During a ceremony attended by representatives from the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) and the City of Fort Worth, and other local officials, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers announced a $499.39 million federal grant agreement with FWTA to build the 26.8-mile TEX Rail commuter rail line. The line will run between downtown Fort Worth and the Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport. FWTA estimates that TEX Rail will open in 2018.
The project will provide connections to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail system, Amtrak, Trinity Railway Express and the FWTA bus system. Ridership is estimated at 9,000 daily trips when it opens, rising to 13,700 by 2035.
“The Obama Administration is committed to investing in transportation projects like TEX Rail that improve mobility and provide ladders of opportunity for hard-working Americans,” remarked U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The TEX Rail project will give thousands of residents convenient access to employment, education, healthcare and other vital services in one of our nation’s most populated metropolitan areas.”
With the signing of the agreement, FTA is committing $499.39 million through its Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program to the $1.034 billion TEX Rail project. The federal funds will be provided over the course of four years on an annual payment schedule, subject to Congressional approval during the annual appropriations process.
“FTA is proud to join our partners in Fort Worth and Tarrant County to bring new transit options to this growing region,” said Flowers. “As the population along the TEX Rail corridor continues to increase in the coming years, this commuter rail line will offer residents a much-needed alternative to sitting in traffic.”