they control my decisions.
I have not accepted and will not accept any financial support from these organizations. I earned their support based on my record and my responses to their questionnaires.
I make decisions independently and hold everyone, including our police and fire departments, to high standards. Support does not mean a blank check. It means clear expectations, strong leadership, and accountability for results.
My approach to public safety is simple. Support our first responders, expect professionalism and performance, and deliver measurable results that keep Addison safe.
For transparency, I will publish my questionnaire responses
here.
Addison Police Candidate Questionnaire 2022 dgardner answered for 2026
Addison Firefighters Association Candidate Questionnaire 2026 - Darren Gardner completed