June 1, 2025 - TRA Austin -

The sharp knives that were out to gut public transportation programs in Dallas and Austin failed in the state legislative session that just ended.

Two transit proposals that would have diverted 25% of the sales tax revenue that funds Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) never got traction on the floor of the Texas House or Senate. A last-minute bill filed by Senator Angela Paxton (R) McKinney, was sidelined within days last week. Earlier in the session, Senate Bill 1557, drafted by Paxton , Senator Brent Hagenbuch (R) Denton, and Senator Tan Parker (R) Flower Mound, could have resulted in massive rail and bus cuts to Dallas and suburbs.

In Austin, House Bill 3879, advanced by Lakeway Republican Rep. Ellen Troxclair, tried to target Project Connect, Austin’s voter-approved transit and light rail expansion efforts by challenging its funding mechanism. A similar bill by Troxclair in the 2023 session met the same fate. 

According to ReformAustin, the Texas Republican Party officially opposed what it called “anti-car measures” last year. The party platform was against encouraging Lone Star State residents to walk, bicycle and use public transit instead of driving. Texas is said to emit more greenhouse gases on its roads than any other state in the U.S.