DART prepares contingency plans after paratransit workers authorize strike

Collin County riders who rely on DART paratransit for dialysis appointments, medical visits and work commutes could be the first to feel the strain if contract talks break down and service is interrupted.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit said it has contingency plans in place after paratransit drivers employed by Transdev Services, Inc. voted 160-1 to authorize a strike. The vote, which came after nearly a year of negotiations, did not trigger an immediate walkout, but it raised the stakes for about 11,000 certified paratransit riders who depend on curb-to-curb transportation because they cannot use regular bus or rail service.

DART said it is monitoring the situation and staying in close contact with Transdev while talks continue. If operations are disrupted, the agency said it would contact riders with solutions and try to preserve service continuity. For riders in Plano, Richardson, Garland, Addison, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Irving, Rowlett, University Park, Highland Park and Dallas, that backup plan matters because paratransit trips are often tied to time-sensitive needs that cannot easily be postponed.

The service is not limited to neighborhood trips. DART paratransit also serves travel between the agency’s service area and DFW International Airport, widening the impact if a labor dispute creates delays or cancellations. DART says certified riders can schedule trips that begin and end anywhere in its member cities, including Collin County communities that connect to the system.

The labor dispute lands as DART continues managing other operational pressures. In January, the agency was already preparing for possible service changes tied to member-city withdrawal votes, and it announced further service changes after the May 2 election in which Highland Park voted to leave while Addison and University Park voted to stay. With a World Cup-related transportation surge ahead in North Texas, any disruption in specialized transit would add another layer of uncertainty for riders who have the least flexibility.

DART awarded Transdev an eight-year, three-month mobility-management contract on June 18, 2024, with authorization of up to $602,528,424, and Transdev began providing paratransit-related services on Oct. 1, 2024. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1338 said the strike authorization followed months of delay tactics, refusals to bargain and disrespect from the contractor. The union also said workers were not planning an immediate strike, leaving a narrow window for a deal that would keep essential rides moving across Collin County and the rest of the DART system.