KARLA MURTHY:

For decades, Sunbelt and Western cities, including Dallas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Denver have grown along with their highways into sprawling metropolitan areas.

Today, many cities are building out their own light rail systems and they're hoping to create magnets for economic development. And Dallas has become an unlikely leader.

Since launching in 1996, DART has become the longest light rail system in the country, with 62 stations and 90 miles of track stretching all the way to DFW Airport. Adjusting for inflation, it cost more than $8 billion to build.

Here in Downtown Dallas, DART's four light rail lines converge, and this is one of their busiest stations. About 100,000 riders use DART light rail each weekday.

But that's in a region of more than 6 million people. The system, designed as traditional hub and spokes, stretches far out into the surrounding suburbs.

Residents of 13 municipalities voted to impose a one cent sales tax on themselves to help pay for the system. The tax began in 1984 and continues today, contributing $486 million in 2014. That covers the entire operating budget of DART, which also includes busses.

Getting Texans to tax themselves for public transportation — that doesn't seem like something that would go over easily around here?