Maureen Milligan was recommended by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on April 21 to the full City Council to fill a casual vacancy on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board.

Milligan introduced herself virtually and described her background in community development and municipal government, saying she “led the community prosecution team” and worked in the city attorney’s office and the housing department in Dallas. She told the committee she views transit and economic development as closely linked and said the city can lower household transportation costs while improving the region’s tax base by supporting transit-oriented development.

The committee followed the nominee’s remarks with short, successive questions from members about governance and service to underserved communities. Milligan said she is a “collaborative leader” and emphasized communication among board members, staff and the public. In response to a question about last-mile connections, she suggested DART partner with private developers and local circulators rather than relying on DART to provide every local connection, citing shuttle services paired with transit-oriented development as one approach.

After the interview the committee moved, seconded and voted to send Milligan’s nomination to the full council for final confirmation. The chair announced, “The ayes have it,” and the motion carried. The committee noted the full council would consider the appointment at its Wednesday meeting; the nominee was invited but not required to attend that session.

Rodney Schlosser, the outgoing DART board member whose resignation created the vacancy, was thanked at the meeting for his volunteer service to several city boards. The committee’s vote was presented as a recommendation to the full council rather than a final, binding appointment.

What’s next: The full City Council will consider the committee’s recommendation at its next scheduled meeting; the committee record shows the nomination was forwarded to that Wednesday agenda for final action.