Federal stimulus helped fund 250 North Texas transportation projects

July 14,2015

By BRANDON FORMBY bformby@dallasnews.com
Transportation Writer

Hundreds of North Texas transportation projects built in the last six years collectively received more than $880 million in federal funds, thanks to the still-controversial funding program aimed at stemming the recession.

So what does the Dallas-Fort Worth area have to show for its share of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money? Everything from new bike paths and school buses to a rebuilt highway interchange and two new light-rail lines.

The Regional Transportation Council, which sets area transportation policy and helps steer federal money to local projects, played a major role in choosing how the money was spent. Regional transportation director Michael Morris said the federal stimulus program’s infusion of money fast-tracked several projects that otherwise could still be collecting dust on planners’ shelves.

The council “chose to focus funding on ‘legacy’ projects that would have a near-term impact on mobility, but that also would be remembered long-term as good investments of this unique funding source,” Morris said.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s Fort Worth district got the two biggest chunks of federal change.

The district received $260.8 million for the DFW Connector, the rebuilt convergence of State Highways 114 and 121 north of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Another $116.6 million went to connect Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 67 to the new Chisholm Trail Parkway toll road south of downtown Fort Worth.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit fared well, too. That agency received $86.2 million for the Green Line that runs from Carrollton to southern Dallas and $60.6 million for the first two phases of the Orange Line that now connects downtown Dallas to D/FW Airport.

The North Texas Tollway Authority received $20 million to help with the extension of the Bush Turnpike on the western side of Dallas County.

Of the 250 North Texas projects that snagged federal stimulus funds, only two have yet to be completed.

One is the expansion of Dallas’ new streetcar between downtown and Oak Cliff. The other is the Fort Worth Transportation Authority’s plan to purchase more vehicles. Together, those two projects represent less than $1 million in federal contributions.