TxDOT is leading the effort to develop the environmental study and working with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), private interests and other stakeholders to identify funding and procurement strategies to build and operate a proposed high-speed or express passenger rail service connecting the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. Although there has been some discussion about station concepts serving downtown Dallas, Arlington/DFW Airport and downtown Fort Worth, specific station locations have not yet been determined.
To assist TxDOT in advancing this study, the Texas Transportation Commission established the Commission for High-Speed Rail in the DFW Region to advise on the proposed development of intercity rail corridors, new transportation policies, and funding and procurement strategies related to the implementation of a proposed high-speed rail.
In addition, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), the metropolitan planning organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth Region, has included high-speed or express passenger rail corridors in its long-range regional transportation plan (Mobility 2035 – 2013 Update).
This project, as well as the Dallas-Houston High-Speed Rail Project, Lone Star Regional Rail Project and the Texas-Oklahoma Passenger Rail Study, presents an innovative opportunity for the state given continued population growth and the increasing congestion on highways and at major airports – as part of an interconnected and multimodal transportation system vision.
Current Status
FRA initiated the process of evaluating the possibility for a high-speed or express passenger rail line between Fort Worth and Dallas by publishing a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for such a line. This marks the beginning of the process that will study the feasibility and impacts, and gather public input of the proposed high-speed or express passenger rail line.
It is important to note that there is no funding for construction at this time.
Get Involved
TxDOT, FRA and NCTCOG are committed to ongoing public outreach throughout this project. The first series of public meetings were scoping meetings, which drew more than 300 attendees in Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington during November 2014.
Future public meeting dates will be featured on this project page once scheduled. The public is encouraged to share their feedback and comments online or by mail to the address below. You can use this comment form. The deadline for submitting comments is Dec. 15, 2014.
TxDOT
Rail Planning Section Manager
125 E. 11th St.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 486-5137
Timeline
Estimated major project milestones include:
- September 2014: NOI published
- Project Scoping: November 2014
- Draft EIS: Fall 2016
- Final EIS: Summer 2017
- Record of Decision: Spring 2018
- Final Design/Construction: Spring 2018 – Summer 2021
- Begin Operations: Fall 2021
Project Partners
More Information
125 East 11th Street • Austin, Texas 78701